the circle of faces around us is familiar , all members of the congregation : stephen , the pastor ; carolyn , who was my mother 's nurse ; julia , who 's an all-around pain in the butt , if you want my opinion , but at least she 's here ; and finally i settle on corbett phibbs , the old quartarius who was my high school english teacher , who looks especially somber , his hands folded as he gazes into the grave .