The Manager

THE MANAGER

My tears blurred the neat handwriting on the pages in my hand. Leave it to Janet to handwrite her plans rather than type them. Was it due to her discomfort using the computer, or to protect her privacy? Maybe a little of both. I sighed as I browsed through the various pages that included her will and disposition of her possessions. Of course, everything was there. My elder sister was nothing if not organized.

My mind still struggled to believe she was gone. I just knew if I called her name, she would answer, the same way she had for the last fifteen years. Both being widowed early in our marriages, we had been comfortable companions. We had endured a lot together, but the previous four years had been the toughest as Janet battled cancer and respiratory problems. I would miss her so much. Fortunately, family, including grandchildren, lived close by and came often to visit, hollering their presence as one did right now.

“Aunt Margie, are you home?” My niece called from the living room.

“Up in my office,” I answered.

She tromped up the stairs, sounding like a herd of horses, and bounced through the door of my office, her energy loudly announcing her presence. She started talking the moment she was inside. “I’ve been thinking of Mama’s funeral and want to tell you about the plans I’m making. A lot of people will want to attend, including friends and family from out of town, so we’ll need to set the date soon and get it reserved at the funeral home.”

I held up the folder in my hand. “Your mother wrote some of her thoughts—”

She continued talking, overriding my statement. “I think Mackenzie’s has the nicest chapel, and it’s large enough to hold a lot of people. They did the service for Mrs. Gowen, and it was lovely. I think Mother would like how they do things. I also made an appointment to look at caskets. We can do that together.” She sat on the edge of a chair and chuckled. “You know she always joked that she just wanted a plain wooden casket. I told that to Norman MacKenzie. He died laughing and said he had a gorgeous mahogany one. It’s probably the most expensive one in the house.”

“Judy. I’ve been reading your mother's last wishes. We won’t need a casket.”

“That’s silly. Of course, we will need a casket. Naturally, we don’t have to buy the most expensive one. I’m sure the mahogany one is beautiful, but we will find a nice one with a reasonable price tag.”

“Your mother wants to be cremated.”

Her mouth contorted in horror. “Oh no! That won’t do at all. I won’t have my mother cremated. It’s barbaric. She needs her body and will want to be buried next to Daddy.”

“But, honey, I’m trying to tell you—"

“Don’t worry, Aunt Margie. You won’t have to do a thing. I’ll arrange it all.”

“Judy, I’ve got all her papers from her file right here. She’s already planned everything. It’s all here in this folder. I was just looking at it this morning. She states plainly and in writing that she wants to be cremated. She has a list of things for us to do. She wants a small memorial service at the church, mostly family and close friends. All we have to do is follow her directions.”

My niece pursed her lips and flipped her long hair over her shoulder. “Well, I don’t care what she put in writing. She’s gone, and we’re going to have a big funeral and burial in the plot she and Daddy bought just before he died. They planned to be together. Plus, a lot of people in this town knew Mama well, and they will want a big show.”

“What did you just say? A big show?” I stiffened in an icy rage at those words and itched to slap her. “Judy Evans! I can’t believe what I am hearing! You consider your mother’s death as some kind of news event to be broadcast?”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Aunt Margie. Of course, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. I’m sorry, but a proper funeral demands careful organization. My mother deserves the biggest and best, and that’s what I want for her. I said I would handle everything, so you don’t have to bother.”

“So I don’t have to bother with my own sister’s funeral?” I almost shouted; I was so furious at her attitude. “Who do you think I am? Or more to the point, who do you think you are? You just prance in here less than twenty-four hours after her last breath and dominate everything without asking about my feelings or considering what your mother wanted. Just plunge into your plans as if they were a done deal.

“You may be a big show director at the local television station, but this is not some news event for the cameras. Your mother and my sister has just died after a long illness. Don’t you think we need to take a little time to mourn her before shipping her off to a hole in the ground? This is a major loss, and you do not have a license to make a media circus of it.”

“I’m sorry you see it that way, Aunt Margie.” Judy huffed. “I am well aware of what needs to be done to honor my mother. You exaggerate when you use the term media circus. I simply want a lovely funeral service that allows the citizens of this town to pay their respects to the woman who has contributed so much to the community over the course of so many years. I want her and Daddy to be united in death as they were in life. The plot at the cemetery is in one of the most beautiful spots in the area. I see nothing unreasonable in wishing her last resting place to be there. I intended to take care of all the planning so I could relieve you of that burden. I know how badly you are grieving, and didn’t want you to have to worry about anything. After all, I do have the experience and the connections to make everything go smoothly. I don’t understand why you are so upset.”

