Rachel folded the morning paper, put it on the table and said, “Your brother Reuben died a year ago today.”
Howard chewed a mouthful of oatmeal and blueberries, swallowed and said, “Yes. Do you remember what he said he would do on my grave if I died first?”
“He was joking. He would never do that.”
“Yes he would. You’ve forgotten what Reuben was like. He was a bully, and he never joked.” Howard wolfed up more oatmeal and blueberries.
“Give it a rest, Howard. Reuben’s dead.”
“I can’t. Reuben said he was going to have the last laugh on me. But he died first. Now I get to have the last laugh on him. And I’m going to do it.”
“Howard, no.”
“I’m going to the cemetery after breakfast. Do you want to come with me?”
“No! What you are going to do is disgusting. I don’t want to see it.”
“It will be interesting.”
“I told you I don’t want to see it. Why do you men always want to do such horrible things to each other? Just leave!”
Howard got out of his car and walked to Reuben’s grave. “Well, Brother, I’m alive and you are dead. Remember what you said you would do on my grave if I died first? It looks like the last laugh is mine, Bro, so here goes.” Howard placed the flower bouquet on Reuben’s grave and walked away.
Howard chewed a mouthful of oatmeal and blueberries, swallowed and said, “Yes. Do you remember what he said he would do on my grave if I died first?”
“He was joking. He would never do that.”
“Yes he would. You’ve forgotten what Reuben was like. He was a bully, and he never joked.” Howard wolfed up more oatmeal and blueberries.
“Give it a rest, Howard. Reuben’s dead.”
“I can’t. Reuben said he was going to have the last laugh on me. But he died first. Now I get to have the last laugh on him. And I’m going to do it.”
“Howard, no.”
“I’m going to the cemetery after breakfast. Do you want to come with me?”
“No! What you are going to do is disgusting. I don’t want to see it.”
“It will be interesting.”
“I told you I don’t want to see it. Why do you men always want to do such horrible things to each other? Just leave!”
Howard got out of his car and walked to Reuben’s grave. “Well, Brother, I’m alive and you are dead. Remember what you said you would do on my grave if I died first? It looks like the last laugh is mine, Bro, so here goes.” Howard placed the flower bouquet on Reuben’s grave and walked away.
