Chapter 53: Called it phony.
"My father was great man of honor. A strong lad even in his early days. A charmer, a respectable, honorable man. A hard worker, one hell of a negotiator. Affluent, independent of means and very moneyed. I reckon everyone sat here, must have been once jealous. All his mates were jealous. My father was very very uhm tolerable. May his soul Rest In Peace." Gerald Gallagher said seemingly just blabbering anything that came out of his mouth. For the past hour Master Joshua's children had been failing to say a proper speech regarding just what the type of person their father was. Lady Martha had asked if everyone to at least say a word or two even though no one wanted to. No one offered to. They just assumed they had to, Incase the lawyer was present and knowing their father. He was capable of making a trick, 'give the most to the one who seems genuine at my funeral'
They knew their father was far from imbecilic, he was a cunning man who always had a plan that went past everyone's heads. "We will call upon Kathleen Gallagher.." Pastor Richardson spoke in the midst of a piano being softly played. Kathleen Gallagher immediately scrunched her face, shook her head, signaling she did not want to say Anything.
"Uhm, I suppose Kathleen Gallagher is still very overwhelmed. We will call upon Rachel and Cynthia Gallagher."
Cynthia then turned to tell Rachel that she could speak on their behalf both Kathleen and Cynthia. Rachel did not have the best relationship with her father. He constantly called her a turtle and made her feel hideous. Master Joshua made Rachel have a lower self esteem, now as it is... she was in a loveless marriage with an old man who would soon die like her father leaving her with her three children. She had gone through so much because of her father. For a while she could not get pregnant, it was not her fault, her husband was aging and had a low sperm count but Master Joshua was quick to throw heinous words at her proclaiming she was cursed. He never once looked at both sides because her husband was one of his age mates, practical friends. For a long time, he constantly complimented Rachel's half sisters Kathleen and Cynthia. He always seemed so proud of their beauty. It's as if the beauty standard was blonde hair and blue eyes. She knew, her face was very masculine not adding to the fact that she was 6'2 and as straight as could be. The Gallagher's were known to be giants, something Christian had been taking after recently. All giants so they could push people around. Rachel Gallagher had many insecurities, her nose, her height, lack of shape or lemons on her chest—
Her father could not wait to pick at every one of her little insecurity. He encouraged her brothers to do the same. Regardless she went up to the podium with her head held high. "Joshua Gallagher, was—" she did not care about the money. She doubted, he had even left her anything. "a horrible father to me but I thank him for that because he made me a better mother. A better loving and compassionate mother to my kids. Something he never showed to me or my brothers. He surely treated his blue eyed children much better. I have nothing against anyone but it hurts. It's hurts to be compared to. It hurts to know that, I couldn't and will never be able to reconcile with my father. If he is listening, he should know... I forgive him. I forgive him because it is what's best for me and nobody else. I can not continue living with so much bitterness. I would mention the good things, he did but none that I can remember unfortunately.." She felt very emotional with the pity looks she received but it was something she had to do for herself and her peace.
Master Milton was next, wiping a few none existent tears with his handkerchief. His wife gave his a slight squeeze. His five children gave him a small smiles, encouraging him to go up the church alter and mutter a few kind words. In all honesty, he had none and that made him very nervous. After Gerald and Rachel had played their part in delivering a somewhat semi-pathetic somewhat sympathetic speech... he knew he had to pull his socks. As the first born, he needed to keep his head high and not let his little greedy siblings squabble all the attention on them. Rachel really thought she could steal their money by acting more vulnerable. Master Milton would not allow anyone to steal what was his and what he had worked for, for years and years pleading his father and trying to be in his good favor. When he said jump? It was always how high. Never ever why?
"I greet you all in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit." He said lowly in a gruff voice. Pastor Richardson gave him a nod of approval that he was doing well. "My father was—" it took him a lot to actually stand there and he could not find it within him to lie. "a g-reat man. He cleared his throat filling constricted, nervous he abruptly muttered. "Amen." Quickly going back to his sit, Lady Martha was astounded by how unorganized that looked. For a first born he seemed to be the most retarded. Master Joshua always said it himself.
"We will have William Gallagher say a few words.." Pastor Richardson added. Panashe's brothers had decided they would not be saying anything as they did not know him enough to have an opinion. He paid for their bills at boarding school but he was never a father to begin with. They had missed the opportunity of having a mother's love and they somewhat resented him taking that away from them. When they saw the conditions that slaves live in, they second thought everything they had once said. They were grateful for the life they lived apart instead. The conditions were very inhumane.
