By the time they arrived at the hotel, most of the orchestra members were already there. The party was sponsored by some of the local businesses, and there was a nice spread of food and drinks. Jason spent some time catching up with Cecily Chin, who he hadn’t seen since Laura’s pool party for him earlier in the summer, and he also spent some more time with Robert and got to know some of Robert’s friends in the brass section. Daniel visited with some of the Merriam High students who were in the orchestra, and had a good visit with Davey and Marie Molinari. An hour or so later the party began to wind down and it was time to leave. David and Marie insisted on giving Jason and Daniel a ride home, so they left together. They also agreed to have another bike ride with Davey so they could check out his new bicycle.
David Molinari asked the boys what was coming up next for them. “I’m afraid some rather sad duty for me,” Daniel answered, “performing at the funeral for our new friend Eric Acosta’s mother.” He then explained about Eric and what they had been through to help him out.
“You guys certainly have had quite a summer!” David exclaimed. “Tell me more about your new friend Eric. Did you say he was a bass player?”
“Yes. As part of his recovery process we just got him a new electric bass, and he is starting bass lessons again. He told us that one of the few things that kept him going through his last school year was practicing and learning the bass.”
“I really like what I keep finding out about Jason’s foundation. Do you know how good of a player Eric is?”
“We were planning a jam session, and then this whole horrible incident came up with Eric’s stepfather, so we haven’t had a chance,” Daniel replied. “But he really wants to play with Diana and myself at his mother’s funeral, so we are getting together to practice tomorrow.”
“The more we learn about Eric, and the more he is able to come out of his shell that he had retreated into because of the abuse he was receiving, the more impressed I am with him as a person,” Jason added. “When we walked out of the music store the other day with his new equipment, Eric had a smile that could light up your concert stage! I have this gut feeling that we are going to see great things from him. It’s like watching a plant that has been trampled recover and grow into a beautiful blooming flower bush.”
“You are welcome to use our school music room for your rehearsal tomorrow,” Mr. Molinari said. “I need to spend a couple of hours over there to finish up our honor orchestra business. And I’d like to meet Eric. I’ll be over there from about 10 AM until 12 noon.”
“Thanks, Mr. Molinari. I think we will take you up on your offer. I’ll try and get everyone together. We did need a place to rehearse,” Daniel said.
Shortly they arrived at Jason’s house to drop him off and then at Daniel’s house. As Daniel was getting out of the van, little Davey said, “Don’t forget about our bike ride, Daniel!”
“I won’t, Davey. We will try to schedule something for next week.”
“That sounds great!” Davey said with a big smile on his face. “Now give me some knuckles, big bro!”
David and Marie laughed. “I’m afraid you have acquired a little brother, Daniel,” Marie said. “I think Davey has decided to adopt you!”
“I think Davey just wants to keep looking out for me,” Daniel replied putting his knuckles out for Davey to hit. “Given all the things that have happened to me this summer, that’s probably not a bad idea! Good night, everyone.”
THE FUNERAL
(Tuesday Afternoon)
Since Eric had been returned to their home, and they had begun the mourning process for Anna Acosta, Marilyn Ferreira had been very busy organizing their family affairs and arranging a proper funeral service for Anna. On Friday, she actually drove to Springdale to make funeral arrangements and start the process of settling Anna’s estate. Jorge took the day off from work and stayed with Eric. The last thing that she wanted to do was reopen the mental scars that Eric would face returning to his mother’s home, although she knew he would have to deal with it on the day of the funeral. She did have a long talk with Eric about what to look for in the Green Street house (he gave her his house key), and what church to contact for the service.
Eric had a very good session with Dr. Agoura on Friday at his house. They resumed their discussion about all of the conflicting feelings going on in his head. Dr. Agoura explained to Eric about the grieving process he would be going through. He complimented Eric about how selflessly and bravely he acted when he was kidnapped by Rogelio. “Eric, you are well on the road to recovery because of your own actions. You fought back in the only way that you could. You started to use thinking to defeat your stepfather, and it worked!”
Dr. Agoura then discussed with him about how he was experiencing the power of friendship for the first time in a long time. “You met Jason and Eric because your aunt asked them to intervene with you, but now there is more to your friendship than just rescues. There is something about you that they admire and respect. That’s why they keep coming back and doing more things with you.” When Eric told Dr. Agoura about meeting Rebecca and how they had instant rapport, he said, “This is exactly what Jason and Daniel responded to. After years of repression the real Eric is starting to reappear and everyone likes what they see!”
Eric had several long conversations with Rebecca over the next few days. She even asked him if she could attend the funeral. “Are you sure you want to go? You won’t know anyone there and it will be a real sad occasion.”
“Eric, I know you. I want to be there for you, if you want me to!” Rebecca replied.
“Of course I would want you to be there if you want to go. Just remember I won’t be at my best and it will be a very sad and emotional day for me!”
“I understand, Eric. I’m sure it will be very tough on everyone attending. But even if you just need to hold hands with somebody for five minutes, I would like to be there to do that with you!”
