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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Abundance (06/08/06)
Her Bridegroom


Welcome to my Time machine as we travel back to Sunday, August 12, 1962.

********

Since January this year, Aunt Pearl has been working very hard helping mama and papa to plan the wedding. Our family does not have any feud with anyone in the village so an invitation, hand-written by aunt Pearl, was sent to every family in Wicky Wacky.

Mama has kept a list of the villagers who gave her ‘duty’ (money to help with the wedding). Next week, these families will get a big piece of Lydia’s wedding cake. A month ago, papa built a huge room – called a ‘Butler room,’ beside the kitchen. We started storing yam, red peas, green bananas, beverages and a mountain of fire wood. There are several quarters of mutton and what seems to be tons of smoked beef hanging in the kitchen. Yesterday my three uncles prepared the chickens which mama had been saving for the special day.

You should have seen the nine ‘cake girls” all dressed in white, walking in single file, carrying the cakes on their heads last Monday. As soon as they arrived, mama hid the cakes in her crockery-ware cabinet.
“If these are displayed before the wedding day, bad luck will follow the couple,” she warned. Every day during this week, aunt Pearl and daughters cleaned and re-arranged the house. It is now beyond perfection.

And today, I can tell, it’s going to be a happy day. Here I am in my pretty, frill top, steam-pleated, white satin dress, trimmed with lace. My flowery white hat has silky bows similar to those on my flower basket.


Lydia arrives at the church wearing a flowing white beaded gown with folds and cute little tucks. Even though it’s eight o’clock in the morning, a bride in a short dress is unheard of in Wicky Wacky. Her face netting veil, white elbow-length gloves, and beautiful bouquet makes Lydia real beautiful. She is always late for everything but today, she has made it to the church on time! Mr. Emanuel must have pleaded with her seeing that he is eager to have Lydia all to himself.

My gorgeous sister leads the way up the isle followed by her beautiful bridal party of twenty.
“Wow! Look at him !”
The bridegroom turns to meet his bride. Today Mr. Emanuel’s image has changed: He looks divine in his velvet suit, crisp white shirt, and black bow tie. He is like a King, a Priest. I am thinking that surely, this is what Heaven is like.

As they kneel in front of Cannon Taylor, I remember mama and papa saying that
Mr. Emanuel is an honourable man. Now today, he and Lydia were honouring each other on bended knees before God and all these people.
I am thinking that surely this is what Heaven is like.
I cannot understand why Cannon said to the couple: “Until death”…... How could he say such a horrible word as ‘death’ at this time when everyone is so happy?

**********

We are being greeted at the entrance to our home by three butlers throwing rice on the newly weds wishing them good luck as we assemble under a huge booth.
The Bridal table is unimaginably adorable !
The giant six-layer, mouth-watering, bridal cake was decorated with delicate rose petals. There were eight smaller cakes, a loaf of bread at each corner of the table, and dozens of fruits. The smell of curried mutton fills the air. Surely, there is not a shadow of hunger here!


Lydia sits at one end of the Bridal table and Mr. Emanuel at the other. It is fun time as the Master of Ceremony asks:
“Dear friends, do you think that Mrs. Emanuel should sit by the side of her husband?”
Whether you answer ‘yes,’ or ‘no,’ you have to pay some money which will go to Lydia and her husband.

I think Lydia should sit beside her husband because I know that Mr. Emanuel loves her very much. It is because of his abundant love for her while we are all here today celebrating. His love has spread throughout the whole village. We all love Mr. Emanuel too because he is so kind, patient and loving.

I am raising my glass to the words of the Master of Ceremony:

“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s raise our glasses to Mr. & Mrs. Emanuel: May they live like Isaac and Rebecka!”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Andre Kingston
06/16/06
I love the names you chose. Lydia, the Lady of luxurious linen sales and Mr. Emmanuel - Jesus. Very neat allegories happening. However, you made me, as the reader, guess the relationship between the narrator and Lydia. I guess younger sister. This should be cleared up within the first reference to the bride. Maybe by just adding "sister Lydia" or something of that sort. A little more detail about the bride and a bit less about the food too. Those are my only wishes as a reader. Good job. Miss Andre.
dub W
06/19/06
Starting the story in past tense, then switching to first was a little worrisome, but the essence of the story flowed. Interesting names, including the village. Kind of reminds me of some village scenes in Central America.