Living Within The Unknown

Chapter 6 Funeral

Her day of mourning was over. Her parents are flying into town today to help her with the funeral arrangements. She was walking around as if she were in a trance. Truth be known to love someone as much as she loved Corey and he loved her she probably really was in a trance. Just one short break from reality. She knew it had to be done but she was in no shape to do this today. No way around it. If there was she would have found it by now. He has been taken to Cooper’s Funeral Home. The services were going to be held June 10 at Riverside Battiest Church. At 2:00p.m. She made her next phone call to the newspaper to have them post his obituary. He was only survived by his wife Camilla Thompson. No other living relatives. Next trip was to the funeral home to take his clothes and order the announcements and book set up time when viewing can start.

Announcement

Photo of him on the front

Left Middle:

A Prayer from My Family. In Memory. When the Roll is called up yonder. And my life has passed away. When the book of life has opened. And the trumpets start to play. Let my family stand together. Everyone down to the last. Our Hearts will sing with joy. As we listen to our past. Then we will walk into our mansion. Prepared by the loving hands. The Family of Jesus. Into the Promised Land.

Right Middle:

Corey Lee Thompson

The Book of the Life of Corey Thompson

May 28, 1963-June 7, 1988

Funeral Services

Music:

Riverside Baptist Church

I Can Only Imagine

June 10, 1988

When I Get Where I’m Going

2:00 pm

Officiating

He was to be buried in:

Pastor Bob Talley

His favorite pair of jeans

Pall Bearers

His Metallica T-shirt

Jake

Edward

Kenny

Evan

Frank

Lane

Directed by: Conner’s Funeral Home

After taking the clothes up to the funeral home and making all the arrangements Camille was so drained emotionally. It was too young for him to leave her all alone in this old World. It wouldn’t have been so bad but they were high school sweethearts. He is the love of her life. She had never been with anyone else and what if she never could be again. It was going to be a very lonely life. He was to have an open casket. She left the funeral home thinking she would probably just go home and crawl into bed and cry herself a river until she fell asleep. Then an epiphany came to her out of nowhere. Would that be what Corey would want you to do? The kind of guy Corey was he wouldn’t want you to miss out on one part of her life just because he can no longer be by her side.

So she did a double take or a re-think and thought what would he want me to do? So the name of the game was going to be whatever popped into her brain first and then once that’s accomplished pop number two and so on until she felt tired and calm enough to maybe go in and catch a movie on the T.V. First pop—Go take Beauty and show her around more of her home. Until that pleasures was taken care of she wouldn’t even think of what she would be doing next. So she pulled up at the house and parked went inside to change into her favorite riding jeans and she started to grab one of her t-shirts to wear but her mind said no take one of his. So she slipped into one of his shirts it even still smelled like him. All she could do was breathe it in deeply and try not to cry. Her eyes were already so swollen and puffy from all the teardrops that had been shed.

She grabbed her cowboy hat put it on and out to the barn she was headed to surprise Beauty with some-one-on-one time. She had called ahead to the stable and let them know she was coming so that they could have her saddled up and ready to ride.

When she seen Beauty there saddled by herself it took everything she had to hold the dam back. She could feel the flood coming on. She took the lead from Zane. She leaned in close to Beauty’s ears and whispered well ole girl it’s just going to be you and me today. It was almost as if she really understood what she had just said to her. She hung her head down and followed behind waiting for Camille to mount her. They took off in a dead run. That’s how Camille was wild as the wind. Ready to roll with whatever way the wind blows. God she missed him so bad she ached inside and it had only been a day how was she going to do this for the rest of her life. He was the only one she had ever made love to. She was still a virgin when they met. She was almost certain she could never let another touch her the way he touched her letting him look into her soul at the most vulnerable moment right before c****x. Nope she couldn’t see it. She was walking Beauty now and talking out loud to her she had to talk to someone or she was going to go insane. Next few weeks would be fairly busy. Maybe just busy enough to keep her mind and heart in the clear. She would just have to guard them both until they grew stronger. She re-mounted and took off in a dead run back to the stables. Pop two—Shopping and pampering at the spa. There you have it her next move. Desire sometimes creeps way down and gets smothered due to life and when you get the chance to be good to yourself fulfill some of those desires. You deserve it and man did she deserve it right now. She had a lot on her plate for it to be just one person. However she would get it. She always eventually gets it. She’s a quick learn.

