A Place To Rest

"Did you bury the dog?"

"Yes, mom."

"Where did you put it?"

"In the back of the garden near where we buried the cats and turtles."

"Did you remember to bury it deep so nothing can dig it up?"

"I remembered mom. I dug real deep. Clear down to the water pipe. I left Chuckles on top of the pipe."

"I guess that will do. Now, remember what I told you before you carried him out there."

"No more pets."

"That's right Sammy. No more pets. I'm tired of all the heart break, between the animals and the people. Nothing lasts long enough."

"I miss dad too. And Janie and grandma and grandpa."

"You don’t need more loss, but you know I won't be around forever. You'll outlast me by mile."

"Don't say that Mom."

"You know it's true. There's no denying it. Between my heart, my lungs, and my kidneys there's a race going on to see what kills me first."

"Don't talk about it, mom. It hurts to think about."

"I won't mention it again. But you remember, no more pets. No matter how much you love animals, you can't have another one."

"I know."

"We're running out of room back there in the garden anyway.”

“The state forest is on the other side of the fence. We can bury you there if the garden gets full.”

“No, I want to be in the garden. Your Uncle Phil will fix it. Fake cremation like he did for your father and grandparents. Just make sure you take the urn home.”

“It’s good to have an undertaker in the family.”

“It’s good to be buried in your own land.”

“I know that’s what dad wanted.”

“Cheaper too. Gotta save money when you can. Life is expensive.”

“I know mom. We can barely keep up with the property taxes as it is.”

“You will have to find a way when I’m gone. You will have to, since so many of your family are buried back there. Can’t break up the family. Gotta keep it together on family land.”

“I considered my pets to be family too.”

“I meant them as well. Once you’re part of the family, you’re family forever, even if you are part of the land, our land.”

“Is there any particular spot you have your eyes on back there, in the garden? Like we discussed, space is getting tight.”

"I always wanted to be buried in the garden next to your father and sister, but not on the same side as my mother in law."

“I’ll have to take down the apple tree to squeeze you in, but don’t worry. I won't put you next to granny."

“I like that apple tree. Don’t take it out. Place me in there on my side, facing your father. That way I’ll take up less room.”

“I’ll do that. I might have to move sis a little. Probably have to chop away some of the roots as well, but I’ll do it.”

“Your sister won’t mind. She was the understanding sort. You can put her on her side north of our heads.”

“Okay mom.”

“I always liked that tree. Always liked the apples it gave us. Sweet, but not too sweet.”

“Don’t worry mom. The tree will be survive.”

“I like that. Sleeping in the shade of the apple tree with your father for all eternity. Sound nice, doesn’t it.”

“It sure does mom. I’ll make it happen.”

Sammy said this, but he was aware of the offers his mother had gotten from developers for the family land. The most recent offer had been very generous. Enough for a man to start over again, in comfort, if not luxury, in a better place, far from the semi-rural poverty he had grown up in.

Sammy eyed the fence at the back of the property. He liked the stands of trees on the other side of that fence. Those were state lands, unlikely to be touched unless a highway needed to be built or oil was discovered. The state land seemed as good a place as any for all of his family’s dead, including what was left of the pets, to spend eternity. There were plenty of trees and chirping birds. He might even be able to dig up that apple tree and replant it over there, along with all the others that his mother loved. They all will survive.

Bio: Joseph Farley writes fiction and poetry. His books include Suckers, For The Birds, Longing For The Mother Tongue, Her Eyes, Labor Day, Yellow Brick Pilgrim, Written In The Sand, Farts And Daydreams, Nightmares And Hiccups, Beware The Cartoonist, and The Dog Scowls Instead Of Biting.