No Way to Say Goodbye - Anna McPartlin [117]
Despite the late hour, Ivan and Sienna had managed to secure a wreath in the flower shop before it closed. The card read: Mr Monkels, we love you. The thought was so nice it made Mary’s nose and eyes run. All the crying was starting to get to Mossy, who took their arrival as an opportune moment to make his getaway.
Adam arrived with a couple of spades and a large box. This, too, made Mary cry, so Sienna comforted her while Ivan and Adam dug a hole in her back garden. Penny arrived last, having received the text message at the end of her cooking class. She had shared Mary’s news with the entire class, who had all donated their lamb and vegetable stew and lemon tarts so that Mary wouldn’t have to cook for a week.
“It’s just like a real funeral,” Sienna said to Ivan, who took a break from digging to get a glass of water.
“It is a real funeral.”
“It’s a dog,” she reminded him.
“It’s more than a dog. It’s Mr Monkels,” he said.
When the hole was dug and Mary was ready to say goodbye, Ivan placed Mr Monkels in the box and, with Adam’s help, they lowered it into the earth.
“Do you want to say anything?” Ivan asked.
“I think the wreath says it all.” Mary gave a little sob.
The scene was so sad that Penny and Sienna joined in with the sob, as did Mossy, who was standing on a beer crate and peering over his wall.
In the absence of anything else to do or say, the lads filled in the grave and placed the wreath on top of the fresh earth. Rest in peace, Mr M. Afterwards an impromptu party was held. Jack arrived with a crate of booze, closely followed by friends Patty and Con, each bearing boxes of soft drinks and mixers.
Pierre followed with some leftovers from the day’s trading. When Mary made a face, he chastised her: “This is perfectly good food, Marie. You Irish are so wasteful.”
“You’re giving out to me at my dog’s funeral?” she asked, managing to hide a smile.
“Say you’re sorry,” Jessie said, giving him a slap as she passed him.
“You are right, Marie, today is not the day but as la belle Scarlett once said, ‘Tomorrow is another day.’”
Jessie laughed. “I could listen to that man all day but it’s an awful shame I have to look at him.”
“There’s something weird with those two,” Penny said.
“You’re right,” Mary agreed.
“What?” Penny asked, mouth agape.
Mary winked.
“They did not?” Penny said, eyes wide.
Mary said nothing.
“Jesus, you think you know people!”
Penny walked off into the sitting room where Mossy was playing the only song he knew on guitar and Ivan was heckling.
Mary watched her pass Adam, who was talking to Norma – she’d arrived with the kids who were outside placing flowers they’d stolen from a neighbour’s garden on Mr Monkels’s new place of rest. The birds above them were quiet.
Adam called to Penny, who came back to join in their conversation.
Their relationship was being redefined and it was hard on them both but, watching from her kitchen, Mary guessed that they would be all right.
Steven and Barry arrived – without Pluto, as a mark of respect. “We didn’t want to rub it in, Mare,” Steven said. “After all, Pluto is incredibly cute and alive.”
Mary smiled at him. “Thanks, Steve, you really know what to say.”
Tin arrived into the kitchen looking for a bin. “Mare, sorry about the dog dying but still and all you’re looking great on it!” he said.
Before long her house was filled with family, friends, neighbours, well-wishers and music.
It was after twelve and the party was still going strong. Mary sat in her garden beside the mound covering Mr Monkels. Penny came out to join her. “Do you want some company?” she asked, handing her a freshly made coffee.
“Only yours.” Mary smiled.
“You’re being really brave,” Penny said, nudging her.
“I know he was a dog and not a person but…”
“But every time you said his name it brought back Ben,” Penny said.
“Yeah,” Mary nodded, “it did.”
“Everything was the same for so long.” Penny repeated the words she had said in the wood.
“But it’s all changed now,” Mary replied.
“And as hard as it is to let go