Everyone gathered to pay their respects. When Jessie took to the makeshift stage and microphone, after the local band had finished playing Peter’s favourite song, no one objected and Mary smiled and nodded and looked on as he began to speak.

“Hello, hello, hello. Ehm. It’s good to see you all here to pay your respects to Peter. So many familiar faces, some I haven’t seen since, well, since then really”

The room was silent and he felt he was losing them

“I am powerless, God Help me” he muttered under his breath. Somehow the words came.

“Tonight was supposed to be about my paintings. Then that fucker over there went and died and ruined it all. Fucker.