Pay the Piper
She went unnoticed in the doorway for a long time. There was a crowd of folks inside, all trying to be heard at once.
“I’ve been waiting since noon, Mr. Dougherty.”
“Yes, yes…” nodded the older man, his eyes sweeping around the room, “but there are a number of other people in line.”
“I’m sure everyone is waiting, Mr. Dougherty, there’s a horrible lack of service here.”
He gave a long sigh and wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. “I understand your pain, Mrs. Harvey, but with the influenza epidemic I am hard pressed to keep up with the-”
“My husband is lying in state at our home at this very moment. My daughters are beside themselves with grief as am I. I expect your wagon to be at our back door this evening to bring him here to prepare him for burial.”
Mr. Dougherty opened a book on the counter and pushed it toward her where it balanced on the edge. He placed a pencil in the dent created by the binding and indicated a line with his finger. “If you’ll put your husband’s name and your address on the line, I’ll ask Paul to pick up your husband on his way back from the Oldman’s homestead.”
The young man at the window stepped through the crowd. “And my wife?”
That started the ruckus again. Everyone was calling out their questions and demands, some crying and some angry… it was impossible to take it all in. Especially now.
“You waitin’ for someone?”
Louise turned and looked up at the tall broad-shouldered boy standing before her. “I… I’m here to see Mr. Dougherty.” She looked back over her shoulder at the crowd surrounding the older man. “I don’t think he’ll be able to help me today.”
“Can I help? I’m his apprentice, Paul.”
She nodded slowly, holding her breath in her chest, behind her broken heart. “I need to see about gettin’ someone to come get my Mama.”
“Oh.”
She heard the sympathy in his voice and her tears gathered heavy and hot on her lashes. “I got my brother and sister waitin’ with some folks on the bottom floor, so I can’t be gone long. I promised them I’d be right back. I didn’t think there’d be so many folks here and …” she was gasping for breath and desperately trying to quiet her nerves.
“I just started last year, but this is the most we’ve ever had at one time. I’ll see about gettin’ over to pick up your Mama this evening. Where are you livin’?”
It took a moment for her to gather her thoughts long enough to form the words on her tongue. She carefully sounded out the address and told him they were on the second floor. “What do I need to do… to get her ready?”
“Set out the clothes you want her buried in and then you’ll have to decide on the marker and the service… then there’s the coffin.”
There was a knot stuck in her throat and she wiped her palms on the skirt of her dress. So much to think about… so many things to decide. This just wasn’t happening. Tears seared down her cheeks and dotted her calico pinafore. “I don’t know what to do; it’s just too much to think about.”
“What about your fath-”
She shook her head to stop his question. “We don’t have a father. Not anymore.”
“Well,” Paul looked back at his wagon, standing ready at the post, “then who’re you gonna get to pay for everything.”
“Pay?” Her heart froze in her chest. She hadn’t thought of that… not that. “Oh… I…” ‘What a fool you are, Louise.’ She admonished herself for not thinking of it sooner. “… I think my Mama had some money set aside.” Louise knew her cheeks were warm and most likely colored with her shame. “I’ll see what I can get together…” she cleared her throat and folded her hands into her skirt, “how much will it be?”
Paul looked away, counting on his fingers as he mumbled through the list of services. “Five dollars should cover it.”
“Five… dollars?”