From then we took a bit of time just watching smoke coming out of the incinerator and even if Mr. Dewey, Mrs. Dewey, and Oscar joined us, June still stood straight in front of the incinerator with tears in her eyes. By this time, it wasn't as bad as earlier but that's just how emotions work and different people had different ways of expressing them.
And yeah, even if everyone else except Eden decided to excuse themselves after some time, Kaley and I still stayed with June.
I thought we'd have a couple of hours of peace and serenity but my phone buzzed right at the same time June's did. Experience tales at m v|l e'-novelhall.net
Eden turned to us, "Are those your phones?"
I answered first, "Alarm—"
June nodded, "Y-Yeah, me too."
At that point, Eden put more logs to fuel the flame but June and I shared a glance and we both knew what was up. Kaley already had an inkling of the reason our phones buzzed, of course, so she took it upon herself to let June and me have some private time to talk with our resident hacker, Ilana.
"Hey, Eden... I kind of wanna check on the other areas, see if we could help for a bit—"
"Oh. Lunch is awfully close but June—"
"He'll stay with her, right?" Kaley said as she turned to me.
I nodded, "Of course, I don't wanna say this now but it's umm... pretty close."
June commented, "You've burned people—"
"Cremated."
"I know the term but I can't just keep mementos like this, I just can't... don't ask."
"Then I won't."
"..."
Eden looked at us weirdly, "Okay? Then..." she trailed as she turned to Kaley, "Come on then, we'll help in the kitchen!"
Kaley chuckled, "He's a better pick but I'm still learning the ropes, take it easy on me."
"Nah, I think you're much better than me. I'm only in charge of washing the dishes!"
"Oh! Ahaha! I'll ask him to include cooking as part of your curriculum then!"
"What?! No way!"
"Anything, I— June?"
Even if it was for a short moment, June did forget for a while and it all just came back at her the moment she saw the incinerator running on fumes. But at that point, she just solemnly looked at the incinerator—more like the person we put in there—before bowing deeply and mouthing "Thank you, Mrs. Rose" for the final time.
We shared another moment of silence for the departed but June brought up something she heard her sister say before they left:
"Hold up, what did Kaley mean by curriculum?"
"Oh. Your dad granted her and your two other siblings, Jeremy and Cindy, was it?"
"A what?"
"A two-week vacation at my place—"
"Oh! Can I come too?! Will Ilana be there?!"
"Ah— I don't know if I should tell you this but yeah... She's not living with us but she just told me that she'll come visit— I don't know if it's within those two weeks they'll be staying—"
"I gotta tell Dad! And Mom! W-Will you help me ask them?! Is it scummy if I use Mrs. Rose as an excuse?"
"Hold up— It is VERY scummy and a little disrespectful—"
"But Mrs. Rose would be in on it! She'll gladly cover for me!"
"Let me ask you this..."
"Go on..."
"Is there a reason they wouldn't allow you to come if you ask the regular way?"
"Umm... Do you have eyes?"
"What?"
"Look at me hotshot, I'm tr— I'm the definition of a kid in her rebellious phase. Blue hair, piercings all over, spiky clothing, black nails, thick eyeliners, you name it. They wouldn't even consider it..."
"Have you tried though?"
"Were you even listening?!"
"I am. But have you tried asking or is that what you think they're gonna say?"