“You have been such a comfort to me since we met, Rebecca! Maybe we can get away and go to a movie or something this weekend.”
“That would be fun, Eric. But don’t worry about it if you have family things to do instead.”
They were able to go to see a movie together on Sunday evening. Rebecca took Eric to the lightest comedy she could find to keep him cheered up. It really didn’t matter what was on the screen. Eric was very happy just sitting with Rebecca and holding her hand.
Eric had two good rehearsals for the funeral on Saturday and Monday with Daniel, Diana, and Cindy Carson. They were ready to perform in public for the first time.
Tuesday everyone traveled down to Springdale for the funeral service. Daniel’s mom Melinda agreed to drive him, Diana and Rebecca down because she really wanted to hear Daniel perform and to be with him during an emotionally wrenching day. She also brought her camera to get pictures of Daniel and Jason dressed up in suits. They left early because they wanted to go over ‘Shenandoah’ with the church keyboard player before the service. Bill Hunter had decided to take the day off and he brought Jason and Mr. Connor. And of course Marilyn and Jorge Ferreira came down early with Eric who was wearing a dark suit they bought for him over the weekend.
Anna’s body was in an open casket in the church. Since they had no formal wake at the funeral home, Marilyn had arranged to have a public viewing of the casket from 11:00 AM on until the service at 1:00 at the church. Eric had been doing a pretty good job of holding his emotions in check throughout the weekend and Monday, but when he saw his mother lying in the casket, he couldn’t hold back any more, and burst into tears. Marilyn sat with Eric and put her arms around him to comfort him until he was able to gain control again. Then some surreal internal switch clicked inside Eric that put his emotions back into check. He drew on this newly found inner strength to get through the difficult hours ahead. He had to be ready to play his bass, he had to say a short eulogy about his mother during the service, and he had to be prepared to greet all of the people who would come to the serv
ice.
The requiem mass at Saint Catherine’s started a few minutes after 1:00. Father Damien Moretti, the priest saying the mass, welcomed everyone, said a few words about Anna, and quickly began taking the congregation through their prayers and responses. There were over fifty people attending, including some from the parish who remembered Anna from before she had remarried Rogelio and they had stopped attending on a regular basis. There were her co-workers from the motel, and friends from the community, where she had lived nearly all of her adult life. Toward the end of the service, it came time for people to speak about Anna, and Father Damien invited anyone who wanted to say something to come up to the lectern.
First up was Alina Sanchez, one of Anna’s co-workers at the motel. She talked about how dedicated Anna was to her family and son Eric, working long hours and double shifts just to keep afloat financially. “Anna would work 16 hour double shifts, but never complained and always was cheerful and supportive of us when we needed help. She would cover for us when we needed to get away, and never asked for anything in return. You couldn’t ask for a more pleasant or dedicated co-worker. I know that we all miss her very much. Working at that motel will never be the same without Anna.”
Next up was Maria Esplanade, the hairdresser in town who had known Anna for many years. She talked about how fun and pleasant Anna was to be with, and some of the good times that they had together when Anna had moved into Springdale nearly twenty years ago with her new husband Francisco Acosta. Then Marilyn got up and talked about what a loving sister Anna was, and some stories about when they were growing up together in the central valley.
Finally it was Eric’s turn. He walked to the podium with resolve and a page of notes that he had written down. He looked around at the crowd and then began his eulogy. “First, thank you all for coming today to this service for my mother, Anna. I know that she felt very strongly about living in this community and considered it her home. I know that Mom’s spirit is with us today at this gathering and your presence here means a lot to her. As you have heard, my mother was a very caring person, uncomplaining and loyal. Once she made up her mind to do something, she would not let anything get in her way. When I was younger, we had a very happy family life here in Springdale. We would go on family outings together, play sports and swim, and enjoy each other’s company.
“Then tragedy struck our family. My father Francisco was killed in an automobile accident when I was eleven. Our circumstances changed for the worse. Without a father to provide for us, Anna had to take on both responsibilities of raising me and being the family breadwinner. With her quiet determination, she resolved that we would stay in our house on Green Street, and she would do whatever it took to make that a reality. She started working extra shifts at her job, and though things were tight, we were somehow able to make ends meet. Then she met Rogelio Fernandes, and after a brief courtship remarried. She thought we would become a successful and prosperous family again. Little did she know that marrying him would be the undoing of our family.
“We are here to honor the memory of my mother, not talk about the bad things that happened to us, so a complete discussion of what Rogelio Fernandes did to the Acosta family will be left for another time. Instead of helping us to become a whole family again, Rogelio had other ambitions, and Anna was forced to work harder because he wouldn’t contribute anything but the most minimal amount to our family finances, and he gradually became more and more abusive towards me.
