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Chapter 1
Homecoming

The cold rain fell softly on the silver roof of the Zachary minivan as it sat idly at the stoplight. The windshield wipers, sliding lazily across the windshield, did little to facilitate Mr. Zachary’s vision in the torrent. Virgil, his son, sat in the backseat and gazed out the water-covered window. His thoughts were focused on the day and how fitting the weather was for the occasion. It was a rainy day, and silver tears fell as if the clouds were weeping for the same reason he was. Each raindrop that gracefully slid down the window reminded him of his own tears that he had shed the night before in the comforting darkness of his room. If only Virgil were there at his friend’s side…
“He was a good boy, Virgil,” his father said sympathetically, although not even taking his eyes off of the road to glance at his depressed son. “It’s a shame he had to go,”
Virgil’s eyes moved from his thoughts about the rain towards the rearview mirror. In it, he saw his reflection staring back at him with the same sad eyes he had acquired in the comfort of his room the day his parents told him the grim news. His eyes were cold, devoid of the brown warmth that once radiated from them. His usual brown skin was now pale with despair and fear. As the car accelerated from its long stay at the intersection, his eyes immediately moved back to his previous thoughts about the rain outside the passenger window.
“Virgil,” his father said as he accelerated and the car automatically shifted gears, “are you sure you want to go and say goodbye? I could explain to Mrs. Reed that you couldn’t go. I’m sure she would understand,” Mr. Zachary allowed his eyes to travel from the road to the rearview mirror to look at his son and determine if Virgil had any response to his offer. All he found was indifference in his son’s mien.
Continuing his one-sided conversation and focusing back on driving, Mr. Zachary added, “You could say that it is a kind of homecoming for Daniel. He has shed his mortal bonds and has gone to join—“ His father stopped talking due to the ringing of his cell phone.
“Hello?” Mr. Zachary said as he peered through the windshield. The rain was coming down harder now. “Yes. No, we’re not there yet, Mrs. Reed. We’ll be there before the eulogy, I promise. Goodbye, Mrs. Reed,” With that being said, the father hung up.
As if by pure coincidence, Virgil’s phone rang at the exact moment his father hung up.
“Hello?” Virgil said somberly to his caller.
“Virgil?” inquired the sweet voice. It was Maria, his best friend other than Daniel. Her sweet voice broke him from his morbid trance. “I was wondering when you were going to arrive at there funeral,” Virgil noticed a trace of anxiety in her voice, possibly because she knew that Virgil cared for Daniel more than anyone.
“I—I’m not sure, Maria,” Virgil said reluctantly. “I wish I knew,” Presently, the rain started to soften into a slight sprinkle and became quieter. Virgil listened intently to his friend of the other end, waiting for her to continue with her dulcet voice. Unfortunately, all he heard was the sorrowful tune of the organ. It played Daniel’s favorite song, “Lean on Me”.
“Virgil, you must hurry up,” Maria said in a low whisper. Her voice became quick and complaining. The sweetness in her voice receded and became somewhat of an annoyance to Virgil.
Virgil looked out the minivan’s window as if he could escape the torment. First his friend dies, then he is doomed to miss the one time he can say goodbye.
“Virgil?” Maria said in her now-annoying voice. Virgil quickly closed the phone and ended their conversation. He rested his head upon the cool window. He could have died now and he wouldn’t have cared. Suddenly, his cheeks felt warm and wet as if he had run his face in warm water…