Irma!

Mrs. Scherz is from my childhood.  She is now re-married to Mr. Schwartz.  They are in their 70s and have the New York Jewish thing going in a big way.

This takes place at my mother’s funeral.  At the cemetery.  It is silent.  Mrs. Scherz is shoveling the dirt and quite vigorously when Mr. Schwartz calls out:

“Irma!  You don’t have to do the whole thing by yourself.”

The words, the accent, the delivery; it was a perfect moment in the midst of a most dreadful day.

© 2015 Jaclyn Schrier. All rights reserved.