Their little boy in heaven

“Mikey’s gone.” Mala said into the phone. She thought she had cried out, yet fresh tears leaked from her eyes. They ran down her cheeks and dripped off her chin. She dabbed at them with a handkerchief already soaked with tears. On the other end of the line, her mother sobbed. Katie had expected this call all night. She and his grandfather Wade barely slept. She answered on the second ring.  Her grandson, their beautiful grandson. Only 7 years old dead. She had prayed God would take her. Not him.

“Did…did he suffer?” Katie said, doing her best to control her words. The pneumonia had taken him. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to her husband. Katie mouthed the same words to him.

“In heaven.” Wade said, bowing his head.

“No mom. He…slept up…until a few…minutes before he…died.” She wept into the phone. “Oh, mom I miss him already.” Her husband, Jonah, stared out the window, seeing nothing, silent tears coursing down his cheeks.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I know he’s in heaven.” Katie said, wiping the tears from her eyes. Her husband massaged her back. “He…he was…such a bundle of joy. We’ll call the airlines and get the first flight out.”
“Mom, I’ve got to go. The funeral home is here. I’ll call you back.”
“Wait honey. Which funeral home?” Katie said her voice was wet with tears.

“Buckleys. I…I’ll call you later.” She ended the call and turned to face Jeff Buckley. He pushed the gurney into the hospital room. “Give…give us…just a minute, please.”
“Of course. Take your time. “Jeff said,” pushing the gurney to the wall. The little boy lay in the hospital bed. He appeared to be sleeping. Weeping Mala gathered him in her arms. Jon turned from the window and sat on the bed. He gathered his wife and son in his arms. Quietly, Jeff Buckley stepped into the hallway to give the family time alone with their child. While waiting, Jeff remembered all the children he had buried.

 Five minutes later, Jon stepped into the hallway. With red eyes and a shaking voice, Jon said. “I…I…think we’re ready.” Jeff nodded.

In the room, he gently lifted the little boy from the bed and placed him on the gurney. Jeff pulled the blanket up, leaving Mikey’s head uncovered. As he pushed him down the hallway, nurses lined the sides. Some with tears on their cheeks. Holding hands, still weeping, Jon and Mala followed their son. In the elevator, they held onto each other. Outside in the early morning light, they touched the cold little boy’s body. Jeff stood back as they said goodbye to their little boy. “I…I’ll bring his…clothes later …today.” Mara said.

“We can make arrangements at that time,” Jeff said gently. As he drove away from the hospital, he glanced in his side mirror. This mother and father were still holding hands in the early morning light. They watched the hearse disappear into traffic. Jeff Buckley said a prayer for this young couple.

Mara’s cell phone rang. “Hel…hello?”

“Hello honey. We’re on our way. Our flight leaves at nine. We’ll be there at four,” Karen said.

“Thanks mom. We’ll see you then.” Mara said. “My parents are coming. They’ll be here at four.”

Jon nodded.

Later at their home, Mara stood in the doorway looking at their son’s bedroom. On the walls were cartoon characters. His toys across the floor. She turned to her husband, standing beside her. “He was so little, honey. So little to face death alone.”

“I’ve got to call pastor and let him know. “Jon said.

“Please ask him to meet us at the funeral home at two, if possible.” She yawned. “I’ve got to get some sleep.” Setting the alarm for noon, she undressed and climbed into bed. Setting down heavy in the living room, Jon punched in Gary Michels’ cell number.

The pastor answered on the first ring. He had been dreading the call. He had stayed with the young couple until midnight. “Mikey’s gone, isn’t he, Jon?”
The young father broke down. Tears flowed down his cheeks. “Ye…yes. About five this morning. Oh, pastor how am I going to make it through the next few days?”

“Only with The Lord’s help. The whole church is praying for your family.” Gary said, wishing he could take the pain away.

“He…he was so little. Why, pastor, why did God take him?” Jon asked. “We are to meet with Jeff at two this afternoon. Can you meet us there?”

“Of course.” The pastor said.

“Thank you.” Jon said, wiping his eyes.

“You know, Jon, sometimes it is so difficult to understand God’s ways. Let me have a word of prayer with you. Lord, we don’t understand why you took our little friend. He was a joy to your church. We will miss him terribly. But we know he is safe in the arms of Jesus. Amen.”  

“Thank you, Pastor. We’ll see you at two,” Jon said.

“We will be praying for you and Mara.” Gary said before ending the call. Mara woke at 11:45 and flicked off the alarm. Jon lay beside her, staring at the ceiling.

“You’re awake.” His wife said.

“Yes. I was thinking about his first ball game.” He smiled. “Instead of running to second base, he turned around and ran back to home plate. ”
“I remember. He realized his mistake and walked back to first base.” Mara said, laughing. “Our little treasure.”

“I called in to work and told them our son died. They gave me the week off. Are you going to be alright?” Jon said.

“Yes. I kept thinking about our little boy in heaven and The Lord hugging him.” Mara said.

