The Corpse of James (Chapter 2)

“Where have you been young lady!?” Rozelle’s mother called to her across the room. "I was looking for you! The funeral is over, come, let’s go home and I’ll make dinner.” Rozelle grasped her mother’s hand and left waving good bye to the old man.
The next day, Rozelle went back to the funeral home and to where the old man was last time and found him there. “Hello little girl.” He said, looking up from James’ corpse. “I guess you really did want to know more.” “Yes, please.” She said pulling up a doctor stoll next to the old man. The man chuckled at how polite she was and cleared his throat to begin. “Well, my James here was a great boy, he was on the track team, swimming team, A/B student and had a lot of great friends. As sad as it is, one friend wasn't all that great. His name was Pette, and he was bad. Pette got into gambling and drug problems and asked James for some money and James was such a sweet person that he agreed to help. Pette made a big fuss about how James shouldn't give him the money at school and that they should meet up at the back of the mall an hour before it closes. So James went, alone, at night, with the money and meet up with Pette, or should I say, who he thought was Pette. It was really one of the people Pette owed money to, and James didn’t know him, so he didn't give him the money…” The old man stopped, holding back forming tears. “And…and the man shot James and took the money.” The man finished, bursting into tears. “Why!?” he shouted. “Why does everyone kill for money!? What’s so great about it!? Shouldn't family come first!? HUH!?!” The man hung his head in his hands and sobbed. Rozelle patted his back for comfort and after a while the old man dried his tears. “I’m,” she paused, not sure if she should have broken the silence. “I’m sorry about that.” “Why? It’s not your fault, you’re a sweet little girl, and sweet little girls don’t kill people.” She was wondering if she should say what she was about to, but held it in, thinking it would hurt the old man more then she thought. “Yes, that's true. Would you mind if I kept on visiting James?” she asked “Of course!” The old man smiled and patted her shoulder. “I come to visit him all the time, and I’m sure he’d like more company then his grandfather. Yes, I’d like the company too!” Rozelle smiled. She stayed with the old man and James a little longer before going home and anticipating the next day.
For the three months that was left before James’ funeral, Rozelle would meet up with the old man and the corpse of James and talk. She got to know more about the old man and James, and they got to learn more about Rozelle. It was fun, and she felt better about her father’s death, being around a man who had it worse then her. (What? It's true.) But James’ funeral day finally came. She told her mother she’d be out longer then usual and she was off to the funeral home. There, she found the old man in the front seat of the funeral. She sat down beside him and stared at James, both of them not saying a word, just looking at the dead body. Hours passed, and one by one everyone left, everyone but the old man and Rozelle. “Sir,” She said looking at the old man, he smiled and asked what she wanted. “I…I think I should tell you something that I've been keeping from you.” His smile faded quickly and was replaced by a dim and serious stare. “ My father…,” She started. “My father…um… he…he was the one that killed James. He was running from the scene when  a drunk driver crashed into his car and he died.”

(TO BE CONTINUED)