my grandmother’s funeral service.

her body is wheeled into our lounge & my mother, me & sha (my grandmother’s great-grandchild by my estranged cousin, natasha) stand to meet the mourners by the open casket.

family from far out of town. my grandmother grew up in williston. meagan & johan (my aunt “nana” ’s whom she raised) come out from athlone. dion & carol also come.

both reverend arendse & my cousin, alvano thank me for taking care of her in her final days. i ride in the hearse. the driver is a retired undertaker & very talkative.

it’s very windy. the clay ground is difficult for the grave diggers to work with. she’s laid to rest in a family plot close to her son, johannes. the people return to our house for tea & lunch. my mother & aunts lorraine & yvonne run the kitchen.

all the children hang out in her old room because that’s where the cake is held. ‘superman returns’ on tv. we’re all tired after the family leaves.