The old minister—the same one from all those years ago—approached the front of the church and waited for the crowd to settle. Then, in a weak voice that again brought Matt back to when he was a boy, the minister began his remarks.

Something else hadn’t changed. Matt was able to tune out the guy instantly. Instead he focused on the caskets.

He swallowed at the smallest box. Matt said goodbye in his head. Tommy, I’m sorry the world won’t get more of you. You were loving, hilarious, and you came when we needed you most. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Goodbye, Little Man.

His eyes slid to the next box. Maggie. Matt released a sob. You were the heart of this family—the glue—and there won’t be a day that goes by where I won’t miss you. The world is a worse place without you. Even when I was away at school, you were with me—my conscience, my better angel, my proof in the fundamental goodness of people. Goodbye, Mags.

He had a fist lodged in his throat now. There was movement in the church, and he saw a figure take the microphone. The governor.

Matt eyed his mother’s casket, then his father’s. He wanted to say goodbye before the politician started blathering on. The rituals, the remarks, didn’t mean anything to him. He didn’t need the show.

Before he said his goodbyes, a siren wailed outside.

The sound intensified, and the church filled with a low rumble of voices. Matt turned and looked at his friends. Ganesh was making a what the fuck expression at the others. They all looked dumbfounded at the noise. Except Kala, who was from Oklahoma.

Matt heard her whisper, “Tornado warning.”

“All right, folks, I hate to do this,” the governor was saying into the microphone. Next to him, the minister was giving him instructions. “We need everyone to get down to the basement.”

The din of the crowd grew louder. “We’ve all been through this a million times and it’s probably nothing, but better safe than sorry, so let’s stay calm and make our way to the stairs.”

Quickly, mourners moved one pew at a time and marched up the aisle. The minister was at the top now, directing traffic.

Matt caught Ganesh’s eye. His friend gave him a sly smile and winked at him. It was an odd gesture, but somehow perfect.