Legacy: The Mark of Merlin. Gerald Pruett

home a few months ago during her mother’s funeral services, and I suspect that walking in there for Michael’s services might be too painful of a memory for her.”

      “It’s fine,” Ellen said while grabbing their attention. “I was going to suggest that funeral home myself.”

      “Having Michael’s services there might create too deep of a bad associating memory,” Harris suggested.

      “Suddenly you’re Dr. Freud,” Ellen retorted as she stepped closer with the phonebook.

      “I’m just saying…” Harris was only able to get out.

      “I know what you’re saying,” Ellen interrupted with. “And I appreciate your concerns for my wellbeing, but I think it would be better to associate one place with mournful memories than having those mournful memories spread throughout the city. So if at all possible, I would like to go with the funeral home that had done my mom’s funeral.”

      “Okay,” Allyson said. “I’ll make the call.”

      Ellen nodded, and as she was holding out the phonebook for Allyson to take, she said, “Thank you.”

      With a pleasant grin, Allyson took the phonebook while saying, “You’re welcome.”

      “While you’re calling the funeral home, I’m going to take a shower and change my clothes,” Ellen said.

      “Okay,” Allyson said.

      When Ellen turned and walked away, Allyson flipped open the book to search for the funeral home listings.

      “I should get going so I can get ready for my shift,” Jane suggested.

      “What do you do, Jane?” Harris asked.

      “I’m a barmaid, working for three taverns so my hours are erratic,” Jane began. “And tonight I’ll be at the ‘Sink the Eight Ball’ lounge. In fact, I was actually getting home from the ‘Sink the Eight Ball’ lounge last night… this morning actually, when I saw Jared Claiborne and those two detectives entering the house. Anyway, it was nice meeting you both.”

      “It was nice meeting you,” Harris and Allyson said.

      Jane nodded before turning and walking towards the front door. When Jane opened the door, seven teenage girls around Ellen’s age and four teenage boys also around the same age were at the door. One of the boys was in motion to knock.

      “Oh, hi,” the boy said while putting his hand down. “I’m… we’re here to check on Ellen.”

      “We were informed about the deaths of her brother and sister-in-law,” one of the girls added as Harris stepped up behind Jane.

      “She’s here,” Jane said. “She went to take a shower.”

      “Let me see if I can catch her before she… strips down,” Harris told the teenagers.

      “You’re English, like Mrs. Anderson”—the first boy got out before letting the last word fade—“was.”

      “Yes,” Harris somberly agreed. “She was my sister.”

      “We’re sorry for what had happened,” a second girl said.

      Harris nodded with a polite grin before gesturing towards the stairs and saying, “I’ll go get Ellen.”

      Before Harris got too far away, Jane told him, “Bye, I’m gone.”

      “Bye,” Harris said as he glanced over his shoulder.

      “Bye,” Allyson echoed from the other room as she dialed the number to the funeral home.

      Upstairs in Ellen’s bedroom, Ellen was getting clean clothes from her dresser when Harris knocked on her doorframe.

      Without looking, Ellen told him, “I like knowing why I get a ‘static electricity’ feeling, Harry.”

      “Yes,” Harris quickly agreed. “I can see the advantage in it.”

      When Ellen—with clothes in her hand—turned towards Harris, she asked, “So what’s up?”

      Harris gestured in the direction of the front door while saying, “You have a few mates at the front door.”

      “Who’s at the front door?”

      Harris shrugged before saying, “Boys and girls around your age. I didn’t count as to how many nor did I get their names.”

      Ellen glanced at the clock and saw that it was 3:22 P.M., before saying, “They’re my friends from school.”

      “Most likely,” Harris agreed.

      “So much for the idea of taking a shower right now,” Ellen said before putting her clothes on top of the dresser.

      “As long as you stand down wind, you won’t bother me,” Harris said jokingly.

      “Shut up,” Ellen retorted. Harris just amusingly grinned. “I don’t stink. I just like taking showers each day and I haven’t taken one today. Anyway I should find out who are all here.”

      Harris nodded in agreement before he and Ellen walked towards the stairs.

      The front door was open, and when the ones at the door saw Ellen and Harris descending the stairs, the first girl said, “Principle Holden made an announcement over the loud speaker about what happened.”

      “And it takes that for you to step out of your social circle and say more than two words to me,” Ellen accused as she continued to descend the stairs.

      “I talk to you,” she defended.

      “Saying ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ with a polite wave and a smile isn’t talking, Courtney; it’s being polite,” Ellen retorted as she reached the bottom of the steps.

      “Okay, well, see,” Courtney said with a gesture as if Ellen had made her point for her. “At least I’m nice to you.”

      Harris stopped walking a few feet from the door and listened to the conversation that was taking place.

      “Yeah, you’re nice to me,” Ellen agreed before gesturing towards the rear of the group. “But what about Billie, Marcie and Ray-ray?”

      “What about them?” Courtney asked while giving the two girls and the boy a quick glance over her shoulder.

      “You act as though they’re not on this planet let alone attending the same high school,” Ellen pointed out.

      Courtney moved into whispering distance before whispering, “Those three are the most unpopular three in school. And who names their son Ray-ray?”

      “It’s his nickname for Raymond Raye,” Ellen whispered back. Harris strained to hear as Ellen continued to say, “And I like you, Courtney. You’re a nice person—when you choose to be—but you’re so focused on being a part of the in-crowd that you ignore the ones who aren’t a part of the in-crowd.”

      “Yes, I heard all this before from you,” Courtney grumbled. “You—a person who can easily be a part of the incrowd if you choose to be—are friendly to all; the popular and the unpopular. What’s your point?”

      “My point is that Billie, Marcie, Ray-ray and even Jeanie have been my friends no matter who I choose to socialize with and therefore they’re welcome in to visit me anytime,” Ellen began. “You and the rest of the in-crowd, on the other hand, want me to choose between the in-crowd and the group who aren’t a part of the in-crowd. I’m not choosing, but I know that you and the in-crowd have; you chose not to associate with me. So—to wrap-up my point—thank you for your condolences, but if you and the others can’t socialize with Billie, Marcie, Ray-ray and Jeanie then I’m going to insist that you and your in-crowd leave.”

      Courtney nodded, and after a short deliberation, she turned towards Ray-ray and said, “I’m calling you Ray; not Ray-ray.”