Disclaimers: The following is a work of fiction. Meaning, that, the people and events are not real, and never happened, except in my mind. All the other usual stuff applies. If you shouldn't be here, don't read it. If you don't like it, why are you here? Comments appreciated, flames deleted.
This chapter is my personal favorite. I've been looking forward to writing this chapter since I envisioned the story. (Some of you guys are probably looking more forward to the NEXT chapter, and it's coming, uh, cumming, soon!!)
Get out your hankies, it's gonna be a sweet ride!!! ________________________________________________________
Jim continued to improve that Sunday. He was moved to a semi-private room early that morning. When he woke up, we talked about our engagement. We decided to tell our folks when they were all together. We got the chance shortly after church.
Our folks all got to the new room at about the same time. Our dads were friends again, and they told us about the shock they got when they checked at ICU and we weren't there.
"So, Jim, do you want to tell them or should I?"
"Tell us what?" Mom Mason asked.
"This will come as no surprise to you all, but, it's official. Timmy asked me to "marry" him, and I said yes."
Congratulations were lifted up from all our parents, and the four of them hugged and kissed us both. My dad jumped in and asked, "So, how do you propose to pull off a marriage? It's not legal around here, I don't believe," he was smiling.
"Well," I started, "we've talked about that. Mom Mason has already talked to Pastor Scott for us, and now Jim and I will talk to him as well. We know that it can't be a traditional marriage, so, we've decided to have a commitment ceremony. It will have most of the trappings of a wedding, with two rather large exceptions."
"No bride," said Dad Mason, with a big grin on his face.
"Nope, dad," Jim said, "No bride. And probably no preacher."
"Why? Can't Scott help?" my mom asked.
"Well, our church frowns on homosexuality, and we wouldn't want to put Scott in a predicament. If he wants to preside, that's his business. We'll talk to him. If he feels that he can't we may just do things ourselves, we just don't know right now."
"Are Phyllis and I going to get to give you boys away?" my mom asked.
"Well, mom, we're not sure how all that is going to work. We would really appreciate you guys helping us out. We'd like to have some kind of service, maybe at the Masons', since their back yard is so pretty, and then a reception or party somewhere."
"We could hire a dance band," my mom said to Mom Mason.
"And since there's no bride, we can split the cost of the service and the reception," Mom Mason said. The two of them huddled together in the corner of the room, planning our ceremony for us.
"Will the two of you be moving back to your respective homes?" my dad asked.
"Well, dad," I began, "we talked about that this morning too."
"I'm guessing that's why Jim is so quiet now," said Dad Mason, "because he talked so much this morning?"
Jim cracked a small smile, and nodded affirmatively.
"We talked about moving home, but, we've already gotten used to being together, and being apart would be a distraction, at best. We find that being together let's us concentrate on what is important, instead of thinking about the other, or needing to be on the phone all the time. Jim is going to be out of school for at least two weeks, maybe more. To keep his grades up, he's going to need my help, and my presence."
"I can understand him needing those things, TJ, but, wouldn't not having to worry about the bills make it less stressful for the two of you?" my dad asked.
"We're going to have to learn how to manage our money somehow. We're going to be married before we go to school, so we'd better learn to live on very little while we're close to home."
"But you're going to let us help you, aren't you," asked Dad Mason.
"Help, yes. Do for us, no," I replied. "We'll have to work that out, but not today, I don't think."
"Well, what are you going to do about school while Jimmy Lee is in the hospital?" my dad asked.
"I'm going to go to school, work half as much as I normally would, and stay here at the hospital at night. We've already checked with the nurses to make sure it was ok, and they said it would be. As soon as Jim can come home, I may need you guys to help watch him during the day, and the nights I have to work. The doctor said this morning that if he recovers quickly, he will be as mobile as a wheelchair can make him in two weeks or less. He's going to be wearing those three casts for at least six weeks, so, dad, can you help me build a wheelchair ramp at the house, I mean the trailer?"
