There Is Life Beyond Death's Door Part Ii

missing dog, Blackie. Besides the sound of our voices, the hymns playing softly in the background, the noise made by the porcelain plates as Mama wiped and put them away, the humming of the refrigerator’s motor, the house was quiet. No body knew what had happened to Blackie. We were really concerned about the whereabouts of the dog, even though Papa had assured us that he would return at some point. Since the funeral, he had vanished. Even the old man who lived across the street from us and who loved Blackie, had not seen him, nor had any of the other neighbors. We had searched in all the usual places. He had never run away from home before. As far as I remember, Blackie never did come back home. As Papa sat in his usual chair, quietly playing with the food on his plate, the kitchen door opened, and in walked Thomas, Brian’s best friend. They were the same age, and were very close even though they did not attend the same school, or the same church. The two had become friends since they met at a Junior Boys Scouts meeting at the age of seven. Thomas lived some distance away but they maintained a special friendship. Out of school, wherever Brian was, so Thomas would be. They’d both turned fourteen last September. Throughout those years they still were active members of the Boys Scout, and had risen together in rank. Thomas had been away on the recent Scouting trip. They had traveled to a neighboring country for a Scouts’ Jamboree. Brian should have gone too but something to do with school exams came up so he couldn’t go. Thomas had just returned from the Jamboree that Saturday afternoon, the second week after Brian’s burial. Lena, Reggie and I got out of our chairs and ran to greet him. It was like welcoming him and Brian home as the two were always together. He picked Lena up as he greeted our parents. Mama standing at the sink, turned around, took one look at him and walked briskly, almost running out of the kitchen, with my other sister in tow. Papa greeted Thomas, his voice almost inaudible. Thomas looked puzzled. I guess he thought he had walked in during a family argument. He was about to turn back and walk out because he felt a little intrusive, I guess. It was extremely quiet in the room; very unusual when everyone was in Mama’s kitchen at the same time. And Mama, walking