Hi!  It’s me!  Lily!

I’m posting late, because it’s been a difficult day.  The other person from our church didn’t make it, and another is in the hospital now.  They think that person might pull through, but it’s hard to tell.  Dave’s been pretty stoic, but you can tell Sabby’s not herself.

I asked her why she seems so sad.  After all, we really didn’t know those people all that well.  She sighed and sat me down next to her.

“Lily,” she said, “I wish I could have introduced you to my Pa and Ma.  They’d have loved you!  But they were taken all too soon.  There was a car crash when I was a little girl.”  She sniffled.  “I was an orphan.  But some nice folks took me in…”

My eyes widened in recognition.

“Yes, dear Lily.  I’m paying it forward.”  She booped my nose.  “That’s why you’re here.  Well, one reason.”

“But why are you sad now?”

“I hate death!,” she said, venomously.  “I hate it!  It took my parents from me, and those people were someone else’s parents, and children, and… and…”  Her voice broke and I wrapped my arms around her.  “I hate it, Lily.”

I rubbed her back and let her cry it out.  I didn’t know what to say.

“Well,” I said, “nothing to be done about it, I guess.”

She sniffled.  “No, there isn’t.  Lily, remember these words.  People talk about injustice all the time.  Victim this and oppressor that.  Don’t forget who is the real oppressor and who are the real victims, Lily.  All of us.  Death will take all of us… someday.”

I frowned.  “But we’re alive now.  Why think about the future?”

“I don’t.  Usually.  But then someone up and dies…  why do the people in our church have to be so stubborn?  Why couldn’t they just have gotten the shot?  They might still be here then…”

I thought.  “Stay right here, I need to get something.”

I went upstairs and grabbed my hairbrush.  I sat back down next to Sabby.

“Turn around,” I ordered.

“Lily -“

“No!,” I said, a little more forcefully than I meant.  “You’re always taking care of us.  You’re always being strong.  Now turn around.”

She turned around and I started brushing her hair.

“Lily, my hair…”

“Can be done again.  This isn’t about brushing your hair.”

She sniffled.  “Why does this feel so good?,” she said.

“It feels good to be taken care of, Sabby.  Let yourself be taken care of.”

She seemed to want to argue, but her head was already starting to loll around a bit.

“Yeah, we’re all going to die, it’s not fair, I get it.  But here’s something to enjoy.  Just enjoy it.”

After a few minutes, she turned around and hugged me.

“Feel better?,” I asked.

“Not really,” she said.  “But you’re right.  It’s nice to be taken care of.  Thank you, Lily.”

I smiled.  “I know when it comes your time, you’ll kick death between the legs just like that Karen.”

She busted out laughing, and fell off the couch.

“Ow, Lily!  That hurts!”

“But you laughed!”

She chuckled and wiped her eyes.  “I did.  Now scootch off and let me make dinner.”

And she did.  It was, as always delicious.

Now it’s off to brush Beth’s hair.

Love you all!!! ❤️