I’m wearing all black on a hot August afternoon. Sweat beads at the bottom of my head and slowly rolls down my neck making me all the more annoyed as it does.

What a pain I think to myself, cracking a smirk at the trait that I stole from an anime character.

It might seem inappropriate to be joking around at a funeral, but trust me, this is far from your normal funeral. This funeral is for my brother’s hamster. Again, still seems sad, but hang on I’ll explain. The hamster has been in my family for 10 years, outliving any lifespan you’ll google for hamsters. He was in my little brother’s clutches for 5 of those years, puttering around until he finally passed of old age this morning. I couldn’t be more frustrated at my brother’s sentiment, because the hamster died completely harmlessly and peacefully. And we all saw it coming.

Whatever. I think, rolling my mind’s eye.

I look at Tyler, my little brother.

He‘s looking at the grass around his feet with a sad expression. I watch as he lifts his eyes to the grave and tears up.

I sigh as I straighten my huge hat. I walk next to the grave and turn to face my family.

“Peanut, Joey, Stella. All those names bring great memories to our minds.” I say from a desk that my mom put out as a make-shift podium. “Though we cannot say when or where this old pal was born,” its true, “we cherished him for as long as we could. God truly blessed us that day, bringing us a small joy, and now, he will bless God in heaven.” I say playing up the religion factor, “Bringing him the joy that we felt, and the entertainment that we loved.” I pause and look at my family's faces. My mom pats Tyler’s shoulder as he nods,and my dad supports him on his other side. My Brother Cole (19) and Sister Rose (18) look bored over a video call. Rose rolls her eyes, knowing that I never really liked the hamster.

“He will now have everything he ever wanted. A food bowl that never empties, endless fresh wood chips, and a field to run through instead of a wheel.” I finish, and bow my head to his grave and walk away.

We all walk back inside and my brother pulls me aside. “Thank you” Tyler whispers. I look into his watery green eyes. How is he 14? I touch his face.

“Of course” I say. I quickly turn away before I can get myself too upset.