Charles Richard Laing
Artwork by Zakas

None of us wanted to light the pyre. Instead, we just stood there and stared for a time.

"Maybe we should say a few words?" Tom suggested. We all nodded in agreement. But none of us opened our mouth.

"You know Dad," Tom said. "This is just how he would have wanted it. You know how he talked about a great big Viking-style funeral, just like something out of the pages of history."

Again we nodded.

"Well," Tom said. "Let's get this over with."

Leaning forward, he flicked his lighter and tossed it onto the gasoline-soaked logs. It went up instantly, giving off a blast of heat that forced us to back away. The flames climbed high into the night, igniting both bodies. It was an utterly perfect moment, but then Mom had to ruin it by screaming. We should have strangled her first, but it was our first Viking funeral. We'd know better next time.

The End