The funeral was a very small affair.
Andy was very surprised to see that he and his wife Michelle were the only ones from the cul-de-sac to attend.
Looking about the chapel there were only eight people who had bothered to pay their respects. Andy moved closer to his wife and whispered, "Not a huge turn out by any stretch of the imagination?"
Michelle looked about the chapel and replied quietly, "No you're right, there's not is there," she whispered her reply, "It's sad."
"We're the only ones from round our way," Andy added still whispering.
"It's not surprising after all the problems they caused," she revealed, "Their son caused a lot of friction over years."
Andy nodded, "They didn't help the situation either."
"No I suppose not but it is a real shame that Mervin has lost his father especially after that dreadful accident."
"Are we going back to their house?" asked Andy.
"We were not invited," replied Michelle, "I don't think I want to anyway. It is going to be a very sombre affair and I don't think I could stand it."
"No, you're probably right. As soon as it's over we'll scoot out."
Michelle nodded and then the service started.
There were no songs sung and the service was extremely short. Within ten minutes, even less by the time the coffin was suddenly moving into the wall, the door automatically opening. Andy stood and watched Mervin as he stood next to his mother. He was wearing a black suit with black tie and white shirt. His mother was in a black dress with a veil over her face, she was sobbing. Mervin though, he was standing upright, straight of back as the coffin disappeared into the wall, the door closing after it and then the curtain closed obscuring the door.
Music from an organ stared playing and people started to leave the chapel.
Andy and Michelle quickly left. It was raining when they got out side, raining hard. They made a dash for their car and got in.
"Christ it sure is bloody raining," Andy said the obvious. He put the key in the ignition and started the car; he put the car into reverse and slowly drove the car out of the parking place.
Mervin and his mother were just coming out of the chapel as they drove past.
The rain came down in a torrent as they drove home. The drive, though short, was in silence and it wasn't until they were home and sat round the kitchen table with a cup of coffee that they spoke.
"I feel sorry for the lad," Andy said sipping his coffee.
"Feel sorry for the whole family after what they have gone through since the accident."
"I never did know what really happened?" Andy said to his wife.
"Don't you remember?" she said surprised, "There was a real fracas over it all even the police were investigated at the time."
"I know all about that side of it but I never really understood how the accident happened."
"He was on his bike; he'd had a row with his then girlfriend. Doing hundred miles an hour through the village, he was. A police car clocked him and gave chase. They chased him all the way across the county until they forced him off the road causing him to smash into a police car."
"I see, well I've got no sympathy for him he was obviously in the wrong."
"Oh there was doubt about that. He was certainly speeding, driving recklessly etc. They would have thrown the book at him as well, probably never driven again if they were to have arrested him."
"So why all the controversy?" asked Andy.
"It all stemmed from a remark by the arresting officer at the time. It caused the press to claim police heavy handedness something Mervin's parents had claimed from day one."
"It all got out of proportion and in the end the police officer resigned while Mervin was lying for seven months in a coma."
"Now he has to have constant care."
"Yes, the accident left part of his brain damaged and they can't determine what except to say that though his body is of a man in his forties his brain has the mental age of a teenager."
"Well it was still his own fault he should never have been travelling at those stupid speeds."
"No one was actually saying he wasn't in the wrong. What they were saying was the Police used tactics that were well over the top but the family never got a penny of compensation."
"I see, well I'm still surprised that no one else went to the funeral."
"Yes well that's for them to say. However, I will say this that the family gave these people round here a lot of trouble. Mervin wasn't the best of people to know ten years ago."
"For a matter of interest how do you know all this?" Andy asked curious.
Michelle smile, "I did a little research of the place before we moved into the house. I was just a little interested in what was happening in the neighbourhood and this story came up. At first I didn't realise that they lived just across the cut."
"Yes I remember then saying when we moved in. They said they had a lot of trouble with some kid trying to wreck the place or something but it all seemed to stop."
"So the neighbours say. Christine is the person to speak too, she and Norman were the first to move into the cul-de-sac as you know they've been living here for some thirty years."
"Well that can all wait for another day I've got to get a move on if I'm going to pick up Lucy from the station."
"You'd better not be late you know what your daughter is like, punctuality is her thing, chucked many a boyfriend because they were late."
"I know, I know." Andy picked up his car keys, went to his wife and gently kissed her, "See you later darling. It's a good hour and half round trip."
"I'll have dinner ready for when you two get back."
Andy and Lucy arrived some three hours later. Lucy is typical eighteen years old who thinks she knows everything and yet knows nothing due to her lack of life experiences. Lucy is Andy and Michelle's youngest, Suzy is their eldest she is at university and will be home for the Easter holidays.
