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When they reached the grave they lowered the coffin The bear and his helper strapped a slab of concrete to the front loader They lowered it into the grave When the bear was satisfied the backhoe filled the grave They raked the ed flowers around the headstone Over the years I became an expert at burial - I buried one of those I watched

When they retired to the building Shannie eed from the trees She carried the rave, said a feords and returned hoined her in a black dress, co pace At the grave I i an elaborate one woman ceremony to coax the deceased to leave us ht me despite how often I think it should, the world doesn't conforle with

An hour later, Shannie and I walked across Fernwood "Really? You've never stepped foot in a bone yard?" We climbed the side steps of a converted chapel

"Nope" Inside the TV babbled Shannie banged on the screen door The bear sat at the kitchen table eating a hoagie

"Hi Doll Who's your friend?" His voice was deep and scratchy

"This is Jahbor," Shannie led me into the kitchen The linoleu cabinets were in desperate need of a paint job Dirty dishes littered the sink "He lives in the old Manson house"

I jumped as the door slammed shut "Jesus boy, don't piss on the floor," Bear said The ht

"Jaraveyard before"

"No need to be boy, I never hadpresent cohtman He's the caretaker"

My head tilted upwards He wiped his hand on his work clothes before extending his paw "Nice to meet you"

"Nice to meet you," His hand sed mine

"Where you from boy?"

"California, sir"

"Don't call htman will do What part of California?"

"Pleasanton, near San Francisco"

"I knohere it is, son I spent tio" He sat back down and gnawed at the hoagie "What brings you to dodge?"