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"As Chair and Farewell Coive the girls and guys here a proper sendoff None of this funeral procession, boring priest nonsense Viola was a good woman, with a lot of love for life She’d never want a dull send-off, but her kids are forcing that on her Even after she’s dead!"

"The horror!" I gasp in sync with her

"Exactly," Gran points at me Her eyes are my reddish brown, Dad’s reddish brown "Horror Horrible The things people do these days to disrespect the dead are just awful So we’re going to respectthe chi the chirees "When the nurse coht this whole dah out of that"

I smile and help Gran down the fire escape She’s tall and in-shape for a seventy-year old, but she’s still thin, her wrists and fingers tiny When we’re back on solid ground and walking across the lawn to her building, Gran throws an arm around my neck

"What about your funeral, eh?" She asks

"You oing to gather the seven Dragonballs and wish for eternal life?"

She laughs "Yeah, that one What’d you want for it?"

I muse it over for all of six and a half seconds "Makeouts Naked dancing Maybe a cake"

Gran smirks at me as alk up the white-washed stairs

"What? What is it? Why are you giving rown sofive shades of purple"

"Yes, well, now I as like discuss my trials and tribulations cal out I did actually make out with someone"

Gran waits

"I mean, I punched him before I hs, full and loud I point at her as she opens the door to her roo stuff you want at your funeral Because I know for a fact when old people say stuff it usually comes true and if you die I will be exceptionally bummed out"

"It comes true because we’re wise, dear"

"It couys have freaky awesorant you i out of her slippers and lying back on the bed "Come here"

I muddle over to the bed and sit on it She takes ht in the eyes

"A lot of people in your life are going to tell you how they think you should live Soht just convince you without saying anything that you need to live a certain way"

She looks out the darkdotted with stars, smiles, and then looks back to irl Don’t live any other way than the way that makes you happy If you aren’t happy, leave your lover If you aren’t happy, quit the job If you aren’t happy, do more to make yourself happy Because you are the only one who can ue, and she hushes s and other people will make you feel happy But they won’t make you happy That co happiness grow in you – that comes all from inside Some people never learn that Some people never let happiness in, or they let it in too late Some people never let it in because they’re afraid But that’s the worst thing you can do to yourself That’s punishing yourself Lots of folks don’t even know they do it So I want you to knoant you to try to be happy, for yourself"

I feel , but I try to hold theirl," I say "A-A friend Sort of She never – she never let it in"

"And where is she now?" Gran asks patiently

"She…" I tighten rip on Gran’s hand "She killed herself And I was the last one – I as the last one to talk to her, Gran, and I –"