"Hey, Randy," Dad Mason said. "You and I could do that in no time flat, either one evening this week, or maybe next Saturday. We'll need about thirty for forty feet of two by fours..." Our dads headed for the other side of the room to discuss building Jim a ramp.
I looked at Jim, and, through the tiredness, I could see his love for me, and a peace that was quickly invading our lives. I was so happy.
"What are you grinning about?" my mom asked.
"We're just so happy, and blessed," I said. "We have our families back, and you accept us for who we are, we're going to be getting married, our families are friends again, and the most handsome, sweetest, kindest, most intelligent man in the world just told me he loved me with his eyes. He didn't even have to say it out loud. I'm so happy and content, I could bust."
"Well don't get any of that busting on my baby," Mom Mason said, "He's been through enough this weekend, and he doesn't need his fiancée's guts all over him too!"
We all laughed at that.
Over the course of the next two weeks, my life was very hectic. Jim was getting better, and beginning to remember more about what happened. He remembered running past the place where I found him, and then, when he came back by, three guys jumped him. He still couldn't remember what they looked like, but he was sure that one of them was a student at school with us.
I was going to school every day, working two nights, and spending every possible minute with Jim. Most of our friends at school were horrified to find out what had happened. In fact, there was a pep rally that week at school and my dad brought up the subject. He started talking about prejudice, and hate. Somebody made a crude comment about "stupid faggots" which got some cheers, and jeers.
My dad stopped for a minute. He looked at the assembled students, and then called up one of our star athletes, who was a senior.
"Charles, do people ever make judgments about you, without getting to know you?" he asked.
"All the time, Mr. Parker."
"Why?"
"Well, some folks think I stupid because I'm a jock. Every body else that thinks I'm stupid thinks it's because I'm black."
"Charles, what is your GPA?" my dad asked.
"Right now it's a 3.95," he responded.
"How many remedial courses are you taking?" my dad asked.
"If by remedial, you mean non-college level, none."
"In other words," my dad said, "all the classes you're taking are the college prep classes?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you're the captain of the football team?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you work at night?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you're active in your church?"
"Yes, sir."
"So why do people think you're stupid?"
"Because I'm a black jock," he said.
"So, because they're actually too stupid, or narrow-minded, or bigoted, they try to make themselves look bigger by making you look smaller?"
"Yes, sir."
"Thanks, Charles."
(Before I go any further, or piss somebody off, I found out after the pep rally that my dad had gotten Charles' permission to make the next comment) He (my dad) turned again to face the students. "Without that dumb nigger that just walked off the stage, our football team would have never made the state playoffs this year. Oh, I'm sorry, did I just offend somebody? I mean, he is a jock, so he's dumb, and he's black, so he's a nigger, right? WRONG!!!! DEAD WRONG!!" he said banging his fist on the podium.
"There is not a person in this room that has the right to say anything to or about another person to cast a shadow on their integrity. Each of you is special; each of you is different. That's a gift you've been given. Unfortunately, there are some of you who are too stupid to realize that, so you're wasting your lives on drugs, and alcohol, and flunking out of school. You can call Charles a dumb nigger if you want to, but if you do, and he in turn beats you to a bloody pulp, you will be the one suspended, not him. I will not punish any student who responds to this kind of abuse any more. So all you knuckle heads out there, yeah, the ones who think you're so cool, I'm declaring open season on your attitude. I'm also putting on notice the young man who helped brutalize and rape my sons lover: you will be found out, and you'd better pray that it's the police who find you first. There are already many students in this school who are looking for you, with blood in their eyes. I pity you if they catch you."
Two gasps went up from the crowd. One, when dad said rape, the other when he said lover. He continued, "Oh, didn't you students know? The three guys that beat up Jimmy Lee Iverson raped him, apparently repeatedly, because he was different, because he loved another boy. Is that logical? To rape a guy because he likes guys? No, it's not. You know who you are, young man, and you will be brought to justice. You can take that to the bank."
