CHAPTER EIGHTEEN : RITES
Dwarg knew that shortly, there would be a time of severe upheaval within Aggie’s brain. Her flashes of neurons, nerve sensations and the plasmic stimuli activity was increasing in intensity. Most of these signs pointed to the forthcoming funeral for Robert Kellor. Even though he had a basic knowledge of many Human emotions, Dwarg knew that this particular event would be tumultuous. He would suspend his other activities and make a detailed study of Aggie’s sensations during this episode – he determined that he would remain in her background and not interfere with her natural Human mental and physical processes. In his investigation, he would also have to take into consideration, the fact that Aggie was not the average and typical young Human – she was mentally superior - after all, Dwarg was a part of her psych.
The crematorium with its high vaulted chapel attached, was surrounded by a lush green lawn. People had begun to arrive and small groups formed. Hands were shook, greetings made, anecdotes, chatter and gossip were exchanged. A black limousine slowly drove through the gathering and stopped at the door to the chapel – Edna, Aggie, Dan, Claire and Jade got out, smiled to the waiting assembly, and walked in. Edna wore a long black dress and Aggie wore a long black coat, both wore matching black veils, they nodded to Mr Jeroen, the funeral director and walked directly to the front pew and sat down. In front of them was the casket containing Robert’s body. Robert Kellor had come home.
The ever increasing assembly kept filing into the chapel, and it was quickly filled, and the directors guided the overflow to other areas where they could hear the ceremony. Some peered through windows; others crammed their necks to see - they were here to farewell their home-town hero. The director had reserved VIP seating along the second and third row of pews along with other invited guests – some included an official representative from the White House, the Governor and his wife, the State Senator, a high ranking officer from NASA, the supervisor of the county, and Derek the warden. Robert’s in-laws were not invited.
Two flags were draped over the coffin; the red, white and blue Stars and Stripes, and the green flag with the seal of the Abenaki tribe. A silver framed portrait of Robert wearing his NASA space garb, was atop the flags. Surrounding the photo were small pine boughs, some stones, shells and small artefacts, as well as Robert’s medals, badges and awards. The funeral notice had requested absolutely no flowers, and absolutely no photography or filming was allowed.
Dan gave a nod to the Director who in turn nodded to his left. An old man shuffled through a doorway and took up his position next to Robert’s coffin. He was splendidly dressed in the traditional native clothes of the family clan – he looked at the casket for an agonizing long time, then turned to the congregation and said in a tired and wheezy voice, “There are no right or wrong ceremonies – always do what your heart tells you to do. Do them in a good and sincere way and all of our relations of the past will understand – be thankful to your ancestors that you remember them in your blood.”
At that, a loud thump was heard and the congregation turned their heads towards it.
A second thump, then a third, then a steady rhythm of drum beats. The drummer came in and made his way, using short and springy steps, to the side of the coffin. He was also brightly dressed and adorned with multiple colours, feathers and trim. He began to chant a gathering song to welcome ancestors to join the ceremony. After that, he began another song to the Great Spirit and to the mother.
The old man shuffled his way to the front row where Robert’s relatives were seated. He lifted Aggie’s veil, daubed his thumb into a small circular container and placed a red smear on Aggies’ forehead, then Edna’s, then Dan, Claire and Jade. He shuffled back and placed a smudge on the drummer’s forehead then picked up a bundle of long white feathers. Both men began a different chant in which the old man would raise and lower both his arms skywards, then turn left and right to cardinal directions, pointing the feathers. His chanting words were lost on most of the congregation, only Edna, Aggie and the drummer knew what was being said. The chant went on for about five minutes and ended in an abrupt and eerie silence
Dan was invited to approach. He bowed to the coffin as he passed, then stood before the lectern on the edge of the dais and looked up at the assembly and said, “Come I, to speak at my brother’s funeral – he was of my blood, he was my friend. His soul will depart and be set free and purified by the swift purging heat of the flames, not dragged down to be clogged and bound in the mouldering body, but borne up in the soft, warm chariots of the smoke toward the beautiful sun, to bask in his warmth and light, and then, to fly away to the Happy Land.” Dan invited guests to come up and say a few words, and there was a steady procession of friends and acquaintances who had something to offer. Some told of stories of their involvement in Robert’s life, others of his exploits and discoveries, some kept their words short, others became unnecessarily bothersome with long winded oratories. Dan looked at his watch and by tact and diplomacy, halted those who were yet to come up. It was all taking just too long.
He looked at Aggie and raised his eyebrows in question – she nodded, stood up and unbuttoned and passed her coat to Edna, then walked over to where the old chief and ceremonial drummer stood. She was wearing her Jingle Dance Dress, and the congregation were abuzz at the sight of this beautiful young child dressed in a most spectacular and jaw dropping Native American costume. The dress, made of red, white and mauve colours, had small brassy tubular bells suspended in four rows around the chest, waist, hips and lower hem. The gold, silver and black shiny trim, the tassels, threads and frills which complimented the outfit, were a delight to one’s eyes. The assembly was hushed and as she walked to the dais.
The old Chief then handed her a beautiful fan of white feathers – the fan that Edna had spent so much time in secrecy making for her. He then placed a one-feathered bonnet on her head and again with his thumb, placed a smear along the length of her nose, then bowed. She walked to the front of the raised platform and said to the fascinated and curious audience:
“Lakamigwezo - I am Aggie Kellor, daughter of Robert. My father loved me so much that he gave me the greatest gift that a man can give – he gave me his life. The fire that awaits him will only consume his body that came from the Earth and will return to the Earth.”
