Emako Blue

After the funeral service, the funeral attendees follow the hearse to the graveyard. As they stand graveside, a car backfires, and Monterey jumps in fear. Her parents hold her closer, and Monterey leans on her mother. The preacher prays that God take no more children in this way. He asks those congregated to not be filled with hatred, but to allow their sorrow to bring them closer to God. A woman begins singing “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and Monterey watches Verna and Emako’s siblings sink to the ground as Emako’s casket descends into the earth.

Jamal gives Eddie a ride to the cemetery, even though he wants to be alone. They do not speak to one another in the twenty-minute ride to the cemetery, and Jamal is grateful to be alone with his thoughts. When they arrive at the cemetery, Jamal walks over to Verna and takes her hand. She gathers Jamal in her arms and whispers, “She was a good girl, wasn’t she?” (109). Jamal agrees that Emako was. Jamal stands apart from the crowd as Emako’s casket descends. He takes a white rose from a woman handing them out and tosses it into her grave, whispering goodbye.