This story was not a stream of consciousness thing like most of easytopia! really. I got the idea from a podcast I was listening to where a guy and his sisters don’t know where their Dad’s ashes are. RIP to that guy and God bless his kids.

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Beth, the oldest, and Bri, the youngest, traveled some distance for their dad’s funeral and memorial service. They stayed with their brother Ben, and the three of them had plenty to attend to at their childhood home. There was a lot to decide. In the kitchen, Beth puts on a pot of coffee for later. Bri fills three water glasses.

They convene in the living room at their old house, at the coffee table, trying to relax after a long day of representing their father. There were a couple of hours of daylight left. Beth and Bri cuddled up on the couch while Ben pulled his dad’s favorite La-Z-Boy over to the coffee table.

“I think I get this chair, you guys.” Ben said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that chair so far away from the TV.” Bri replies.

Before sitting down, Ben lifts the lid of a nicely crafted wooden box and removes the brass urn that holds the remains of their father, Howard. He very gently places it on the table. He sits down, leans back, and levers the footrest into position. The three of them look at the urn and share glances and smiles with each other.

“We’re orphans.” Beth says.

Ben replies, “I heard that so many times today.”

“Everyone is being so nice.” Beth continues. “I think it’s easy to tell who really means it.”

“Oh my god.” Bri says, “How saccharine was Mrs. Stolyniska? “She and Dad hated each other.”

“There were so many nice people too, though. We have enough food for two weeks, and I’m sure it will keep coming as long as we’re here.” Ben replies. “I really have my mind on that apple pie the Raniers brought over.”

“Oh s**t, we have so much to do. Do we have to talk about it already?” Beth asks.

“Let’s just settle into it.” Says Ben.

“I’m going to miss the phone calls so much.” Says Bri. “Sometimes it was amazing how he would just happen to call me at the perfect time to save me from some annoying situation, and it would make my whole day.”

“It makes me feel terrible for the times I ignored his calls.” Beth replies. “We’re so lucky. I can’t imagine what our life would be like if Dad sucked.” She says.

“You’re such a good son, Ben, staying around town when you could have gone anywhere.” Bri says. “Everyone knows that about you.”

“It pulled Dawn.” Beth says.

Ben replies. “She’s hanging with her mom for a couple of days. You have me to yourselves.”

“Love Dawn.” Bri says.

“Remember when Mom died and Dad had to take over and do all the stuff himself?” Beth asks.

“He really did come through for us.” Ben says. “He kept us so busy. I don’t know how he had time to perform at work.”

Beth points toward the fireplace, at a small figurine of an angel on the mantle.

“Hucklebuckle Beanstalk!” Beth proclaims.

“The little angel!” Bri exclaims.

“Dad and I were talking some time ago; that’s how he would tire us out for bedtime.” Ben explains. “He said that was the only way he’d be able to get to sleep himself, because he wouldn’t sleep until we were all asleep.”

They are referring to the game called Hucklebuckle Beanstalk, where one person hides an item, and the other players are tasked with locating it. When it is found, by each person, they yell “Hucklebuckle Beanstalk,” confirm the location quietly to the hider of the object, and the last person to find it forfeits the game.

“I would always run outside!” Bri says, laughing. “I’d come back in the house, and Dad would be laughing so hard because as soon as he’d announced we were playing, I’d bolt straight for the patio door and run into the yard, and start looking out there.”

“Why do you think you did that?” Beth asks. “He never hid her out there.”

“I think it was about the looking and not so much the finding.” Said Bri.

The two sisters hug each other. Ben grins widely and reminds them that he was usually the one that found her first. He then focuses his attention on the door of the kitchen.

“There’s an apple streusel pie and some heavy whipped cream in that kitchen, and it has our name on it.” Ben says.

“And coffee.” Says Beth.

“Be right back, Dad.” Bri says, kissing the urn that holds her dad’s ashes.

Simultaneously, the three of them move to the kitchen.

There’s a cornucopia of food spread over the kitchen counter against the wall.

“There you are.” Ben says, lifting a handsome pie from the counter and removing the cover of waxed paper. “It’s still barely warm, too.”

They each get their plates and forks, help themselves to big pieces of pie with cream, and they get their coffees, too. They return to their places at the coffee table.

As they are eating, Ben says. “I really should just go get the rest of the pie and cream.”

They all smile while gorging themselves. Suddenly Beth notices that the urn is not on the table. “Did you put Dad’s urn away, Ben?”

“No, it’s right th…” Ben stops when he realizes it’s not there. “I didn’t move it, did you, Bri?” She shakes her head. “We’ve been together the whole time.” She says.

Ben sees the wooden box is empty. As they look around the room, confused, Beth sees the angel on the mantle.

921 Words

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