SILHOUETTES:CHAPTER 2B: PAUSE AND BEGIN AGAIN

The congregation left the hall feeling braver and hopeful as intended.Soon afterwards, the hearse proceeded to the town's graveyard.Everyone seemed to be caught up in their own string of thoughts on that fateful funeral day.Abigail Robinson, being the queen of this jungle of misery, had an even longer trail of sorrowful footsteps that led to her world of thoughts.The world was spinning in her sight, and the lower the casket went into the ground, the more her wit vanished into thin air.Tears of sorrow brimmed her eyes, as she blinked repeatedly in a bid to keep them back.

Charlie held the umbrella he was sharing with Abigail firmly as the rain hadn't been any kinder to them that late afternoon.The fat fluffy clouds,now drifting like huge kernels of popcorn unleashed It's cats and dogs nature to the arena and this masked the sorrow of their grieving.

As the Rabai muttered the seemingly long Jewish prayer that only Charlie seemed not to understand,Abby looked across and her eyes met with those of Scott Daimler.He was an Adonis of some sort and his eyes were ocean-blue and sparkling.The kind that gave you a drowning experience in one blank stare.She was caught up in the moment and nothing seemed to matter for a while,even the echoing words of the Rabai in the background, though important,lost their logic.

Startled,she quickly shifted her pearl-white glare to the ground.A chill of apprehension prickled the hair on Abigail's neck.She had an uneasy sensation,(a sixth sense), that convinced her she was still being watched and this sensation, prickled her scalp,making her head too heavy to go back up

.Her sixth sense was accurate.Scott was staring intently at her and the more she looked down, the harder he stared.It was as if he was trying to memorize every freckle on her face.

Charlie,noticing her shy reaction whispered into her ear,"Stare back,you sissy."

She giggled and stared back and he instantly winked at her.She expeditiously looked away again.

"You smiled, and he winked..uuuh..you've got a collar full of chemistry up your sleeve young lady.''Charlie commented.

"What? Perhaps he merely blinks with one eye at a time," she answered.

"Right..that's exactly what he does.You must be partially blind," he added.

"And for goodness sake Charlie,it's daddy's funeral,you always say the oddest things at the wrong time!"she beckoned.

"What!? I'm sure your father's ghost saw him staring at you and thought,"Biochemistry",he answered bursting into pearls of laughter.

"You should be sued for offending chemicals with poor jokes,"she answered after finishing the laugh in mockery,"And my father's ghost is probably wandering in our neighborhood,looking for Whisky to feed him spiritually because you rarely do."she continued complaining.

"And you should be hanged for offending those with sight,but you know what?I spare you,your death would reduce the chances of Whisky living another day,"he answered sympathetically.

"He's a hardy type.He doesn't need your sympathy.Please,do me the honors,i could use a good stab right about now."she answered.

"I'm your butler not the terminator.Anyway,be optimistic young lady.At least Scott doesn't find this Ecclesiastical prayer amusing.Can't blame a guy and an old buck for seeking entertainment.Now can we?''He asked.

"I reckon that 'entertainment' you are referring to is this fifteen year old Jewish girl who actually thinks the prayer is amusing and is in an upbeat mood,"she answered defensively.

"Think about it, finally,something you like that I can relate to unlike that darn dog we left barking our ears off at home."He answered smiling.

"Drop it Charlie,I do not like him!"she answered.

The Rabai had now concluded the prayer and this marked the end of the rain too.The atmosphere went silent and almost everyone began to walk away.Some turned to mumble a few words to each other,mostly, those in the Family business.The Daimlers(Scott included.He was their only child.),the Blakes and the Robinsons.

Putting down the umbrella,Charlie stretched his hand out dramatically like a ball room dancer,reaching out for Abigail's,"Now come on!Let's join in all the fun.The Robison's presence is awaited."He muttered

She stared at his hand blankly.

"I warn you,don't ruin this for me Abigail!",he growled.

She rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Okay fine!I'll give the bloody dog a glass of water when we get home."he responded.

"Aaaand?,"she asked impatiently.

"I won't call him bloody again."he continued.

"Fair enough,"she answered grabbing his hand dramatically as well, as they blended into the conversations the other families were having.

AUTHOR: PERIS NGUGI

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