So off to the mall it was. She could use a few new things for her wardrobe and accessories. She knew for sure she wanted some new items to wear to the funeral tomorrow. Then she just made herself stop thinking about it and enjoy the shopping and the treating yourself to some days to grieve and she knew her husband very well and this is what he would have wanted for her to do. He was the type of man

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That did everything for her. If there was something she wanted or something that he wanted to get and give to her. He wouldn’t stop until it was in her hands. Even if it about killed him getting it for her but he always felt like seeing the surprise or satisfaction in his wife’s eyes was worth every minute and every penny. She could so get lost in women’s clothing and especially pajama’s and gowns. She just loved getting a new piece of clothing to sleep in and she just never knew why. She figured it was her. Maybe it was the silk and satin in the fabric that lays so soft and silky against the skin.

The first thing she found was this floral printed casual top that she just had to have. Now she’ll need some shorts and shoes to match the outfit. She would concentrate on this one first and then work her way to the next. She found the perfect Dress to wear to the funeral it was white with satin black roses printed all over it. It had to be one of the most beautiful dresses that she had seen in a while. She went and matched some high heels to go along with it. She was also able to find her a few pairs of denim- shorts and shirts that were pretty and 1 satin robe and baby doll nighty. By the time she got out of there she had jewelry, perfume, and bath wash. She was doing a great job of pampering herself which she never did. Of course she got to thinking she better learn how because pampering her was Corey’s expertise. She walked out with a few hundred dollars’ worth of stuff. She tried to think of the last time she had just went on a shopping spree for herself and since she couldn’t remember she figured it was long overdue.

She couldn’t get any sleep that night she just tossed and turned in the bed by herself. A thought crossed her mind, not to forget, to buy her a full body pillow. That’s probably what she’ll end up having to have because she is so used to him being up against her laying with her that the pillow maybe the only way she ever gets any sleep again. So she put that on her list of must haves.

She hated to get out of bed and face this day. At least she doesn’t have to face it alone. The hotel staff opened up the ballroom and they closed all 5 of the hotels because these people were the closest this man had to family and she knew they would fly in from all over just to be at the last place they would ever see Corey Thompson. He was the kind of man who was fair and listened to his employee’s well they both did and that is why they were there not only to say their good-byes to him, but to be a support system for Camille because they knew she was going to need them.

They were having a buffet meal at the Louisiana Bayou Hotel for all were welcome. People started pouring in from everywhere showing their love for him and his wife on this most treacherous day. The day two people who are bond by life have to say good-bye to each other. One who had to die and one who had to go on living with the pain of the other being gone.

She took one long last look in the mirror before heading to the church because they would also be burying a part of her in that ground right along by his side.

The service was very nice the preacher did a good job for only meeting her husband once. She was right there were people from all their hotels there to see him laid to rest.

As the music played she sobbed literally broke down in the arms of her father thank God he was there so that she could.

The percussion had to have been a mile or longer long. It took them all of an hour on a road that should have only taken 30 minutes to drive on any other given day. Once they arrived at the cemetery it was no time at all until they were opening the casket for one last good-bye and then they were lowering her husband’s dead body into the ground. She walked up and got 2 red roses one to throw in the grave to him from her and one to take home and press in her bible.

It took just as long to pile out as it had to pile in. It was over now and she was relieved. If she would have had her way she would’ve been in that house right by his side where she should have been instead of sleeping off one over worked night at that hotel.

She was just ready to get in the car and go home. Then tomorrow come up with a plan to throw herself into her work and whatever other hobbies she can pick up so that she can stay so busy that she’ll live through this. ALONE!