~A maple casket is slowly lowered into a freshly dug grave.~
I jumped straight into a sitting position when the alarm went off. Mel and Steph spent the night on either side of me, but the bed was vacant. I rubbed my eyes and wondered who set the alarm for early Sunday morning. The giggles came from the bathroom as I stood up.
"Peter, you need to get ready for church." It was Mel, not as commanding as she was last night, but still insistent. I hadn't been to church since Silvia died. Back then I went with her family, and I wasn't too sure I wanted to deal with their mom this morning.
I pulled a pair of boxer-briefs out of my drawer and walked naked to my bathroom, occupied by the two sisters dressed in semi-formal dresses with spaghetti straps and mini style skirts that reached just above their thighs. Mel was in a navy blue and Steph in red. I walked to the shower and turned on the water, still groggy eyed.
"Shower fast, we're late." The two left, their hair done up and their makeup applied, and shut the door.
After a quick shower, I threw on slacks and a polo. We drove out to St. Vincent's, a huge cathedral of a church. I locked the door as Steph ran ahead. Mel waited for me, and we walked up the stairs and in the door together. Mel then guided me to the left and we entered on that side, instead of the center. I couldn't see where Steph or their mom were sitting, but the place was pretty packed. Such a long time since I had been in there, it was a weird feeling.
I followed Mel blindly as we approached the confessionals, which were islands not attached to the walls. The doors faced the walls so that those who entered them weren't seen by the general audience. Of course it was Mass so nobody was in them, and Mel walked straight for them, opened the door quietly and motioned me to enter, making sure nobody saw.
Mel put her finger to her lips as she let the door close. Some light came through the mesh in the window of the door. Mel leaned close to me to whisper in my ear as she started pulling up her dress.