"Two funerals so close together is sad," stated Uncle Matt, as he closed Marie's car door.
"Sure puts a damper on Thanksgiving, you know," answered Aunt Marie. A sad expression slipped over her face as they passed other folks who were returning to their cars after the graveside viewing.
Danielle said nothing. As soon as Josie was arrested for the crime and found guilty she'd have to be moving on. She'd stayed in this location so much longer than any of the others. It was time to head out. She turned her head the other way.
John had been a nice man. Somehow she felt regret. A tiny tear brimmed over the edge of one her eyes and slipped down her cheek. What was wrong with her? Why did she suddenly 'feel'?
"You ok, pumpkin?" asked her uncle as he turned the antique blue sports car into the main stream of traffic? I'd been Aunt Marie's idea to drive it 'cause John had always told Uncle Matt how much he liked it. It was like the last tribute they could give to him.
"I'm ok," replied Danielle, "it's just sad."
"I know," he replied and shifted into second gear. The wind blew through Danielle's braided hair, tossing it back and forth like a rag dolls. That felt good. Getting away from the graveyard felt good.
"Anyone for burgers," sang out Uncle Matt, trying to lighten up the gloom in the car, as they zoomed past the local Dairy Queen. "The ice creams on me!"
He slowed down, waiting for the ladies to reply.
"Not me," said Danielle, "if it's ok, Uncle Matt, I'd like to get out and walk."
He pulled into the Dairy Queen's parking lot and switched off the motor.
"Pumpkin?"
Danielle opened the door and climbed out. She quickly moved down the street like a cat being chased by a big dog.
"What's wrong with me?" She kept asking herself as she ducked into an alley and darted toward the other end.
All day she'd felt like something was crawling all over her skin. It was driving her crazy for attention. If she didn't eat soon she felt like it would consume her. Yet, she didn't feel hungry.
She brushed her skin in panic. "Stop it!" She said. "Just leave me alone!" She glanced down at her arms and noticed that they were dusted in pale bluish dots.
"What's wrong Cinderella; did prince charming disappoint you? The voice was deep and horse, yet, laughter rang at its edges.
Slowly, she turned toward it, expecting to see a drunk. That would serve her right. She had ducked into the alley beside the down town bar called, 'snake-hole' It had the worse reputation in town.
"Surprised are you... princess?" Chuck's buddies looked back at her. Each held a beer can in their hand. "Didn't he get you off last night?" He chuckled and winked at his buddy.
"Look, gentlemen, it's the Ice Princess!" Everyone laughed again.
Danielle kept wiping her skin, hoping it'd stop crawling and breeding.
"Imagine that sweetheart..." he stopped to take a sip of his beer."We both know that 'you' are his princess." He wiped the beer from his lips with the back of his hand and then took another sip.
"He went nuts, after dancing with you?" The other guy put in then took a sip of his beer and burped loudly. "What you got that makes men go crazy?"
"Yea, isn't it just lucky you ran down this alley when you did? It saves us all the trouble of coming to find you."
The first man tipped her chin up with his fingers and dropped his beer can in the filthy alley. "I wanna find out how that works."