Not many people attended Freeman’s funeral. During the ceremony, Carter did not speak to anybody. He didn’t show much emotion, but anybody who saw him could tell that he was very upset.
Carter’s mind raced with every single memory about Freeman that he could think of. He had so much on his mind that he hardly even paid attention during the ceremony. By the time the ceremony was over, Carter felt terrible for having not paid attention. He was attending the funeral of his lifelong best friend and he didn’t even know what was going on.
Of the people who did attend the funeral, the person who seemed to show the most emotion was Selma. Her eyes watered during the entire ceremony. This was the only that Carter could remember during the ceremony, which, once again, made him feel terrible.560Please respect copyright.PENANAbnUZzdl9u1
As everyone walked to the lunch, Carter continued to remain silent. He had a feeling that he would not speak again until the funeral was over. Carter felt that he had completely wasted away the one day that was supposed to show any memory towards the man known as Freeman.
All of a sudden, Carter heard his name being called. He turned around and saw Elliott.
“Carter,” Elliott said. “It would have been great if you had said a few words for Freeman.”
Carter shook his head. “I couldn’t. I could hardly speak to anybody at all, let alone to the entire group.”
“But it would have been about your feelings toward your best friend.”
“And that would have made it much harder.”
Elliott did not respond to this. He turned his head and continued to walk.
Carter sat down at a table that Kathleen and Dennis had already chosen. They had walked in front of him while he was talking to Elliott.
Kathleen and Dennis stood up to go get a plate, but Carter just stayed behind. At that point, he had no appetite for food at all.
Carter wouldn’t have been so upset had the man responsible for Freeman’s murder received the punishment that he had deserved. Carter was not satisfied with how Sullivan went down. Carter felt Sullivan deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison like most other murderers. Sullivan most likely did not want this to happen. This was most likely why he had taken his own life.
Carter’s lifelong best friend was gone forever and the man responsible for his death would never be given the proper punishment. This crushed Carter even harder than any other feeling had ever before. Carter was so upset, that he could not even shed a tear. The feelings inside of Carter were much stronger than Carter himself.
Kathleen and Dennis returned with their plates filled faster than Carter expected.
“Samuel,” Kathleen said. “Don’t you want something to eat?”
“I’m okay,” Carter said.
“The food looks pretty good, Dad,” Dennis said.
“I’m okay,” Carter said, again.
“Do you at least want something to drink?” Kathleen asked.
Carter stood up and said: “I’ll get it myself.”
Carter walked towards the beverages table. He would just get some water. At least then, Kathleen wouldn’t worry about him so much.
A group of people were standing around the beverages table, talking. At first, Carter decided to wait until they were all gone before getting himself a drink. But then, he noticed who the people were.
It was Stewart, Anderson, Howard, Jenkins, and Cruz. Carter was very surprised. He hadn’t noticed them in the ceremony (mainly because he wasn’t paying any attention to it). And even more, none of their family members were at the funeral.
Carter wasn’t sure why, but he walked up to them and said: “Strange seeing you guys here.”
