Shelter Kid
By: Jon Stewart
(© 2021-2022 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

jstewart@tickiestories.us

Chapter 37

Luke was appointed to give a short eulogy. “Dad was a humble man. He had neither money nor fame. Yet this church is overflowing and the family thanks you all for coming. What was it about this simple man that has drawn you all here? Beneath his sometimes-gruff exterior there was a man of immense compassion, who always lent a hand where ever it was needed. He had a knack of showing up when you needed him most and in some simple way solved whatever your problem was. He taught all of us the same wonderful way of living our lives. All he touched were better off for knowing him. Dad would not like me saying he was in any way great or unusual; because he thought he was only doing what anyone would do in the same situation. The truth is very few have helped so many with such little notoriety. He was a simple man yet he knew so much about life and made us all better by sharing all that he knew. With your time here Jon Calahan, you made the chain of life stronger and better. Your link shines bright, Thank you dad, we love you.”

The procession out of the building was to a single trumpet playing taps. Except for the trumpet, you could hear a pin drop though the silence. There was not a dry eye in the congregation. As tears ran down his face again those words of Pops came back to Josh. “Tears are God’s way of washing sadness away. They show how much you loved your grandma.” Josh thought “and you Pops.”

All knew the way to the restaurant. The family with the police escort went to the crematory. Pops was transferred to a plain pine box. The bag piper again played Amazing Grace, the family waited outside. Shortly an urn for each family was brought out and a gold locket for each family member was provided. Eddie always thought ahead and had the lockets sent to the crematory. As Josh put the locket around the necks of his young boys he said, “This is very, very special> Inside is a piece of Pops so that he will always be with you. Keep it safe; when playing sports, take it off. Don’t ever lose it.”

His boys looked up at him, still there were tears. They said in unison, just like Josh and Billy used to do years before. “We will dad, thanks for giving us a bit of Pops. We’ll always be able to talk to him this way.” The scene was repeated with Billy and his little boy and girl and Liz and Maureen and Joe and Eddie. The family went to the luncheon wearing the lockets. More stories were told of Pops, some wine was had, along with the pizza. 

********

After the luncheon at home, in the quiet of the night Josh had one more glass of wine and listened to a song. He played it over and over again.

The tears have all been shed now
We've said our last goodbyes
His souls been blessed
He's been laid to rest
And it's now I feel the wound

He was more than just a father
A teacher, my best friend
 His words can still be heard
As we talked amongst the dunes
Even when I say them on my own

I never will forget him
For he made me what I am
Though he may be gone, his
Memory lingers on
And I miss him, the old man

The same song was played at Luke’s and Eddie’s, Billy’s and Joe’s, yes, Liz’s and Maureen’s, as well. As their tears rolled down, they knew they were washing away their sadness.

Epilog

On a bright, sunshiny, spring day the family got together. The beautiful weather, after a too long and a somber winter, buoyed their spirits. First there was a visit to Mom’s grave. Luke gently mixed Pops ashes into the soil around the grave stone. Luke led a prayer for both his Mom and Dad. Next there was a caravan of the seven families out to High Point State Park. At the top of the mountain, they came across a little patch of wild flowers and it was there that they decided to spread some more of Pops’ ashes. They each took a turn in spreading a bit of the ashes; some said a silent prayer; others said they missed him. Some said they wished he was here so they could talk with him. They had brought a little bronze plaque and put it up where they spread the ashes.

 It said –

From dust thou art to dust thou shalt return.

For to everything there is a season

A time for growing and a time for harvest.

A time for living and a time for dying

Jon “Pops” Calahan

Here we spread your ashes

May you feel the wind, and the rain and the sun

From you, life will be born again

Rest in Peace

Jenny said to Josh and all who could hear her, “I think, we found the perfect spot. I’m sure, Pops just loves it. When we need him, we can come up here and talk to him. It’s so beautiful, you’ll be able to hear him, I just know it.”

Josh turned to Jenny, “I’m so blessed to have you. You are right, I will come here, when I need him.”

In life, there are good days and bad days, times of uncertainty, times when you need to decide how to go forward. When those times came to Josh, Billy, and all the Calahans; it was here they found their answers.

Posted: 03/18/2022