THE ARK
Chapter 27

Day 299

The steam rose steadily from the shower. The naked woman inside stood motionless for a long time. Every surface in the small bathroom was covered with moisture from the thick humidity that was continuing to increase.

Eventually, the influx of steam tapered off and finally, the woman began moving, slowly at first but with a pace that increased as the shower water grew colder and colder. In less than a minute from starting to move, she was slapping the valves closed and the water flow stopped.

Amy Travers stepped out into the steam filled room and began toweling herself off with little enthusiasm.

Wrapping the towel around herself, she slowly walked out of the bathroom and down the narrow hall of her apartment to her bedroom.

She sat quietly on the side of her bed looking into the clothes closet for several minutes. Finally, she violently shook her head from side to side a couple times, wiped the tears from her eyes, grabbed the dress uniform, and got dressed. She quickly dried her light brown hair and pulled it back into a ponytail then left the room.

On the way out, she stopped in the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of Tylenol from the cupboard above the sink, and swallowed two capsules without water.

As she approached the door, she grabbed the regulation black purse that was hung over the coat rack and left the apartment.

Amy descended the stairs and stepped out into the sun. There had been some rain the night before, but already the ground had dried and there was dust blowing in the light breeze.

She crossed the parking lot and approached her seven-year-old Honda. She had considered replacing the car but with all that was transpiring on the project, getting a new car seemed somewhat pointless.

She had been talking to some of the future sleepers who had recently purchased new expensive vehicles. Their thinking was that they could play with them for a few months. By the time anyone started to notice that you are behind in the payments you would be sleeping and the lien holders would be worrying about survival instead of collecting the payments.

While this sounded like good thinking to Amy, she just could not bring herself to worry about a car in the middle of this situation. If hers died and needed to be replaced, she admitted that she would go all out, but until then it was not worth the worry.

As she got in the car she was immediately aware of the humid musty smell and noticed that she had left the passenger side window down during the night. The front passenger seat had soaked up the rain water and was now slowly drying out.

Normally she would have placed the purse in the seat next to her, but today she threw it in the back seat in disgust.

She left the parking lot; going a little faster than she should have and headed for the highway.

As she drove, she thought about the weekend three months ago that, she had spent in Reno with Kathy Cowan and how many funny and flattering stories they shared about James. She remembered how deeply in love Kathy was with her husband, and how close she herself felt to him.

Ever since the accident three days ago, she had been analyzing her own feelings. She did not love Cowan, but if he had not been married and if she had allowed it, she realized that she easily could have.

She pulled in at the funeral home and was pleased but also surprised to see how many cars there were there already. As busy as James had always been, she did not picture him as having more than a few close friends. Apparently, she was wrong.

She walked to the entrance and a tall balding man in a gray suit opened the heavy wooden door for her.

She removed her hat and entered the chapel area and saw a rather large room filled with chairs. There were two aisles that led to the front where the dark wooden casket rested on a pedestal; it was almost completely covered with flower arrangements.

Amy could not help but notice how that from this distance, the casket looked like a sleep capsule.

Centered on the casket, facing the mourners, was an 11X14 framed photo of James. Amy recognized the photo from having seen it before on the den wall in the Cowan’s home. Normally it was just to the left of the fireplace with an identically framed photo of Kathy on the right side.

The podium was centered at the front of the room and partially obstructed the view of the casket.

Standing near the front of the room was Kathy Cowan; she was talking with a thin, tall young man. From the man’s features, she was certain that he must be DJ Cowan.

Ever since Amy had become close to the Cowans, DJ had been away at college in the winter, and busy working or participating in an internship during the summer. Amy had wanted to meet him and was saddened that the long-awaited meeting would occur at his father’s funeral.

Amy considered going up and talking to her friend but noticed that everyone was taking his or her seats so, she decided to wait and see her at the end of the service.

Amy found a seat in the back. She was getting ready to sit when she saw RJ gently waving her up from a few rows further towards the front. She moved up and took the seat that Matt Fitch and RJ had been holding for her.

“How you doing,” asked Fitch

“Not good” Amy whispered.

Before the General could say anything else, a man in a dark suit stood and addressed the mourners. Amy assumed that this must be the Cowan’s pastor.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here to say our final goodbyes to our dear friend James Cowan. I’ve known James and Kathy for about twenty years and can tell you all that I’ve no doubt that James is with our Lord and Savior at this minute, thinking about all of us and the pain that we’re all feeling.”

The pastor went on for several more minutes, but Amy did not really hear what was said. She had retreated into her own thoughts. She was aware of some music and two other brief speakers followed by more music.

Suddenly Amy was aware that the service was ending and that people were standing, and making their way out. Matt Fitch stayed behind since Kathy had asked him to serve as a pallbearer.

Amy slipped to the front, spoke briefly to Kathy, and exchanged hugs.

“How are you holding up?” Amy asked.

“It has been rough, fortunately, DJ has been here and we’re going to make it through this.”

“Let me know what I can do too, Kathy. If there is anything you need, I want to be there for both you and DJ.”

“I know Amy, you’re a great friend. I had wanted you to meet DJ, but James’ mom wasn’t holding up well and DJ took her home just a few minutes ago.”

After a few more minutes, they hugged again and Amy left the room so the pall bearers could bring the coffin out to the hearse.

As Amy watched the wooden box containing her friend’s body being carried out of the funeral home by six men, only one of whom she knew. She could not help but think of James and his special family, As difficult as this was for them, there were soon going to be so many more special people who would not get a funeral or even the burial they deserved.

As she thought these thoughts she felt the tears coming, she was not sure if the tears were for James or for herself.