“I know you don’t want too but honey, you have to eat something. I’ll fix my famous omelet. If you promise to eat a few bites.”
“Okay. Give me a few minutes.” Mara said, crawling out of bed. Jon went to the kitchen.

After the meal, in which Mara ate about half, she went into Mikey’s closet. Hanging by itself was his blue suit. Earlier in the year she had taken him to Marly’s. He stood so proudly as Mr. Marly fitted him for his first big boy suit. She purchased new shoes to go with his suit. He begged his mom to let him wear it home. They stopped by the church so Gary could see his new outfit.

His secretary, Paula, looked up as they entered the church offices. “My don’t you look good? So handsome.” She spoke into her intercom. “Pastor, there is a very handsome gentleman to see you.”
“I‘ll be right out,” Pastor Gary said. While her son was trying on his suit, Mara had slipped away and called the church. As he came from his office, Gary stopped. “Wow. Paula, you were right. Man, that suit matches your eyes. You, my friend, will be the best-looking boy in Sunday school .”
Mikey stood before his pastor with a brilliant smile, his chest puffed out.

Now Mara wept. She hugged his suit. “Poor little baby. Poor little baby boy. Mommy and Daddy love you. You were my sweetheart.” At the funeral home, fingers trembling, she handed the suit to Jeff. With a sad smile, he took it and carried it back to where he had the little boy.

Pastor Gary stood with them as they picked out a child’s casket. Cartoon characters decorated the inside. Gently Jeff Wisk it away to the back. As they filled out the forms, a female assistant dressed the little boy in his suit.

“We have him ready if you would like to see him.” Quietly, his parents nodded. The pastor followed them into the next room. Mara almost collapsed by the casket. Tears on his cheeks, Jon held her up. “Oh, my little boy. My sweet little boy. How can I let you go?” Their pastor stood behind them, tears moistening his eyes. Gary placed his hands on their shoulders.

Jeff left this grieving mother and father alone with their child. Gary stepped into the funeral director’s office. “How do you do it, Jeff? How do you bury children?”

“It can be very difficult. But I picture them in the arms of Christ. I know he welcomes them home. The family has requested Wednesday at 2 o’clock. Would that work for you?”

“Yes, that would be fine.” Gary said.

At that minute Jon ran into the office, his face pale. “Mala collapsed. I can’t wake her up.” All three men rushed into the room. Mala lay by the casket.

Jeff knelt beside her, feeling her pulse. Very weak. A few minutes later, she opened her eyes. “I…I…saw him. I saw our little boy in heaven. He…he was playing with some other children.” She began to weep and smile. “He…he came over and hugged me.” She looked at her husband.” He…he…said he loved us. Honey, he was so ha…happy.”

“I thought I lost you too,” Jon said, tears on his cheeks. He hugged his wife.

“I’m so sorry. It’s like The Lord gave me a glimpse of heaven. Let’s go home. Mom and Dad should be there by now.” She patted their son on his arm. “Mommy and Daddy will be back tomorrow.” Jeff, Gary and Jon help her to their car.

At home her parents were waiting. As Jon drove into the driveway, Wade and Katie opened the door of their rental car. Mara fell into her mother’s arms, weeping. The men shook hands and watched the women with moist eyes.

“How is she holding up?” Wade said.

“It will be hard. We can only make it with The Lord’s help.” Jon said. Wade nodded.

 In the house, Mara took cold cuts from the refrigerator. She had just set them on the table when the doorbell rang. Soon, cakes and pies laden the table, and one man brought fried chicken. “I didn’t think you wanted to cook tonight.” Mara and Jon thanked him.

The next morning, they took the grandparents to the funeral home. With tears on her cheeks, Katie looked into her grandson’s face. “He was always a joy when he came for a visit.” Wade said.

. Katie held onto the edge of the coffin and wept. “He’s in heaven, Mom,” Mara said to her mother and father.

 “Yes, I know. But I’m going to miss him.” Katie said.

“He always brightened up our home,” Wade said, fighting back tears.

 The next three days were the most difficult of their lives. Gary stood before the attendees of the funeral. “We know, according to God’s word, that death for the Christian is not the end. I remember vividly the morning Mikey came forward. This little boy stood at the altar. With tears running down his cheeks, he told me in a halting voice that he wanted to receive Christ into his heart.” The pastor stopped and wiped his eyes. “Mikey, you were a blessing to our church. We will miss you. Lord, you blessed us with this little boy for seven years, and now you have called him home. Please help Mara, Jon, and his grandparents during the very difficult days ahead. Amen.”

A week later, Mara stood in the doorway of Mikey’s room. She had made the bed as she did every morning after he left for school. She dusted and cleaned the room and washed the one window. After gathering the toys into the chest at the foot of his bed, she vacuumed the carpet.

Finished, Mara closed the door on Mikey’s bedroom. Someday she would hug their little boy in paradise. Until then, she would always love him. In her mind, he would always be seven years old. There were other children born to Jon and Mara. But they would never forget Mikey. Their little boy in heaven.