“None of us weren’t expecting to see you here, Carter,” Stewart said. 560Please respect copyright.PENANACWTDeH0Sed
Carter smiled for the first time since Sullivan’s death. 560Please respect copyright.PENANAbwuRNTROgm
“Where are the rest of your families?” Carter asked. 560Please respect copyright.PENANA1FqAMDVmIX
“We all came alone,” Anderson said. 560Please respect copyright.PENANA8lX944GaIa
“I tried to get Mary to come along,” Jenkins said. “But she said ‘no’ and made up some excuse that I can’t even remember.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANAHuuJQUtKUm
Carter frowned again and asked: “Why did you guys come? I thought you guys did not like Freeman.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANAJbBJnfbnyO
Stewart, Anderson, Howard, Jenkins, and Cruz all looked at each other for a moment. 560Please respect copyright.PENANAqC5JWyrSDz
“We have all forgiven Freeman for all the wrong he has done to us,” Jenkins said. 560Please respect copyright.PENANA45fDdHldS7
“Really?” Carter asked. “Everything?” 560Please respect copyright.PENANA3JYkVN44Ky
“Yeah, I could care less about that stupid boat, now,” Stewart said. “I got rid of it, and that’s all I should have been glad about from the start.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANAxNVDEas7dl
“Why on earth should I stay angry at Freeman for something he did to me years ago?” Cruz asked. “I’m a Christian, so I should know that it’s right to forgive others. If he felt sorry about it, then why should I stay angry about it? It would make no sense at all.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANA7gNHnOBEuO
“I enjoy my job,” Jenkins said. “I should be proud that I have it. I really never needed that promotion. I do very well without it. My boss isn’t the greatest boss on the planet, but I can’t say he’s the worst. I see no reason to be angry at Freeman for anything.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANA2BMZpZsOuT
“I…I am happy that Selma was happy about being with Freeman,” Howard said. “I never really had any anger towards Freeman to begin with. I may have been angry with Selma for a short while after she left me, but I eventually got over it, just as I had said. I was never angry with Freeman.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANAXjq5mEy71s
Carter looked at Anderson and asked: “Have you actually forgiven Freeman for what he’d done to you?” 560Please respect copyright.PENANAAEEvRJMy66
“That was twelve years ago,” Anderson said. “Nobody even talks about that incident anymore. At least they don’t around me. That incident doesn’t hold me down, so why should I hold anything down on Freeman?” 560Please respect copyright.PENANAXEv7fMpFYF
Carter smiled again. 560Please respect copyright.PENANAeBo3zQVgzM
“You were right all along, Carter,” Jenkins said. “Freeman was a very good man. Had he not, he never would have been friends with such another good man.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANA1VoqyXS5PU
“I don’t appreciate what Sullivan chose to do,” Cruz said. “It was a downright awful thing to do.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANAclx3E4rS9A
“I agree,” Howard said. 560Please respect copyright.PENANAJEjb1xCDEc
“I wish Sullivan were still alive,” Anderson said. “That way, he’d be rotting in prison right now. That’s what he really deserved.” 560Please respect copyright.PENANAbHycqhoyy6
Carter felt much greater inside. Before, he never expected anyone to forgive Freeman for anything that he had done. Signs of forgiveness actually did exist. 560Please respect copyright.PENANAIQFtzPkBW4
“Thanks, guys,” Carter said. “I really apologize to you guys for trapping you in Elliott’s basement. I just really wanted to…”
“It’s cool,” Stewart said. “You did that out of caring for your friend. We all understand that.”
Carter nodded.
“I would do the same thing for anybody I cared about,” Stewart said. “Well, if someone killed my brother, he would have needed to have bought me a cheeseburger.”560Please respect copyright.PENANAhYsoDISiqy
Everyone laughed. Not even Anderson could control himself this time.
Carter took a cup off of the beverages table and poured himself some water. Then he turned to walk back to his table.
“I’ll talk to you guys later,” Carter said, as he walked off.
“Sure,” Jenkins said. “I’ll be here.”
As Carter was walking back to his table, he saw Elliott sitting at one table with his family. He walked over to it.
“Hey Elliott,” Carter said.
Elliott turned around.
“Yeah?”
“You’re right,” Carter said. “I should have spoken for Freeman during the ceremony. He was my best friend. I should have shown how much I cared for him.”
Elliott nodded.
“That’s what he would have wanted me to do,” Carter said.
“Don’t worry about anything,” Elliott said. “What matters is that you were his best friend. Even while in death, he understands how much you did care for him. Even if others don’t hear of it, at least his soul knows how much you care.”
Carter nodded.
“That makes very much sense,” he said.
Elliott smiled.560Please respect copyright.PENANAXbJneEcOWF