"You got a lot of friends there, Jesse."
"Former friends, Paul, people I've let down. They'll all point and say, 'Look, there's Jesse Trapp. Coulda been great, but got messed up on drugs.Ruined his life. Learn from him, kids. Stay away from the bad stuff.' No thanks. I don't want to be pointed at."
"Rake would want you there," Neely said.
The chin dropped again and the eyes closed. A moment passed. "I loved Eddie Rake like I've loved nobody else in my life. He was in court the day I got sent away. I had ruined my life, and I was humiliated over that. I had wrecked my parents, and I was sick about that. But what hurt the most was that I had failed in Rake's eyes. It still hurts. Y'all can bury him without me."
"It's your call, Jesse," Paul said.
"Thanks, but I'll pass."
There was a long pause as all three nodded and studied the grass. Finally, Paul said, "I see your mom once a week. She's doing well."
"Thanks. She visits me the third Sunday of every month. You ought to drive over sometime, say hello. It's pretty lonely in here."
"I'll do that, Jesse."
"You promise?"
"I promise. And I wish you'd think about tomorrow."
"I've already thought about it. I'll say a prayer for Rake, you boys can bury him."
"Fair enough."
Jesse looked to his right. "Is that Mal over there?"
"Yes, we rode with him."
"Tell him to kiss my ass."