At that statement, the majority of the student body erupted in a standing ovation. The people sitting around me patted me on the back, and Teri, who was sitting beside me, gave me a kiss on the cheek.
After that pep rally, Jimmy Lee began getting visitors. Lots of visitors. The nurses just took it in stride. Two days later, one of the "hoodlums" turned himself into the police. He said that he, his 19 year old brother, and another teenage guy from their neighborhood had been partying all night, saw Jimmy Lee, knew about him, and decided to have some fun, but that things got out of hand. The subsequent arrest, and trial of these three put the guy who confessed in juvenile hall for the rest of the year, but the other two guys went to jail for twenty years each, neither eligible for parole for fifteen years. It was a small victory, but we celebrated that spring.
Three days before Christmas break, Jimmy Lee came home, albeit, in a wheelchair. The ramp our dads had built was perfect, not too steep for getting him in or out of the trailer. They had also re-arranged the furniture to make it easier for him to get around, including moving our bed into the living room. That Sunday morning, when we went to church, we got a lot of nasty stares, but we also got a lot of hugs, and kind comments from people who said they had been praying for us. All in all, it was a good day.
Jim's mom sent us a live Christmas tree, and several boxes of decorations. My folks gave us an early Christmas present by paying our rent for three months. Jims folks did the same, so our rent was paid through the end of the year. That freed up some of my time, so I could be home more, and freed up our money, so we could get our family Christmas presents.
Jims mom came and got him to take him shopping for me, and then stayed at the trailer with him so I could go shopping for him. Christmas day proved how much we thought alike, as we had each bought the other a pinkie ring as an engagement ring. Each was a solitaire diamond, and both of us had engraved our initials, and the actual date of our engagement in the rings. It was almost spooky.
We woke up, at our house on Christmas morning, and for the first time in weeks, just lay in bed, holding each other. We spent the rest of the day visiting our respective families. My folks for lunch, and his for dinner. We all had a wonderful time, and we knew that healing was finally coming.
The week after Christmas, Jim got the cast off his arm, and the second week of January, he got his leg casts off. His golf rhythm has never been the same, but he still shoots a mean 18. The rest of the spring was spent studying, and preparing for our commitment ceremony, which was planned for Saturday, June the 19th, a week after graduation.
We both graduated in the top ten percent of our class, and when each of us walked to receive our diplomas, my dad handed them to us. Those were the only two he passed out.
We had been to Pastor Scott for pre-marriage counseling, like he would do for a heterosexual couple. It was very helpful, and not always easy. We learned things about each other we didn't know, but we grew closer than we'd thought possible.
The magic day finally arrived. We each spent the night at our own parents' houses, so that we wouldn't see each other before the ceremony.
The ceremony was set for 5pm. It was to be followed by a sit down dinner reception at the country club where Jim and our dads played golf. Surprisingly, the guest list was over 100, and they almost all showed up!! It was amazing. Our grandparents came and supported us, even if they disagreed with our lifestyle. They figured better to be a part of something you don't agree with, than to be completely excluded.
I don't want to sound like some blushing bride, but I had dreamed of this day every since I knew in my heart I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jim. There had been countless hours of determining just what to say, and do. We thought it was going to be special, a celebration of who we are, our commitment to each other, and our families commitment to us. It promised to be a great day.
Jims' mom insisted on us getting invitations. It took a while to find a printer who agreed to what we wanted. In a simple, white card with two rings intertwined on the front, the inside read:
Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Timothy Parker, Sr.
and
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley James Iverson
proudly invite you to join them at the commitment ceremony
of their sons,
Randolph Timothy Parker, Jr
and
James Lee Iverson
on Saturday, June 19, 1982 at 5 o'clock in the evening.
Reception following at the XXXX XXXXX Country Club hall
after the ceremony
(Sorry, not giving away where we live. Privacy, and all that stuff)
The cards were beautiful, and included a RSVP for both the ceremony and the dinner. Out of all the people we invited, only four declined to come, and three of those were because of out of town vacations that had non-refundable deposits.
