| Working in a medium size mortuary in a medium sized | | | | apprentice understudy. I soon found out that Leroy |
| city in the Deep South has not been without its | | | | had never been on the inside of the funeral business. |
| moments. The outside world may think of the funeral | | | | I decided my main job was to see that Leroy did |
| business as always somber and maybe even a little | | | | more watching than doing. I had been in this business |
| bizarre but characters like Leroy Pepper provided | | | | for 5 years at the time and I did not want something |
| some occasional comic relief. Poor Leroy did not last | | | | Leroy did to ruin my stellar reputation. I had handled |
| long in the death business but he will be remembered | | | | over 200 cases at the time Leroy came on board |
| around here.Leroy's father, Herbert "Red" Pepper, | | | | and was in line for a management position at one of |
| was our flower truck driver and general handy man | | | | the branch funeral homes. I could manage a case |
| for around 22 years when he asked our owner to | | | | from the first call to the final disposition with our |
| employ his son as an apprentice. Red wanted in the | | | | resources at hand. Now for the next three months I |
| worse way for his son to have some kind of career | | | | had to think of something for Leroy to do. Mr. Coons |
| so Red thought the funeral business would be right | | | | is not paying this guy to stand around; I have to |
| for Leroy. Leroy may have has some knowledge as | | | | make sure Mr. Coons gets his money's worth from |
| to what his dad did for us but that was about it. I | | | | someone who really does not know this business.We |
| had met Leroy on occasion and felt that maybe he | | | | decided to start Leroy on Monday at opening hours. |
| had a minus IQ. All kidding aside I did not think Leroy | | | | With no services scheduled on this Monday I could |
| should be on the inside in the funeral business but the | | | | work with Leroy and see what I could teach him. |
| hiring decision was not mine to make. Mr. Coons, the | | | | Leroy was informed to enter the chapel from the |
| owner, hired Leroy out of loyalty to Red. Mr. Coons | | | | rear employee entrance. Leroy does arrive on time |
| was a no nonsense man but he thought Leroy should | | | | but he parks his car in front of the chapel and walks |
| have a chance.Leroy getting a chance to enter this | | | | in the main entrance. To make matters worse Leroy |
| business was fine with me except that I get stuck | | | | is wearing a madras sports jacket and is missing a |
| with this guy. Leroy had three months before he | | | | front tooth. Seems that Leroy's false tooth retainer |
| was to enter the mortuary science program at a | | | | was misplaced. ......Chapter 2 coming soon on ...You |
| local junior college so Mr. Coons made him my | | | | may reach Mr. |