Если я останусь

           "Thatfuneralwasn’taboutcelebratingKerry’slife,"Momgrowled,yankingatherscarf."Itwasaboutrepudiatingit.Itwasliketheykilledhimalloveragain."

           DadputacalminghandoverMom’sclenchedfist."Nowcomeon.Itwasjustasong."

           "Itwasn’tjustasong,"Momsaid,snatchingherhandaway."Itwaswhatitrepresented.Thatwholecharadebackthere.Youofallpeopleshouldunderstand."

           Dadshruggedandsmiledsadly."MaybeIshould.ButIcan’tbeangrywithhisfamily.Iimaginethisfuneralwastheirwayofreclaimingtheirson."

           "Please,"Momsaid,shakingherhead."Iftheywantedtoclaimtheirson,whydidn’ttheyrespectthelifehechosetolive?Howcometheynevercametovisit?Orsupportedhismusic?"

           "Wedon’tknowwhattheythoughtaboutallthat,"Dadreplied."Let’snotjudgetooharshly.Ithastobeheart-breakingtoburyyourchild."

           "Ican’tbelieveyou’remakingexcusesforthem,"Momexclaimed.

           "I’mnot.Ijustthinkyoumightbereadingtoomuchintoamusicalselection."

           "AndIthinkyou’reconfusingbeingempatheticwithbeingapushover!"

           Dad’swincewasbarelyvisible,butitwasenoughtomakeAdamsqueezemyhandandHenryandWillowexchangealook.Henryjumpedin,toDad’srescue,Ithink."It’sdifferentforyou,withyourparents,"hetoldDad."Imeanthey’reold-fashionedbuttheyalwayswereintowhatyoudid,andeveninyourwildestdays,youwerealwaysagoodson,agoodfather.AlwayshomeforSundaydinner."