My mother and I stood by as parishioners crowded around Sunny, thanking her and praising her performance. We walked around the building to the reception hall, where we were to eat and socialize and wait until the family returned from the burial. We were halfway down the sidewalk when my mother stopped.

“I have to go,” she said.

“Where?” Sunny asked.

“Work,” my mother replied.

“It’s Saturday.”

“I don’t really get days off,” my mother said. “I told Mrs. Haltom I’d be away for an hour, maybe two. She has a big thing going on. I was supposed to be there an hour ago.”

“Terrence will be sorry to have missed you,” she said.

I badly wanted to leave with my mother, to get away from my shame and back to Jamie and Arch and the tailgates. Sunny squeezed my hand.

“I think I’ll stay if that’s all right,” I said.

“Are you sure?” my mother asked.

“I can’t leave without seeing Terrence.”

Sunny lit a cigarette and held the pack out. My mother shook her head. She hadn’t quit, but she’d cut back. Mrs. Haltom had taught her that a lady wasn’t seen smoking in public, and never unless she was sitting down.

“How are you going to get home?” my mother asked me.

“I’ll drive him,” Sunny said.

“That won’t be necessary,” I said. “I bet I can get a ride.”

“From who?” my mother asked.

“Arch can pick me up,” I said.

“That’s a lot to ask, Charlie,” my mother said.

“He’ll do it,” I said. “That is, if I can catch him at home before he leaves. Is there a phone I can use?”

“Sure, hon,” Sunny said. “Just inside that door over there.”

I slipped away to the church office and called Arch’s house.

“Hey, bud,” he said. “Where the hell are you? The traffic’s going to be ridiculous.”

I explained the situation. “I’m sorry to ask,” I said.

“Forget it,” he said. “It’s important that you stick around. I’ve been to plenty of tailgates. How long do you need?”

“An hour or so, I guess. Thanks, Arch,” I said. “I owe you one.”

“More than one, bud,” he said. “But who’s counting?”

By the time I came back out, my mother was already gone. Sunny stood waiting for me, smoking another cigarette.

“Good thing I got a ride,” I said.

“She sure left in a hurry,” Sunny said.

“Yep.”

I was going to defend my mother, but thought better of it. Sunny would never understand.

“Come on, honey,” Sunny said. “I bet you’re hungry.”