The Main Hall was crowded. Every student, from first to fifth grade, was there. Some were talking, some laughing, and even a couple of fifth-graders were checking some pictures of naked girls on their phones. The principal approached the podium and cleared his throat, making the noise stop immediately. He talked about the life and work of Ronald Jeffers (or how they used to call him, Ronnie) — about how, by smilingly greeting every kid who got on his bus, he made their day happier. To honor his memory, they had prepared a bus-shaped coffin in order to give it to the family that afternoon. After a second of silence all the kids stood up, applauded, and stopped to a sign the principal made with his left hand.
That afternoon, Ronnie's widow got the coffin and made the school personnel place it in the garage. After they left, her sister asked her:
"What're you gonna do with it?"
"I dunno. He always hated that job."
"So?"
"Let's bury him in it."
Jairo Sánchez.
Short story written on February 20th, 2020
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