that one definitely would look at twice. This happened at the morning ceremony. Now, when all the guests who came to the wedding were drunk and allowed themselves all the frivolities they have been dreaming about during the day, Billy could finally have a talk with an angelic girl.
Do you remember yourself at the age of 10? After all, Billy was exactly 10. He was terribly tired of his aunt's wedding ceremony. All these long speeches, insincere sob, left-handed oaths. And there was no children's menu! Adults never think about keeping kids entertained during these pathos events. In sum, he had to listen to the stories of some old dumpy woman with ginger hair (another forty-second cousin?) and to pick salmon with a strange fork (maybe, it was for dessert?).
It was not surprising that she seemed to be the most interesting guest on that wedding. She was his peer and the most beautiful girl of those he met.
— What is this? — She asked when they found under the table a blue paper clapper.
It was 3 o’clock in the morning and there was a lot of rubbish around: flower garlands, swans made of napkins. Even someone’s lone shoe waited for the owner near the chair, like a faithful dog. They could hear some howls of laughter from time to time. Most adults were busy singing karaoke, others danced like if they were drugged.
— Wedding vows. — Billy’s answer was. — Adults, they promise to love each other.
— It just doesn’t fit… “For better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance…” It sounds unrealistic, doesn’t it? Do they really continue to care for each other until death? Do they prove their love every day? — The girl wanted to get things straightened up.
— It isn’t to my knowledge. — The shyness came over him. — But we can test it out.
The girl giggled her sincere amusement.
And they swore their oaths. When Billy finally uttered “and thereto I plight thee my troth”, he was beside himself and got a knot in the pit of his stomach.
In that moment few steps away from the children the cork came out plop and someone broke into a laugh. The children's “wedding” passed almost unnoticed by adults. Everything would be fine, but less than an hour later a black shape loomed in the distance. The girl's mother was as graceful as a crocodile.
— Come on, Rose! Let’s go home. — She said and plucked her daughters sleeve.
The “bride” dumbly followed her mother. Billy has lost his tongue. Wedding vows, in substance, turned to be a letdown.
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