“Eventually things became so bad that I had to be literally rescued from my life here in Springdale. As much as I begged Mom to come along with me, she still had her loyalty to this community. And she wanted to protect me from any further abuse from my stepfather. Although we will never know exactly what happened on that fateful day last week, I am sure in my heart that Anna died trying to protect me. And that is one thing we need to celebrate today. My mother was not the most dynamic or outspoken person. But she was very loyal and selfless when it came to me. She insisted that I go and live with my aunt and uncle when she found out what Rogelio had been doing to me, and she tried to act as a buffer between Rogelio and me. In the end she sacrificed her own life for me. No son could ask for anything more!
“Anna didn’t have much time for entertainment in her last few years, but music was still very important to her as it is to me. One of her favorite songs was the American folk song classic ‘Shenandoah’. I think she related well to its message of longing to return to the past, but knowing that it is impossible go back, once life has taken you to a new place. It is fitting that we now perform it as a farewell to her. I have asked my friends Daniel Holmes and Diana Miglione to sing and play ‘Shenandoah’ for you along with myself on bass and your parish keyboard player Lucy Galliard on piano.” [Editor’s Note. As a special bonus, the musical arrangement that they performed is included at the end of the book.]
Their performance was very moving. Daniel and Diana’s voices blended together beautifully in the simple duet arrangement that they had worked out, and the accompaniment was played flawlessly. When they finished, there was a profound silence, and not a dry eye in the church. Then everyone spontaneously broke into applause.
After about ten more minutes, the funeral service came to an end. Marilyn had arranged to have a reception in the church hall right after the service, with some light refreshments and a chance for everyone to wish their condolences to the family.
Toward the end of the reception line, Mr. Lloyd, Eric’s music teacher who started him on the bass, came up to Eric and shook his hand. “Eric, I am so sorry for your loss! I was devastated to hear about all of the horrible abuse you had to experience. I wish you would have said something at school so I could have helped you. Of course now that I know you were an abuse victim, some of the signs of it clearly were there. I just wasn’t smart enough to recognize it and do something about it!”
“School was my safety zone, Mr. Lloyd. I couldn’t risk being taken out of it because I saw it as my escape from Springdale. And you did help me. You got me started playing the bass, and that experience was one of the few positive things that got me through this last year!”
“I am very happy that you had that experience, then. Despite all of the adversity you have had to face, you have come out of it more focused and self-assured. You are taking good care of yourself now and you look great! You did a wonderful job today with your eulogy and musical performance! I can see that you will continue to thrive and grow. I wish you nothing but the best, Eric. You are a fine young man! I am just sorry that you can’t be in our music program anymore.”
Then Johnny Dale, one of his former friends from Springdale who had abandoned him a couple of years ago, came up. “Eric, you are looking good! I am sorry about your mom and your family problems. I guess I owe you an apology and explanation for the way I and some of our other friends treated you.”
“Hello, Johnny,” Eric replied frostily. “It is a surprise to see you! It was really tough getting through the last couple of years without any true friends. What did I do that caused you to walk away?”
“It wasn’t anything you did particularly,” Johnny told Eric, “but after your father was killed, things changed because you never had any money, new clothes, or sports equipment. It wasn’t anything personal that happened between us. We just felt embarrassed when we were with you because we couldn’t do a lot of things we wanted to that cost money. So we decided to move on. But after we heard about what happened between you and your stepfather, we realized that the money wasn’t really important and we should have been there for you. Now we feel sorry for our mistake. The other guys and I would like you to know that we want to have you back as a friend again.”
“Well, I guess it’s a relief to hear that the only thing that had come between us was money,” Eric continued in an even tone, but stressing the irony of what he was saying. “I certainly didn’t do anything intentionally to ruin our friendship. You say you were embarrassed being with me. Imagine how embarrassed I fe
lt having to go to school without proper clothes, and no money to spend, but there wasn’t much I could do about it, given the situation at home. I did resent it when you started calling me names like Eric Flip-flops all over campus and the way you guys blew me off every time I would try to talk to you. Talking to someone doesn’t cost a thing so that really hurt. After all of those early years of being friends, to be abandoned by you and the others just at the time I really needed your friendship was very tough to handle.”
“I hope you will think of those days as water under the bridge, Eric,” Johnny said hanging his head with a sheepish expression on his face. “I am sorry about our shabby treatment of you.”
This time Eric answered Johnny with a real edge to his voice. “Speaking of water under the bridge, Johnny, I have a new life now in the Silicon Valley. I have friends and family who treat me with respect and care about my personal needs. They have been doing a great job of helping me deal with the horrible abuse I received from my stepfather and the tragic death of my mother. I have nothing but bad memories of Springdale. I don’t ever want to set foot in this town again! So if you want to do something to make up for the mean and petty way that you treated me, Johnny, the next time someone you know has a run of bad luck, perhaps you and your friends could help that person out instead of treating him or her like shit! Then maybe your consciences would be clear and you would not feel so guilty!”
Jason, Daniel, Rebecca, and Diana had been standing nearby. When they heard Eric start to raise his voice, they instinctively came over to see what was wrong. “Is everything all right here, Eric?” Jason asked.
Double Fugue Page 24