You didn't hear any of this from me...
[ Note: This started as a joke because I felt inspired by this photo X ; It made me think about Mary returning for her husband's funeral in Arkansas. ]
The sudden death of Mary's husband, Johnathan "John" Hollis, was an absolute shock to everyone in town. One day, John was perfectly fine and the next, we all heard that good o'l John was gone! He even helped Ms. Betty Landry with her flowerbed that same Wednesday! Dr. Williams done told Paul Landry, you know, Ms. Betty's husband, that Mr. John must have been so frightened. He looked like his blood had been drained out of him. Said the man died of a heart attack alone in his bed. Poor Ms. Mary, she done went out to bury her mama only to return to bury her husband.
Ms. Betty had mentioned that Johnathan died Wednesday night after he went home from the prayer meetin'. But I'm not too sure because I saw some lights flicker on and off at the Hollis house late Thursday night as I left Ms. Betty's house to head home. I had finished my cleaning for the day. And you wouldn't believe it...this nice brother dressed in a fine suit with gold in his mouth offered to drive me home. I had never seen him around town and don't take kindly to strange men askin to drive me home no matter how nice they seem. He said he was concerned about me walkin past the tracks to get home safely but I assured him I would be okay. tsk* Would you believe that the man followed me until I crossed the tracks? I looked back one more time and he was gone!
Now, when Ms. Mary appeared that Thursday, she was said to have been covered from head to toe; Grief will do that you! There were no trains available Wednesday night but Ms. Mary made sure to make it back for her husband! I can't imagine the grief that Ms. Mary was feelin'; it can bring on such strange behavior. Judith, Dr. William's wife, didn't challenge Mary's request to discuss arrangements after sundown. Ms. Judith mentioned that Mary had asked that she be present for the conversation but Ms. Judith was more concerned with the complexion of Ms. Mary's skin. "I tell you, it's down right ghastly how pale she is, Lord knows I hope Dr. Williams doesn't plan to drop dead soon. I'd hate to think of what would happen to my face!" I made sure Ms. Judith's silver tray was clean enough for Jude to see her own reflection as ghastly as it is now...
Apparently, Ms. Mary had asked for Mr. Hollis' service to be held after sundown at the funeral home. No one understands why Ms. Mary made this request but those who were able to attend, certainly did to support her. Some mentioned that maybe Ms. Mary's grief gave her some reprieve at night as Ms. Mary spends her days locked away in her home. No one questioned why Ms. Mary felt the need to cover herself from head to toe after ensuring that all windows and curtains were properly closed. Some kind of illness of the blood, you know I don't know all the terms!
Ms. Mary stayed long enough for her husband to be buried and left town soon after...they say grief of being alone in that big house drove her away. I watched her leave town in a little taxi cab, drove right over the train tracks off to who knows where. That reminds me, that's also the last time I saw that brother in the suit too. He seemed to be driving through time and waved at me one good time...I figured it couldn't hurt to wave back...and if YOU tell Mr. Jones, I will deny it!
Because you didn't hear any of this from me...