“I’m upset because none of your ideas include your mother’s own wishes. Don’t you have any respect for what she wanted?”

“Truthfully, no. Why should I? She’s gone, so her wishes are meaningless. I know I am doing what is right for those who mourn her passing.”

I straightened my shoulders and glared at my niece. “You don’t understand why I’m upset? Well, I don’t know how you can call your mother’s wishes meaningless. I don’t understand your thinking at all, and your ideas certainly don’t fit my way of mourning.”

Judy shook her head. “I didn’t know you were so touchy about things. You can disagree all you want, but there will be a formal funeral for my mother, and you will just have to live with it.” She flounced out of the room.

I burst into tears after she was gone and gathered Janet’s papers into my lap. “I’m sorry, sister. I don’t know what to do. Your daughter is determined to have things her way.” I cried for much of the night.

Late the next morning, after a restless night, I wearily prepared coffee in the kitchen. When the phone rang, I picked it up reluctantly.

“What did you do?” Judy screamed in my ear.

“What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

“I just got off the phone with MacKenzie’s. They are refusing to do Mother’s services!”

“Refusing to do her funeral?”

“Yes. They declined their space and won’t dig the grave. They offered to handle a cremation, though,” she said sarcastically. “Did you call them and tell them that?”

“No, I haven’t talked to anyone.”

“Hmph. Well, I’m going to call another funeral home.” She slammed the phone in my ear.

A few hours later, the phone rang again. Judy screamed in my ear. “No funeral home in this town will conduct a funeral service for mother, but they all offered cremation. I know you have talked to all of them and told them to refuse. This is all your fault. You are an interfering, hateful old witch.”

This time, I slammed the phone down.

Confused, I climbed the stairs to my office. I hadn’t talked to anyone. What caused every funeral home to decline conducting the service for my sister? I pulled the folder and went through the papers again. Had I missed something?

This time I found two envelopes, one marked with my name, the other with Judy’s. I opened mine.

Dear Sis,

By now, you probably have questions, despite my endeavor to anticipate everything that might present itself after my death. First, I want to tell you not to spend too much time mourning me. I am glad to be free of my ravaged and diseased body. Four years is too long to be sick and for you to have to take care of me. Thank you for all your love and work. Enjoy your rest as I enjoy mine.

Second, please accept my apologies for my daughter’s behavior. I know her and how she will react, taking over everything. I know she disagrees with my choice of being cremated instead of being buried next to Bill. I tried to talk to her about it a long time ago, but she violently opposed it. I don’t think she has changed her mind. I can’t really explain my decision except to say as I got older and sicker, I just didn’t want all the burden of homilies, caskets, graves, and wilted flowers. You will already have noted I just want a simple memorial service without all the formalities. Judy will not be happy and will probably take it out on you. Just try to remember that she has the best intentions, and some very decided opinions of the proper way to do things.

At any rate, knowing her determination and her connections, I tried to plan ahead. I sent a stern letter to all the funeral homes in town, commanding them not to give in to her insistence on a formal service. I requested cremation and advised that payment for the service would be on hand at the Forrest Bank for whoever got the job. (I also threatened to forgo any future contributions to the charities they support if they don’t obey my wishes. Trust me, I'm familiar with those charities, and they know it.)

I also contacted Pastor Smith at the church to make sure he would preside over the small memorial service I described in my will. I included a threat: if he yields to Judy regarding substantial issues, the donation designated in my will would be revoked. He laughed at that and said not to worry; he would handle Judy. He knows her well.

If there is anything I didn’t handle in anticipation of Judy’s plans, I hope you will be able to work it out. Whatever happens, don’t let her get her way!

Third. I know you don’t really need me to say this, but I will anyway. Please be patient with my daughter through all this. I have explained what I did and why I did it in my letter to her. She has a good heart and will calm down after a while. She may even admit it was right to follow my wishes.

Remember all the good times we had together and take good care of each other. Know that my love will always surround both of you.

Love, Janet.

I laughed through my tears. Judy probably didn’t realize she had inherited all of her planning and organization genes from her clever mother.

My niece would soon learn who truly always got her own way.