The day of my dad’s funeral was supposed to be a somber honor of his life, but it quickly turned into a dramatic expose. Vivian, my stepmother, and her four adult children showed up dressed in all white, which is not what people usually wear to a funeral.
Their bravado was shocking, and I confronted Vivian and asked her why they had decided to make a show of themselves. She showed them a letter that she said was from my dad and told them to wear white.
I was sure my dad would never ask for something like that, though. Vivian and her kids sat in the front row of the service and enjoyed all the attention.
Then Joe, my dad’s best friend, spoke up and told me something shocking. He had in his hand a letter written by my dad that showed Vivian and her kids to be selfish.
The letter said that Vivian and her kids hadn’t been around while my dad was sick; they only showed up when they needed something from him. They had also been stealing money from his accounts, which was even worse.
Everyone in the room looked at Vivian and her kids and then fell silent. Their arrogant front fell apart, and shock, anger, and shame took its place.
It was tense until Joe spoke up. “Vivian, you and your kids are not welcome here.” People who loved my friend for who he was, not what they could get from him, should be here.
The weight of the news was crushing. When Vivian realized she had been caught, her anger and shame were clear.
After one last look around the room, she grabbed her kids and stormed out, her pride broken.
The service went on, showing respect and honor for my dad’s life. The truth had come out, and fairness had been done.
When I thought back on the day, I saw that my dad’s knowledge and sense of right and wrong had won out, even in death. He had found out the lie and made sure that the people who had hurt him would pay for it.
My dad had the last laugh in the end because he showed Vivian and her kids for what they really were. His legacy lives on, showing how honest and dedicated he was to telling the truth.