“He believed in the immortality of the soul and that nothing can burn or consume that soul. I have claimed those parts of him, which the Earth could not. My father now lives in me, in my family and in you all. If you think upon him, you keep him alive. Think also often of your own departed loved ones and your ancestors - you are all they have – bodega kanni. Daddy did not want mourners at his funeral, yet we are human and must mourn at least a little, and we will be sad, and we will accept.
My father gave me this dress just after I became sick. To those of my tribe, you will know of the importance and the traditions. It’s called a Jingle Dance Dress. There would normally be 366 bells or shells attached – one for each day of the year – plus one for me. I’ve added another four, one each for my family. In honour of my father, my family and my ancestors, I will now dance.”
The repetitious drumming commenced. Aggie placed her left hand on her hip, and with her right hand holding the fan upright, she began. The first movement started with raising and lowering her heels and rocking back, up and down to the rhythm of the drum. With each movement, the bells tingled in unison with the drummer’s hypnotic beat. She would slowly sidle to, and around her father’s coffin four times, all the while the bells jingled. After five minutes, the rhythm increased and she began to do other steps, side steps, spins steps, toe and heel taps and began a soft chant of her own. She had not once, lowered the fan or taken her hand from her hip.
The assembly was engrossed at the spectacle and still coming to grips with firstly, Aggie’s poignant words and how wonderfully she had delivered them; secondly, the sight of Robert’s young daughter being so strong in her resolve in that she could perform
something this noble and spiritual. This was especially so, when grief and pain would surely overcome anyone, other than this obviously strong and focussed little girl.
Edna cried openly, Claire cried openly, Dan cried openly. Dwarg had to reduce his size to avoid the powerful turmoil of the emotions within Aggie’s inner self – her movements confused him further. Another three minutes went by and, all at once, everything stopped. The drummer, now sweating profusely, sat on the floor. Aggie walked to the front of the dais and in between gasps, said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the end of my dance signified Mourning Removed. Let there be no more mourning – it is done.” She walked back and sat down next to Edna who hugged her so much that it hurt.
Dan returned to the dais and gave thanks to the Old Chief and the drummer, to all those who spoke for Robert and to Aggie for her brilliant dance and to Mister Jeroen, the Director of the Brattleboro Crematorium, who had never seen such a powerful and emotive service. “As Aggie has so dramatically said, it is done, let there be no further mourning. We will let the fire cleanse and collect this warrior’s ashes. They will be returned to Mother Earth along the Turner Trail – a place from where he came. Please feel free to think upon Robert whenever you travel there.” He nodded to the Director who pulled a string which closed a curtain around the casket and a whirring of machinery was heard.
Arm in arm Dan, Edna and Aggie walked out of the chapel, followed by Claire and Jade.
The congregation, still in awe, watched them leave and as if on cue, they broke out in a thunderous applause. Everybody wanted to know about Aggie. Outside, she went from person to person, shook every hand and thanked each for attending.
It was late afternoon when the black limousine dropped them off. Lisa had volunteered to put on an afternoon tea on Edna’s front lawn. Other neighbours and friends were already there waiting. She saw to it that Scott had mown the grass and he had erected the canvas awning and the many nibbles, sandwiches, cakes, tarts and finger foods were prepared. “So how did everything go Edna?”
“Oh, Lisa, it sounds terrible, but it was the best funeral one could hope for – Dan and Aggie were absolutely wonderful – I’m so proud of them both – tell you the truth, my heart is aching with joy – what a great farewell – I’m just over the moon. Aggie, did I tell you how good you were?”
“Ah, let me think - just a few times, Aunt – I loved Uncle Dan’s talk – you should have seen the look on Aunt Claire’s face when he said those things – I bet you’re proud of your dad, Jade.”
“Yep, sure am. Mom, can I go sit on Scott’s truck?”
Old Chief Atian and the drummer came by some hours later with the earthen-ware pot containing Robert’s ashes and a box containing the flags, medals, photo and artefacts from off the coffin “Can’t stay too long Edna, we’re needed up in Maine for another service. Aggie, that matter we talked about yesterday?”
“Oh yes, I’ll go and get it now.” Edna looked at him with curiosity.
“It’s something our little princess will have to explain to you Edna – umm, love these little bread rolls.”
Aggie skipped to the house and came back with a package. She passed it reverently to Atian, saying, “May the spirit of Glooscap bless this dress and may it never lose its magic.”
“Thank you my child, blessings upon you and your family and your ancestors.”
As their taxi left, Aggie said to Edna, “OK Aunt, I’ll tell you all about it, Aunty Claire and Uncle Dan, you might like to know as well – you too Lisa.”
“Chief Atian told me that my Jingle Dance dress was originally made for his dzidzis, his grand-daughter, who was very sick. In a dream, Gichi Niwaskw the Great Spirit, told him that the girl was to wear the Jingle dress and dance for him and she would be healed. Even though she was weak, she began to step and chant and the magic of the dress flowed through her and she became well. Later when Chief Atian heard of my sickness, he contacted daddy and offered him the dress for me to wear. He sent it to Miami, but at that stage, I was in a coma and the dress was left at home. I was so happy and proud to wear it today and my chants were for the health of all of you.”
“I felt it was proper for the dress to be returned and Chief Atian said it would be cared for by the Nation and be held as a magical and sacred treasure. Hope nobody minds. I’ve kept the fan Aunt Edna - that’s now my special treasure.”
“That’s a beautifully story Aggie” said Claire with tears in her eyes. “Dan, when we get home, I want to know everything, and I mean everything; about your background and culture. You may think it’s too old fashioned for your taste, but you do have a damn obligation to Jade to pass on this heritage to him.”
“Yea, I think I needed a kick in the guts, and after today’s efforts, I got it. Claire, after all this, I think I’ve found a new direction – I’ve thought of some music and poetry to write - do you think Jade would like to visit a real American Indian Reservation before we head back South?”