Tommy Paisley looks around at the solemn faces of the townsfolk who gather around to bury Jonas Massey. Everyone seems as solemn in their finest clothing as they do every Sunday morning. None of them appear to be as uncomfortable as Tommy in his canvas trousers and suspenders on this warm September morning in Melissa, Arizona.
Her sudden outburst of sobs draws Tommy’s attention to the now widow Mrs. Massey. He begins to feel guilty for agitating his discomfort while she says her final farewell to her husband. Her son, Jordan throws his arm around her and pulls her close. Widow Massey lays her head on his shoulder and tries to suppress the sobs which begin to sound more like hiccups now to Tommy.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…,” Parson Peters quotes glancing upward as if to speak directly to Heaven.
As the preacher says the words, Tommy thinks poor Mrs. Massey needs more than a rod and a staff for comfort. It’s a good thing she has her son by her side. Then, Tommy thinks just getting out of these clothes and into his everyday clothes and going fishing would bring so much comfort for him.
Just thinking about fishing brings Tommy some comfort at this moment. He remembers one time when he and his dad went fishing. Jonas Massey was down at the creek already.
Tommy remembers him hollering at Tommy and his dad, “The fish seem to be favoring this end of the creek this morning. Come on down and join me.”
Tommy also recalls Mr. Massey after Tommy’s dad’s burial telling Tommy’s mom, “Jordan and me are going fishing tomorrow. Would the boy like to go with us?” He did and they talked about his dad.
“It hurt a little talking about dad. I cried a little, but the Massey men didn’t make fun of me for crying. They acted like they didn’t notice, but I know they did,” Tommy thought.
The shuffling of the crowd of townspeople brings Tommy’s thoughts back to the present. He watches as Jordan Massey stood comforting his mom as she stands and stares into the hole where her husband’s casket lays.
Tommy starts to leave as his mom gestures for him. His first instinct is to run home immediately and shed this unwanted outfit. He takes two steps, but then just shy of a full gallop, Tommy stops and turns to head in the opposite direction towards Jordan and Mrs. Massey.
Tommy reaches the bereaving pair, swallows a formidable lump that suddenly develops in his throat, “I’m going fishing later. Would you like to come with me?
Categories: Sample writing
Douglas Knight
I have the rich life full of a sinner wounded by misunderstanding and punishment but blessed by mercy and forgiveness.
Knight Writer 