Image: Barbara Beacham
Finish the story begins with: “The cemetery spread along the area known as Devils Abode.”
It was a devil of a place to get too. Uphill all the way.
Every villain and miscreant ended up buried deep should in the next life they be considered for a second crack at life.
Uncle Earl was buried on a Saturday. Aunt Kate asked us to go up and make sure the hole was dug.
There was a hole but only three feet deep. Earl needed a good six feet just to be safe. So we had to shed our coats and dig it the extra three feet.
Kate wanted a quick service so as to get to the wake. We arrived at the cemetery to discover the gravediggers didn’t work on Saturday. We boys once again set about the task of filling in the hole.
Kate stood and watched.
‘He’s safe now,’ she said. ‘He ain’t coming back the miserable bastard.’
Written for: https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/08/31/mondays-finish-the-story-august-31st-2015/
Morpethroad 
Well, at the risk of driving you crazy yet again, you know that I read carefully–so I got hung up on why the wake would be After they buried him; doesn’t the wake come before the funeral and burial?
Not in my part of the world. We bury them and then celebrate.
Ohhhh, okay–sounds good!
And thank you for stopping by dear widow…
Oh of course! I always enjoy my visits–even if I find things to ask questions about! That’s the only way we learn, eh?
Most definitely ask away. We down here speak different and do things oddly as well.
I guess I was just thinking that you’re Catholic–but I may be in error there–and then was thinking that Catholics had a universal way of doing things–which clearly I’m mistaken about. I like the idea of burying first, better, myself. In my religious experience, we never had wakes at all–I was raised Episcopalian, and now I’m non-denomination Bible-thumper. No wakes, no nothing…
Well it’s the Irish in Us. Giving you a good send off is important and celebrating your life more important for the living.
What’s that song the Irish and kindred sing? It’s really beautiful, and every great vocalist and group has done it, but it’s slipped my mind at the moment…something about “fill to me the parting glass”…?
Is this the one?
Oh, we will be friends!
We already are….have a good day…
Love this
Thank you so much and thanks for the follow. Please call by anytime.
Nicely done.
Thank you so much…..
What a great story.
Thank you Tessa, appreciate you stopping by.
You are welcome!
He must have been quite a bastard if Aunt Kate went through so much trouble… Nicely done!
A nice story with a bite at the end!
Thanks so much Graham appreciate you stopping by.
From her last thought, that’s going to be one happy wake! Good story!!
Thank you so much, have a good weekend.
Safe and six feet deep! Surely not able to return, but from the Devils Abode, who knows? I truly enjoyed your tale, well done!
Thanks Yolanda, hope you have a good day.
Great story Michael, I really enjoyed it. That was a great ending line!
Thanks Joy I think she waited many years to say it….
Hopefully the boys compacted the earth on top too. Just to be on the safe side. Nicely done Michael and thanks for writing yet again! Be well… ^..^
Thanks Barb, I hope so too.
Good riddance for aunt Kate…..loved the take 🙂
Thanks so much Shivangi, have a good day….
Great story, Michael!! I read a comment, so you bury a loved one like the Irish..we celebrate afterwards, That is what I want and have started my list of songs to play 🙂
Good for you Oliana, I am sure they will all be rollicking ones.
“The Parting Glass” I’d never heard before. Really beautiful, Michael.
I hadn’t either, it’s an old Irish song for funeral.
I think there’s going to lot’s of celebrating at that wake! I hope they dug the grave deep enough to prevent him from ever returning – he obviously wasn’t a pleasant fellow! A good story, Michael. 🙂
Thanks Louise, I think they are still celebrating…have a good day…
Loreena McKennitt does a very haunting version of The Parting Glass on Wind That Shakes the Barley (2010).
Thanks for that friend…
The ending is humorous (well, at least I felt that way 😉). In fact, I actually laugh out loud! Sorry…I know I’m not being good here. I shouldn’t laugh at the dead, but isn’t Aunt Kate glad too? 😊
Aunt Kate is over the moon happy, if she could do cartwheels she would….lol….laugh away…its actually based on a true event…