To the Cemetery!!!

When the crowd arrived at the Church of the Holy Innocents (known to the villagers as “St. Sybian’s”) they immediately went down the path beside the church to the cemetery. When they came to the Bishop’s grave, the rowdiness continued. While some of them were literally dancing on the gravesite, others produced shovels, and started attacking the sod and peeling it back. Things were really out of control. Soon, the coffin came into site, and a few of the men began pulling on the ropes attached to it. I could see it moving to the surface and dozens of hands working on the sealed latches, half of which were undone.












Suddenly there was a sound like the largest gong in the world being hit by a huge cannonball, and, I swear, not a leaf on a tree moved or a bird in a tree whispered. For what seemed like a half-hour, but was probably just minutes, there was total silence. Everyone turned to the steps on the side of church, where the sound had come from, and there was Esperanza, with Emilio, Pedro’s brother and owner of the estate in Chicago, by her side. There was someone behind Esperanza, standing in the shadows.

Milo had joined me, squinting to make out who it was.
“O my God, FELIX!’
Milo rushed to the steps. As he reached Felix and began to hug him, Esperanza stepped forward and commanded the complete attention of the crowd.
“You must stop. There must be no disrespect in my Father’s world. Let what is good inside you lead your actions. Malice and revenge are not gifts to be enjoyed. They have ruined our party.”

“Go. Leave us,” Felix said softly. “Sleep with the Angels of forgiveness.”
“Well,” Milo said in a firm voice, “Don’t you people have homes?”
“Not really,” I muttered under my breath as the crowd dispersed.
Felix heard me and laughed. He came over, put his hand on my shoulder, and said warmly,

“Let me guess. You’re Esperanza’s latest fuck!” and then started laughing again.






Somewhat embarrassed, the people began to go home, leaving Esperanza, Felix, Milo, Maxine, Emilio, and myself at the desecrated gravesite. The sun had now completely set, and the lamps on the side of the church were all that lit the plot.
I began to help Emilio and Felix reseal the coffin, when Maxine stopped us.

“Wait. I’ve got to see that pig one last time,” she spoke with chin jutting out.
Felix studied Maxine’s face for the longest time, then motioned us to step away.
Maxine bent down, undid the latches, flipped open the coffin lid; She let out a moan like she’d been stabbed. The coffin was filled with Chicago phonebooks.
Now Maxine searched Felix’s face for an answer.

“Not to worry,” Felix whispered as he kissed her forehead.
“Bassanni is buried,” he paused for effect.
“Just not here.”