Two losses in a day 2

       ""What is wrong now?"" He wondered.

        His heartbeat accelerated, a bad feeling suddenly engulfed him. On getting to the entrance, he saw a group of women consoling Jacky. A white cloth was placed over something.

         ""Can someone tell me what's going on?"" He asked.

        One of the women stared at him and pointed to the cloth.

         ""What is under it? What is going on?"" He asked again.

             "Grandma is dead." Jacky croaked.

         He was shocked.

        ""Tell me it's a joke."" He said in what sounded like a whisper.

         One of the women holding Jacky looked up at him and said, ""No it's not. We can't joke about someone's death, especially that of an old woman.""

          He felt a sharp pain in his heart. He ran to the body and knelt besides it.

         "Grandma? Grandma? Wake up!"" Can you hear me? Please get up, you can't leave me now, get up, please get up."" He shook the dead body violently.

         Some men tried to lead him away from the body, but he refused to budge, slapping wildly at them.

      Jacky just watched them still sobbing.

      An ambulance drove in and men in white uniforms held a stretcher and placed the body on it. 

       Kelvin watched them carry the body with a blurred vision. His eyes located Jacky with the women and went towards them. He took Jacky and held him in his arms.

        ""Where are they taking Grandma's body to?"" Jacky asked.

         "They will deposit the body in a morgue," Kelvin replied.

       ""I'll miss her."" He sniffed.

      ""We all will."" Alexander's voice came from behind.

        ""Everything will be fine."" He assured him.

     The sympathizers came consoling Jacky and Kelvin. One by one, until they all left.

      Alexander led Kelvin and Jacky into the house. He made Kelvin sit on a chair and carried Jacky to his room and cooed him to sleep. Staring at the sleeping child, he sighed and made his way back to the parlor.

           ""I'm so sorry Kelvin."" 

        ""She is my life, Alexander. Why did she go so soon?"" Alexander sat beside him and patted his back.

          ""I'm really sorry."" Alexander said again.

         "Now Grandma is gone, I've lost my job and Jacky is not yet enrolled in school." He palmed his face and cried the more.

           ""All is well Kelvin."" Alexander consoled him.

           ""All is not well Alexander. Grandma is dead. Can't you see that?"" He said choked.

       Alexander stared at him with a blank expression.

          ""And where the hell am I going to get the money for the funeral?"" He clenched his fists.

          ""I don't know."" Alexander said and shook his head.

         The door-bell rang.

       ""Come in."" Kelvin said with a tired voice.

      A young man walked in. He was wearing a black three-piece suit with black shoes. He held a brown suitcase and put on a black hat. 

        He smiled at the two men who looked surprised.

         ""Justin? Look at you man!"" Alexander exclaimed.

       Justin laughed, ""It's been a long time and I wanted to say hi to you and Kelvin. Well, I planned on coming to Kelvin's house before yours but since you're here I'll break the news."" He grinned.

      ""What news?"" Alexander asked.

     ""I have finally got the job!"" he announced.

     ""Wow, I'm so happy for you man."" Alexander said cheerfully.

        ""Yeah, congratulations."" Kelvin said dryly.

       Justin looked his way.

        ""Hey Kelvin, what's wrong?"" He asked.

       ""Grandma is dead."" Alexander explained.

       ""What? How? When?"" Justin asked and looked at Kelvin who was staring in space.

         ""Oh Kelvin, I'm so sorry.""

         ""And I don't have any money for her funeral. What am I going to do now?""

       Justin kept mute for a while and spoke.

  "I could lend you some money, but you have to pay it back in three months, okay?" Justin said.

       Kelvin's face lit up, ""Oh Justin, how can I thank you? Thank you so much. God bless you."" He said in tears.

      ""Yeah, how much will you need?"" Justin asked.

       "Well." Kelly darted his eyes.

         ""Twenty thousand dollars."" Alexander helped him out.

         ""Okay, expect the money by this evening."" 

      ""Thank you so much Justin."" Kelvin got up and hugged him.

       Justin patted his back gently, ""It's nothing."" He said softly.

        ""Once again, sorry about your Grandma's death."" Justin consoled, ""I got to go now. Check you later."" Jacky smiled and left the parlor.

          Kelvin faced Alexander, ""Isn't twenty thousand dollars too much Alexander?""

        ""No it is not. You need to take care of yourself and Jacky. Also tbr money for the funeral."" Alexander replied.

          ""Thank you buddy, what would I do without you?"" Kelvin wiped his eyes and smiled sadly.

      Now there was money for the funeral but how was he going to pay back? That meant looking for a job as soon as possible, before the end of three months.

       Kelvin looked solemn during the funeral. Alexander sat close to him. A few of his neighbors and friends attended the funeral.

     The clouds were grey as if they wanted to cry. The atmosphere was gloomy too. The sun hid itself and did not smile at the earth.

       Kelvin's eyes were swollen from too much crying, he could not cry anymore. Jacky enclosed himself in his bosom.

       When Grandma's body was being lowered in the ground, loud wailings could be heard from the people.

       Kelvin tightened his lips and rested his head on Alexander's shoulder, sobbing quietly.

        ""I'm going to miss her so bad."" He said quietly.

        ""We all will."" Alexander responded patting his shoulder.

         When the funeral was over, Kelvin took Jacky home. The sympathizers on their way home was almost endless.

      Each of them would stop and console them for what seemed like eternity. Kelvin would only nod and smile at what they told him.

       He took Jacky home. Jacky was still sobbing by the time they got home.

      Kelvin ruffled his hair and made him sit on the couch.

        ""It's okay Jacky. Everything will be fine, okay?"" He smiled at him.

         ""How will we fend for ourselves now?"" Jacky sniffled.

        Kelvin bit his lips and looked away.

      ""It's okay, I'll think of something. Don't worry okay?"" 

        Jacky nodded.

       ""I'll go make something for both of us, huh?"" He stood up and walked to the kitchen.

      He got to the kitchen and sat on a kitchen stool. He held his head in thought.

        ""I still don't have a job. Where else will I start looking for a job?"" He held his chin.

      He had to start all over again. This was not going to be easy.