Если я останусь
10:40 P.M.
Kerrytheavowedleft-wingerwhodecidedtoprotesttheIraqwarbygettingabunchofguystodressupindragandgodowntothelocalarmyrecruitingofficetoenlist.Kerrytheatheistcurmudgeon,whohatedhowcommercializedChristmashadbecomeandsothrewanannualMerryAnti-ChristmasCelebrationattheclub,whereheheldacontestforwhichbandcouldplaythemostdistortedversionsofChristmascarols.Thenheinvitedeveryonetothrowalltheircrappypresentsintoabigpileinthemiddleoftheclub.Andcontrarytolocallore,Kerrydidnotburnthestuffinabonfire;DadtoldmethathedonatedittoSt.VincentdePaul.
AseveryonetalkedaboutKerry,themoodinthecarwasfizzyandfun,likeweweregoingtothecircus,notafuneral.Butitseemedright,itseemedtruetoKerry,whowasalwaysoverflowingwithfreneticenergy.
Thefuneral,though,wastheopposite.Itwashorriblydepressing—andnotjustbecauseitwasforsomeonewho’ddiedtragicallyyoungandfornoparticularreasonasidefromsomebadarterialluck.Itwasheldinahugechurch,whichseemedstrangeconsideringKerrywasanoutspokenatheist,butthatpartIcouldunderstand.Imeanwhereelsedoyouhaveafuneral?Theproblemwastheserviceitself.ItwasobviousthatthepastorhadneverevenmetKerrybecausewhenhetalkedabouthim,itwasgeneric,aboutwhatakindheartKerryhadandhoweventhoughitwassadthathewasgone,hewasgettinghis"heavenlyreward."
