Saturday, March 3, 2012

Goodbye, Mother


It's Saturday Centus time! Our fearless leader, Jenny Matlock, Off On My Tangent is the the midst of a move. Hence, the prompt for this week, "Saying goodbye was harder than she thought." Our assignment is to write astory, poem, song, etc., using only 100 words, plus the seven words in the prompt. I usually enjoy making up goofy stories that are part-fiction, however, a "not-so-goofy" story came to my mind and I thought I would share it. This week's prompt is in bold.


Leila found her mother’s body. She made the calls. She watched the coroner leave as everyone arrived with food. No time for goodbyes.

“I’ll say goodbye at the service,” Leila thought. When the family arrived, they all hugged and cried. Leila’s mother left a note with the Will, “memorial service?” The family voted; Leila lost 3-1. No service.

Leila was livid. Her mother had so many friends who would have attended just to see her one more time, even if it were only her ashes. Her mother was buried at sea…by strangers.

Standing at the pier’s end, Leila fell apart. Saying goodbye was harder than she thought.


Thank you for stopping by today. Please stop by Jenny's by clicking on the logo below, to read some great stories by many of her friends.

Jenny Matlock

14 comments:

21 Wits said...

Oops a bit too close to home for me. I'll have to catch yours next week! Have a good weekend! Hugs...

Bookie said...

Oh, this is a little gut wrenching. Sadly, this like the hoarding, often DOES happen in families! Nice job of making us aware.

Rinkly Rimes said...

Grief is only one of the emotions involved in a death. You captured the dilemmas.

Melody said...

That made me cry. I can't imagine her grief. Good job! Very well written.
♥Melody
MerrieMelody.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Sad tale, but a good lesson to learn before it is too late.
Thanks for sharing.
Best wishes,
Anna
Goodbye Pierre - SCwk 96

P.S.
Please remove word verification!

Susan Anderson said...

This one is sad and makes me mad at the siblings.

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anitamombanita said...

I've been to plenty of funerals in my life...of all sorts. I always find the most difficult part is at the grave side...not matter the type of grave...it has so much finality.

Koby said...

Death has a way of bringing out the best in people (NOT).. you sure portrayed it perfectly. I enjoyed your story.

Once Upon an Equine said...

How sad for Leila, to have to stand alone with her grief because her siblings were selfish. Nicely written.

Ames said...

So sad. And your picture was perfect. I am definitely recording my will with the county so there will be no deviation from my wishes!~Ames

JANU said...

so touching.

Rek Sesh said...

Very sad, and kind of inhuman not to be able to say the last goodbye...it prevents us from letting go. Well written.

Judie said...

Yeah, when my mother died, my sister, whose goal in life was to be Mother's clone, decided to have TWO services--one for the family to wail and cry at the grave in windy 20 degree weather, and another, the following day at the church. She made her husband video the entire thing. The reception was there as well. My sister had a LOT of food left over. Enough said.

Jenny said...

This feels so valid to me.

Families do not always work well together in times of grief.

And sometimes that leaves a bigger scar than the actual death!

I found myself nodding my head here and agreeing with you.

Very, very close to home with this poignant gem of writing.