The Death Farmer continued...Theresa Gaynord

 

***

 

Old Clara awakens clutching the picture poppet of Kelly and Steve. On one corner of the picture she notices a small orb that wasn't present before. Rowan looks up at her from the foot of her bed and meows. Old Clara feels the floating energy of peace. 

 

*** 

 

Kevin awakens Mitchell with a pillow fight and lots of laughter. 

 

"Promise you'll always take care of me big brother." 

 

"I promise." 

 

"Pinky swear?" 

 

"Pinky swear." 

 

"Are we going to see your grandma today?" 

 

"Hush with that. You said you'd never tell." 

 

"Well, are we?" 

 

"Yes, we are." 

 

"Dork!" 

 

"Fool!" 

 

The playful pillow fight continues. 

 

*** 

 

Floating in the river is a white cloth that holds two wedding rings that are visible as the rag begins to unravel.

 

6.

 

Three years later.

 

 

 

A young man and a young woman with just married signs and coke cans attached to the rear of their car swerve violently to avoid a black cat that suddenly darts out into the road. After the initial startle, the young man looks in his rear view mirror and sees a lone man disappear into the path of an empty lot. The For Sale sign visible from the road, the smell of burned wood, are all disturbing. 

 

"Did you see that?" 

 

"Yes, that cat almost got us killed." 

 

"No. Not the cat." 

 

"What?" 

 

"Never mind." 

 

"Charlie look at the sky, it's still early enough in the morning that the sun seems to almost blend in with the moon. It's so cool." 

 

"It's almost like a sign, nature seeking balance and harmony." 

 

"Or like a kiss. The kiss of love meeting the kiss of loss." 

 

The End