The funeral arrangements were made by the Mother on auto pilot, she had no help. She planned the wake, complete with sandwiches, tea and coffee. The husband was no help, completely useless by being perpetually drunk.
The funeral was hard on the family. The viewing of the body distressing, the Grandmother collapsed and was taken to hospital. The dead girls favourite song was played, her older sister devasated. The husband, still drunk, thanked everyone sincerely for coming and sharing HIS grief. The Mother did not cry.
The Grandmother was put on a plane, to be consoled by family living in the USA. The Mother breathed a sigh of relief. The husband, still drunk, refused to return to his business, the couple became bankrupt. The Mother still did not cry.
The family moved to a neglected old farm, miles out of town, where they did odd jobs and lived rent free. The elder daughter was put on the school bus every day, and came home in tears every afternoon. The Mother investigated and found the dead girls favourite song was played frequently by the bus driver She spoke to the driver, he did not play the song on the bus again. The Mother still did not cry.
The Grandmother returned from overseas, only to remember the horror of the past. The Mother now had another member of the family to look after. She supported her family by propping them up mentally and physically, always with the veneer, a smiling face. The Mother still did not cry.
In time, she gained a reputation. They called her the Ice Maiden. She did not celebrate the anniversaries of the death, she did not place Memorial notices in Newspapers. She did not visit the Cemetary. She still did not cry.
Two or so years later, while visiting an area hundreds of kilometes away, the Mother saw an acquaintance from the small girls pre school days. The woman asked, "How is ****** and *****? The Mother stared in horror. She answered " ****** is well and ***** is dead", turned her back and walked away.
Some years later, the couple divorced. The Father still drunk, moved to another State. The Grandmother still griefstricken, pulled herself together and started to live life once more. The Sister fared a little better, until becoming a Mother herself.
And the Ice Maiden? With no-one to support and prop up, she had time to think. She suffered a nervous breakdown, gave up her job, and was housebound for two years.
To be continued.
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