requiem, y’all

I was driving down the divided highway with JFA in the passenger seat. A police cruiser approached on the opposite side of the road, lights but no siren. Turned out it was leading a funeral procession.

The SUV in front of me quickly veered to the shoulder. "I don't think we stop for funerals," I said, a bit testy. I drove around the parked car.

"Actually, in the South, we do," JFA said.

"Up North we do, but only at an intersection."

"I guess we just care more down here," he teased.

"Seriously? People pull over for a funeral on the other side of the road?"

"Sign of respect," he said.

"Well, now I just feel bad."

"You should. The deceased just sat upright in the casket and said, 'Who's the jerk in the Civic?'"