Small Town Girl

*Time Skip To the Day of the Funeral*

It's been about a week since Mom died and today is the day I lay her to rest. Brent has been my rock through this whole nightmare. He along with Barry, Zach, and Eric have helped me so much on getting things together for today. Mel has been kind of distant and moved out. It's like she shut down after Mama died. I don't blame her though. They were practically sisters. Jimmy and the guys of A7X have been there for me too which has been a relief. We all made our way to the church around 9 in the morning. When we arrived we walked inside to see Mama's coffin set up in the front of the room. The funeral director led Brent, Jimmy, Mel, and I to the front row and everyone else sat in the row behind us.Soon after more and more people filled the seats and the funeral began. Slowly one by one people came up to make their speeches or to share their memories with Mama. Some made us laugh and others made us cry. Finally it was my turn. I walked to the podium and took a breath and began to speak.

"Well, what can I really say about the amazing woman we're all here to say goodbye to? There's not too much I can say that you don't already know. You knew her as Ava and she was an angel to everyone and had a heart of pure gold. She was beautiful inside and out. Like I said, you all knew her as Ava but I was lucky enough to call her Mama. She was my bet friend and we had a bond that nobody could ever understand. Her favorite show was Supernatural. She has..had a major crush on Mark Sheppard who played the King of Hell. She use to tell me how dreamy he was even though he was an asshat." I heard chuckles from around the room. "Her favorite rock band was Shinedown." I smiled at the guys as they smiled back lightly. "And as much as she loved the guys and their music, she was born and raised a country girl and her all time favorite song was Something To Talk About". She would turn the music up and dance around the house while she cleaned, singing at the top of her lungs." I paused to chuckle through my tears and once again continued on.

"She is the reason I met my husband, Brent, and the 3 amazing guys who have all quickly become family to me. Our marriage wasn't exactly traditional, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Brent, Eric, Zach, Barry, you all have been my rock through all of this and I don't think I could ever thank you enough. I never would have met any of you if Mama hadn't been a stubborn ass." I said smiling. "She fell in love with all of you the day you walked in." I paused again to catch my breath. "She was the strongest woman I've ever known. She had been fighting since I was 15 and as much as it hurts like hell to let her go, I know she's finally at peace. I will never forget her. Like my husband always says, "It's never goodbye. It's just 'till next time." My mother and I have always loved that quote and we've always lived by it and today I know it's true." I finished my speech and sat down. Brent and Jimmy grabbed my hands and the preacher finished up. We then followed him to the cemetery to finally lay Mama to rest.

We all gathered around the grave site and the preacher once again said his part. As they started lowering her into the ground, I began to sing.

*She's never pulled anybody from a burning building

She's never rocked central park to a half a million
Fans, screaming out her name, she's never hit a shot to win the game
She's never left her footprints on the moon
She's never made a solo hot air balloon ride
Around the world, no, she's just your everyday average girl (but)

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her baby with a skinned up knee
A little kiss is all she needs
The keeper of the cheerios
The voice that brings snow white to life
Bedtime stories every night
That smile lets her know
She somebody's hero

She didn't get a check every week like a nine to fiver
But she's been a waiter, and a cook and taxi driver
For 20 years, there at home, until the day her girl was grown
Giving all her love to her was her life's ambition
But now her baby's movin' on, and she'll soon be missin'
Her, but not today, those are tears of joy runnin' down her face

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her daughter in the wedding dress
She gave her wings to leave the nest
It hurts to let her baby go
Down the aisle she walks right by
Looks back into her mother's eyes
That smile lets her know
She somebody's hero

30 years have flown right past
Her daughter's starin' at all the photographs
Of her mother, and she wishes she could be like that
Oh, but she already is

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her mother in a rockin' chair
She runs a brush through her silver hair
The envy of the nursing home
She drops by every afternoon
Feeds her momma with a spoon
That smile lets her know
Her mother's smile lets her know
She's somebody's hero*

By the time I finished, I was in tears again and Mama had been lowered to her final resting place. The funeral ended and with a promise to speak to her soon, we all headed back home.