Ballad of the Funeral Director

‘I. Introduction’

Death. A word that has torn families, countries, and even men. A bitter word that feels so cold as it passes the lips of the ones who are left behind. Most everyone who has stood in front of an open casket has felt the sting deep inside their stomach. Staring at the corpse, knowing it will never open its eyes again. Never laugh. Never cry. Never feel anything, only dirt.

‘II. Donnie Boy’

The snow came down hard upon the Billton Funeral Home on a cold December dawn. The sun began to set behind the establishment, while inside, Donald Conner, Head Funeral Director sat in a small room near the back, staring at an open casket. Alone in the room, except for the corpse that he stared so inventively at, he took another swig of his personal flask. The viewing in the room ended hours ago, but Donald in a folding chair, right in front of the coffin, was basking in his loneliness. The sorrow and depression that once lived inside was now visible in his face and movements. It'd been like that for months now. His family and friends had seen the dramatic change in personality over the years, and they began to worry greatly about him, mentally and physically.
"What's wrong Donnie boy?" asked Leo with his deep Brooklyn accent, breaking Donald's train of thought.
"What? Oh, nothing, nothing." he said shaking his head slowly.
"Come on, I know a sad face when I see it." said Leo patting him on the face with a smile.
"I was just thinkin'."
"Bout what?"
"I don't know. Everything."
Leo motioned to continue.
Donald continued,” I don't know. My life... this job.-"
"What about 'em? Thinkin' is always gonna end up with you hatin' what's good in your life. You got a good payin' job, what's to complain about?"
"Well, it's not money I'm worried about-"
"What?", interrupted Leo.
"It's the job, you know, in general."
Leo paused, looking to the ceiling momentarily,” I don't follow."
Donald sighed," Look, when you've been in my business for as long as I have, which is about.. 28 odd years, you build up these memories. Memories of previous jobs in this place and how they've affected my life. I've lost two wife's two this place, one to a college professor and one to this thing right here," he said knocking on the coffin,” and you know what? Both were my fault. I drove one into the arms of another lover and one into a heart attack." he said sadly.
"I'm sorry Donnie boy." said Leo with empathy.
"But that's not all.", he continued," I've seen horrible, repulsive things. Mothers killed in gruesome car wrecks, toddler's suffocating from an old grocery bag. I've seen the aftershock of limbs, all sorts, torn from a man's body. Images that creep into my dreams while I sleep. Images I've tried to keep within these walls for years."
He leaned forward,” The faces of those little children, who watched their father lay still, before we lowered him into the cold Earth. I've said 'I'm sorry for your loss' hundreds of times, but most every time, I didn't mean it. I didn't feel it, because I didn't know those people. All I thought about was what the man who got wasted and drove into the side of a semi looked like, never the pain of a family who lost someone. But now,” he shook his head,” Now I don't know. I feel their pain. I begun to realize this over these past months. I often wonder if I'm getting too old for this job, but then I think about it, is there an age requirement for something like this. I think 57 year old man like myself would still handle it like that 19 year old intern lookin' at the remains of a woman caught in a house fire."
Leo looked up,” I’m sorry about all that Don, really. But you can't look at life that way. I can respect someone in your position, because no matter how weak you think you are, you still walked through those doors in the morning, everyday for the last 28 years."
"Thanks, Leo.", said Donald looking out the frozen window. The snow had slowed down, but the roads still slid every car that drove across it.
The room got quiet. "You think this place is haunted?" asked Leo trying to break the silence.
Donald sighed. Leo continued,” I mean you get a lotta dead people he-", he was interrupted by footsteps making there way down the hall outside the room.
"Whoops, I'll see ya in the next life, Donnie boy." said Leo crossing his arms and laying back down in his coffin.
"Donnie, you grab a burger?" came a voice from the doorway.
"Yeah, be there in a sec' Brian." he said looking down at coffin,” I’ll see 'you' in the next life." he finished, patting Leo's corpse on the shoulder. Donald turned and walked to Brian who smiled, “Talkin' to the dead guys again there, Donnie?"
Donald smiled back,” Say what you say, but I stand by it. Dead people listen just as well as the living, maybe more so."