"Brackett, Beverly - Sherrif Funderburk - Booger" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brackett Beverly)

Sheltered from the sun by the funeral home's green canopy, Rayette stared down at the mound of dirt that covered her husband's grave and spoke softly, "You know, a coupla months ago, I would lie awake at night wondering how I could ever hold my head up in this town again, knowing that people would talk about my family behind my back. But now, it don't matter none. I'm proud of what Asa did, even if they'll never know why, and that's enough for me. They can talk, but I'm gonna hold my head up high and raise my granbabies."

Wallace Funderburk nodded and smiled gently. "Rayette, you're not gonna have time to pay any mind to gossip. You got your work cut out for you with those granchildren..."

He nodded in the direction of Troy and Davey, twenty yards away, racing among the tombstones.

Rayette gasped. "Lord! Those boys have no manners! Katie, go over there and tell them boys to get back here right now!"

Wallace shook his head. "You stay with your maw-maw, Katie. I'll see to them."

He set off across the green turf, picking his way through the tombstones, careful not to step on anyone's grave. As he approached, the two boys stopped their game and turned to face him.

"Fellas, that's not the way we behave in a cemetery. It's disrespectful to the dead."

"Yes, sir." They spoke simultaneously and looked up at Funderburk. The bright sunlight made them squint, and Davey shielded his eyes with his hand.

"I want to have a word with y'all." Funderburk clasped his hands behind his back and gazed down at Troy and Davey.

They watched him carefully, aware of the seriousness in Funderburk's voice and on his face.

"Yes, sir?" Davey asked softly.

"Your paw-paw has given you a tremendous gift. He went to jail and spent the last weeks of his life in a cell, away from the ones he loved, dying of a painful disease, so you boys could have a second chance."

Davey's lower lip quivered. Troy looked down at the grass and swiped casually at his eyes.

"And he's watching over y'all right now. Watching to see what kind of men the two of you grow up to be. Y'all owe it to him to grow up to be good men. So mind your maw-maw and do as she says, understand?"

They nodded.

"Now go on over to your maw-maw..."

As they scuttled away, he called to them again, "Just one more thing, boys."

"Yes, sir." They turned back to face him, keeping their eyes on the lush grass of the cemetery.

"I have kinfolk buried not far from here and I come to pay my respects regularly. And when I do, I'll be stopping by to visit your paw-paw's grave, too." He paused for emphasis. "Now, look me in the eyes, 'cause I want to be sure y'all understand me..."

They lifted their heads and he could see that the younger one was crying.

"When I do come visit, I want to see that your paw-paw's marker has been kept clean. And I don't ever want to see any weeds on his grave..."


Author's Note: "Booger" is a rather old-fashioned word still used occasionally in the South. It means "Monster."

BEVERLEY BRACKETT lives in South Carolina with her cat, Tibbles, who is well ahead of all the other cats in her age group. Beverley can be reached at [email protected].

Copyright (c) 2000 Beverley Brackett