requiem

        Mister Zig-Zag inspected the damage to his van. Not too bad. The front bumper had absorbed most of the shock. It dangled precariously. Fucking morons erecting a tombstone facsimile to a dog in the middle of the fucking street! Artie had rapped his head pretty hard, but the local medic said he was OK.
         Glad to be home, he was thinking. He noticed a solemn silence, so he tread lightly. Up the front steps and into the cabin.
         The parlor was lit by candles, on the floor, on the mantle, in the windows. Red ones, gold ones, black ones, every candle they owned. Then he saw Leah sitting with Cherry Blossom in wake.
          His soul mate was garbed in her favorite gingam granny dress. Scarf around her head and mocs on her feet. A bit of rouge had been applied to her dead cheeks.
          "Oh my God. What happened?"
          Leah wept.


                                                                                       *


         "The man who attacked Sid at the Potlatch did this."
         "Your man in black. The Mormon dude."
         "I'm so sorry. Oh, Ziggy."
         He was standing beside her chair, she wrapped arms about his hips and hugged him.  "I brought the evil into your lives. Oh Heavenly Father, why did you allow this to happen?"
          Ziggy gazed beyond the ceiling, seeing nothing. Then, strangely, he pressed the palms of his ever-engaging hands upon her head and blessed her.
          "I love you, Leah."
          "Oh, Ziggy, Ziggy."
          "Let us pray."