My Sister Called to Say Mom Had Died—While Mom Was Standing Right Beside Me

carpet—play sand from a hardware store.

The church went silent.

“Ma—Mama?” Dominique croaked. “Is that you?”

Mama turned slowly to face her. “Who else would it be? Did you think a cheap cremation story and a bag of sand would get rid of me?”

Dominique’s knees gave out. She collapsed in a heap of silk and veil, grabbing at the hem of Mama’s pants.

“I thought continue reading …