Leavin’ It All Behind

Chapter 2: Farewell to Mama

Chapter 2: Farewell to Mama

The front room of the funeral home is stuffy, although the whirr of the air conditioner carries on mightily, rising above the quiet conversation of the mourners. Savannah sticks close to her little sister, whose pregnant belly stretches the fabric of the one dark dress she owns. Savannah’s husband Bruce is there, stiff looking in his old grey suit and a tie Savannah remembers from when they were dating—what seems like a hundred years ago.

Family friend and neighbor Frank McElhenny sidles up to the sisters, offering a hand to Savannah and patting Serena awkwardly on the shoulder. His gray eyes offer understanding and connection. For the girls, the understanding is especially appreciated.

“Have you seen Molly lately?” Savannah asks.

Frank looks even more like a sad puppy dog. “Nah. She won’t talk to me no more. The drugs, they got her.”

Both girls nod in sympathy. Molly McElhenny had been a classmate of Serena’s.

Not everyone present, especially the church folks, knows the real story about Sheila Bainbridge’s death.

“Hey, Mr. McElhenny,” says Serena. “Thanks for bein’ here.” Before she can say more, Serena’s tears catch up with her again. Impulsively, Frank puts an arm around her shoulders and leads her outside to the front stoop. Savannah then turns to find Bruce.

“Sweetie, can you go see what’s keepin’ the preacher? I don’t think I can take much more of this shit.”

“Sure, babe.” As always, Bruce doesn’t understand his wife’s feelings, but is willing to please her if possible. By the time he finds the preacher, folks are settling into the wooden pews of the Baptist chapel. Savannah looks around for Serena and they sit on either side of Bruce in the front row. Frank sits in the next row, occasionally giving Serena’s Lycra-covered shoulder a little pat.

Both girls are uncomfortably aware that the box in front of them holds the body of Sheila Bainbridge, drug tracks and ravaged face discreetly kept under cover.

The preacher obviously did not know Sheila well.

“Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. We are gathered here to praise Jesus for the life of (he looks down at his notes) Sheila Logan Bainbridge. She was a devoted mother to two daughters, Savannah Bainbridge Jolley and Serena Bainbridge (another look at the notes) Simpkins.”

Most of the congregation looks over at the two women, with an odd mixture of disdain and sympathy.

Serena has a brief moment of being hyper-conscious of her huge belly. Her next thought is of her tiny son Pony, at home with his daddy. Or, at least, that’s what Cody promised. There’s a distinct possibility that one-year-old Pony is experiencing his first band rehearsal at that very moment.

Savannah purposely tunes out the rest of the bogus sermon. She and Serena are the only ones left alive who really know what Sheila Bainbridge was like in life. And it isn’t a happy memory. More like a decades-long train wreck that finally derailed for good.

* * * *

As soon as the service is over, both Savannah and Serena breathe a collective sigh of relief. They look at each other with reluctant tears in their eyes. Sheila wasn’t much of a mother, but she was all they’d ever known. And now she’s gone.

Bruce claims his wife and leads her to the waiting limo provided by the funeral home. As an afterthought, he realizes that Serena should go with them, and that she has no husband on hand. The three of them climb into the back of the limo, leaving Frank McElhenny standing in the driveway, following Serena with his sad gray eyes.