Heaving a sigh, William walked up to the podium. Hands in his pocket, knowing it was disrespectful and taboo, he did it anyways. His eyes searched through everyone sat in the church... searching for only one person. Until his eyes finally reached hers. She was sat on the last roll, Christian seemingly comfortable on her lap. He seemed sleepy and hardly not even concentrating. She was dressed in a black dress, she never ever dressed up for anything or tried to but at this moment, he was memorized by how she could make any simple form of clothing beautiful. Her hair was in cornrows, she had this aura about her that told him that she did not want anything to do with him, she was only here for her son. From time to time, she would whisper to her son who would giggle in response. He felt like a stranger, he did not know them, they did not know him. Far from it, they had not seen each other in years. He wondered just how long would Christian call him 'bloody William'. Christian was his only son, his only offspring and he did not even acknowledge William. It bothered him that he had spent so much on Liam and Adeline, the bitterness that they were not his... clouded his judgement. As horrible as it sounds, they were innocent but he wanted nothing to do with them. They reminded him of the twelve years of lies, he wasted, the infidelity by Tracy, further more the six years he missed in his son's life.
"First of all, thank you to everyone who took their time to come to my father's funeral. I know, I'm well aware that no one has anything good to say. Even, I do not. You all have your reasons for being here, it may be pity or spite, whatever it maybe. Knowing my father—" William chuckled. "He wouldn't care. He wouldn't care about anything or anyone. The only person I presume has something worthy to say about Joshua Gallagher is Christian Gallagher. His grandson.."
There were a few gasps as everyone turned to look at Panashe. She was out on the spot. She felt very uncomfortable with all the eyes on her. Christian immediately raised his head. "Christian would you like to grace us with a few words about grandpa?" William asked softly.
Christian smiled widely, he looked at his mother for approval before walking up to the podium. Still quite shy, he took small steps, fumbling with his fingers. Panashe felt angry... William had no right, to put her son on the spot like that but he still did. She hated how entitled he felt. William had absolutely no right to claim to being the father of Christian, something he had dismissed long back. He had no right to make decisions for her son. She hated him for being so self centered. A few whispers could already be heard amongst the people sat on the wooden benches in the church. Mainly, being that William had made a negro pregnant. It had been news but never was it confirmed. Now it gave more confirmation for more gossip. Master Joshua never entertained gossip about his grandson.
William crouched down and whispered. "Tell everyone about what grandpa liked and anything you used to do with grandpa."
Christian nodded, a wave of proudness was all William felt. "Grandpa was very nice—" suddenly people started coughing. William encouraged Christian to keep going regardless. When this happened, Panashe felt panicked. She did not want her son feeling even more unwanted and self conscious. "Grandpa loves avocado.." A mistake Christian made was speaking in present tense. He knew his grandfather had passed but his mother had explained he would always be there but he just could not see it. He kept that.. "Grandpa loves riding horses, making a barbecue also fishing. Grandpa loves reading the paper and laughing at jokes on the last page. He would always read them for me even though I did not understand, I still laughed..." Christian giggle. "I'm sorry grandpa." The atmosphere seemed to have changed ever since Christian had started talking.
"Grandpa loves playing chess, even though he always cheats because I'm still small. Grandpa likes to help me with school. Grandpa is very clever, he is good with puzzles. When he laughs... he makes me worried because he laughs very hard, sometimes he almost chokes. Grandpa told me that he does not like lazy people, that's why he is always shouting. It's okay to shout at lazy people. Grandpa teaches me how to play piano. He does not have many friends, I asked him why and he said people hate that he always always tells the truth. I want to be like my grandpa, he always tells the truth even if it makes people cry. I asked him why, I did not have a father because my mommy wouldn't tell me. My grandpa said, my father did not want me but grandpa loves me very much. I asked him if it was because I had been a naughty boy, grandpa said no, he just did not want me. My grandpa always always tells the truth. I'm sad because I do not have a father but I'm happy because, I will always have my grandpa."
For a moment, everyone was dead silent knowing that his father was right next to him and the six year old was completely oblivious. "Uh Christian that was... very heartfelt..." Pastor Richardson added. With that Christian ran back to his mother, feeling very shy yet again. William was cut to the quick as he took his seat. One thing he would never forgive his father for, was turning his son against him. It was just fine his son calling him 'Bloody William' but this, this... Joshua Gallagher was really pushing it even within his death. It astounded him, who would even tell a six year old conclusions of that sort. He lowered his head in shame as the whispers continued. His sister gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You're his father and always will be. Don't let it bother you, with time.. he will come around."
"For goodness sake, he calls me Bloody William." He hissed clearly riled and displeased. He got on his feet and left, even with his mother calling him back. Distorted and hurt, he could not pretend that had not piercingly hurt.
The funeral continued, without his presence. It had to.