Chapter Four

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. -Albert Pike

chapter four

I went back into the church and had shock on my face. I went to sit back down of where I was. But my dad stopped me and asked, “What was that about?”

            “Oh nothing.” I lied to him. Even though I am a professional liar by being manipulative, I still hate lying to my dad, but then again I want to tell everyone together. Maybe when we get back home to feast. I headed back to my seat as quickly as I could.

            Before Kahlar could ask the same thing Dad did, she walked up to the podium and took the microphone from Bishop again.

            She spoke, “Ms. Hope told me that this was her favorite modern song. She said it was special to her.”

I instantly knew what song she was talking about. It was called “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys featuring Usher. To be honest, it really is a wonderful song.

 “If you had a special someone, this song could go for it. She said it symbolized the love she had for her fiancé James Ray Townsend until the day he passed and longer. Jonah, could you help me sing this song,” Kahlar continued.

Everyone cheered for me to go up there and sing, because everyone says I can sing. I know I can, I just need to get better at it though. I walked up there, and Bishop gave me another microphone. The pianist began the melody to the song.

Kahlar began to sing, “Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things
Define what's within
I've been there before
But that life's a bore
So full of the superficial”

Everyone clapped at her singing. My girlfriend really can sing. I love her.

“Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you”

            Now, it was my turn.

            I opened my voice to sing, “Some people search for a fountain
Promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them

“And in a world on a silver platter
And wondering what it means
No one to share, no one who truly cares for me”

Now it was time for the chorus. I paused, and then sang with my all.

“Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, you, you”

            I paused again and everyone started to hoot and whoop for the power in those lyrics. Now Kahlar and I began to sing… together.

We sang, “Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you

“If I ain't got you with me baby
Nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain't got you with me baby “

Everyone stood up and clapped. People whooped, hollered, hooted, and screamed. Kahlar and I held hands and smiled. Us two singing that song took away the fact for a few minutes that Grandma’s death was a murder.

After about everyone was done hooting and hollering, we sat back down.

Bishop Johnson spoke, “Well aren’t those two voices a gift from God? Those are miracles in two small bodies! Well it seems like this homegoing celebration of Ms. Hope Faith Moreland has come to a close. Please enter in the same way you have come in and we will make our way to the gravesite at Heavenly Cemetery”

We all stood up, and started to head back to limos and our cars. The flowerbearers and pallbearers headed to the front of the church. I saw my father head up there, in his tuxedo, so he must have been a pallbearer. Since Keaton rode in the car with Aunt Melanie, she got out of line to be a flowerbearer.

When I passed by Micah, she said to me, “Hey Jonah, that was great! I did not know you can sing. You should have been in the talent show last week.”

I smiled and expressed, “Thanks, Micah. See you at school on Monday.”

She nodded and jumped in line with us. Mom looked back at us, and instantly looked forward again. I had a confused look on my face because it seemed like she was afraid of Micah. I just forgot about it and started to talk to Micah.

When we were outside of the church, I waved bye to Micah. Daddy, Kingston, and Kahlar came outside. Kingston revealed, “I won’t be able to make it to the gravesite, but I’m going to see you at the feast.” We did our special handshake and he got in the car with Ms. Bianca Ortega, his mom.

Dad said, “Well, I’m going to see you at the gravesite, son. Love ya man.”

“Love ya too, Daddy.” I told him, while I gave him a hug.

I kissed Kahlar on the cheek and asked was she coming to the gravesite and the feast.

“Of course,” she said. “Of course I will be there! You are my boyfriend, and your family needs comfort.” She kissed me on the cheek, and ran to her Dad’s car. Her dad is Mr. Benjamin Mizrachi. I call him Mr. Benny.

Everyone got into the limo they were supposed to get in. We pulled off, and the rest of the limos followed us. The other cars got into the line and we all headed to Heavenly Cemetery.

We all pulled into Heavenly Cemetery and rode by all the tombstones. I hate coming here because it makes me all emotional over all the people and babies who have died. Our limo took us all the way to the back of the cemetery where our family has a special spot in the back for loved ones. It happened like this because Poppa’s best friend, Adrian Smith, is the owner of the cemetery so when Poppa died, he gave us that spot that we call, “The Land of More,” because our family surname is Moreland.

We went to the “special” place with the overhead shade where Grandma was gonna be buried. The “immediate family”, as what the funeral directors called it, I just say the people who rode in the limos. All of the people in the limo like me, Carter, Mom, Uncle Cam, Uncle Morgan, and Aunt Kat sat in the seats under the overhead shade.

Once I looked by where Grandma was going to buried, and saw she was going to be buried with her fiancé, Grandpa Ray

My dad and the other five pallbearers started to bring up the casket with Grandma inside. They put down the casket and walked behind everyone sitting down. Bishop Johnson got on the other side of the casket and began reading her obituary again. We all sat there bored out of our mind because we already read the obituary at the funeral

He began to say a prayer, “Will everyone bow their heads?

“Lord, we pray that you keep Ms. Hope Moreland safe in your arms in Heaven, and may her soul rest in peace in her final resting place. In Jesus name, Amen.”

“Amen," we responded.

Uncle Cam and Mama left and went to get the tombstone from the van that had the casket in there. The tombstone read,

Hope Faith Moreland

A loving mother, daughter, and sister

January 8, 1952 " February 14, 2013

Next thing I knew, Grandma was going down into the ground. That was the last time I would see her sweet, beautiful face. Kahlar sneaked up next to me and slipped her hand into mine. To end this chapter, I began to cry.