Like any "joining" ceremony (wedding) we had to pick colors and a theme. We wound up with navy blue and kelly green (hey, it was 1982 for pete's sake!! What do you expect from two preppies?) We had the ceremony at the Mason's house in the back yard. The magnolia trees were their beautiful deep green, there was a trellis we rented and covered in magnolia and gardenia flowers, and lots of greenery. We were going to go so far as to buy a trinity candle, but, with the wind the way it is, we knew it wouldn't stay lit, so we figured out something original to show how our two families were merging.
Both of us had two "groomsmen" and our fathers both acted as best men. The groomsmen doubled as ushers. Pastor Scott had talked with Pastor Jenkins about being a type of "master of ceremonies" as a friend, not in the office of pastor, and making that clear to the assembled people. Pastor Jenkins agreed that it would be ok. We had Teri and Susan man the guest register, and, except for our moms, they were the only females included in the ceremony, except for Caroline. She and Fred sang a duet of "Always and Forever" during the prelude time. And, except for that song, all the other prelude music was "DJ'd" by Fred. It was all classical music that Jim and I both liked. (We both preferred country music to the disco/dance music fad that was the rage in the early '80's)
Finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived. We had decided to stay apart from each other all day, and even when the folks and I got to the Iverson's house, Jim and I were kept from each other. Our moms took this tradition of not seeing each other so far as to go out opposite sides of the house from each other. This not being a regular wedding, we entered a little differently. We chose Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" to walk in by. It is a grand, majestic piece of music, and ends on a high, expectant note. Our groomsmen walked in one at a time ("Fanfare" is a four minute song, and I wanted the whole thing to play. David, my former piano instructor, took over manning the stereo for Fred from this point out). Then, our moms walked around the opposite corners of the house from each other, and met at the back of the seating area. Jims' mom was beautiful in a navy blue, tea length dress made of satin. There was some kind of netting that covered the top part of her dress that set it of beautifully. She wore a corsage of orchids, like my mom did. My mom wore a similar dress, sans the netting, but of kelly green. Both our moms had their dresses tailor made for our wedding, and they both looked spectacular. They waited at the back of the seating area, as Jim and I came around the back of the house. We had both elected to wear white, identical tuxedos, with white bow ties, cummerbunds and shoes. We both had our mizpahs out, over out shirts. We walked and stood behind our respective moms. Our dads walked out with us, but walking behind us. Where the groomsmen wore kelly green bowties and cummerbunds, our dads wore navy blue. When the six of us were at the back of the seating area, we turned and headed up the aisle. Since there was no bride, the "congregation" was not asked to stand, but they did, I guess out of respect. It was VERY touching.
When we got to the front of the seating area, our respective moms turned and kissed their son, and then each kissed the other son, and they sat down. Jim, our dads and I headed up front to Pastor Scott. Our dad's took their respective places beside us guys.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Pastor Scott began, "we are gathered here today with friends and family, and before God to witness something unusual. While I am not here as a pastor, or as an official of the state of North Carolina, I am here as friend and counselor to two fine young men who have decided to commit themselves, one to another. We have talked, at length, about commitment, about the struggles any couple would have, and, the special struggles they will face. I am satisfied that they are approaching this decision soberly, and confidently."
"This ceremony is not a wedding. It is a unique celebration of love between these two men. They have decided to spend their lives together, and want to proclaim to their friends and families their friendship, and deep, abiding love for each other. So we, their friends and family, are gathered today, to witness, and to share in this special moment."
"At this point in a wedding, the question would be asked about who gives this bride. But no bride is being given. However, consent, and blessing are being given by both families."
At this point Jim and I turned and faced our respective dads.
Pastor Scott continued, "For TJ's 17th birthday, Jimmy Lee gave him a special present. Actually, a present for both of them. The necklaces you see them wearing are special things. They are mizpah. The inscription on the front, broken by they jagged line you see reads "The Lord watch between me and thee while we are away from each other."
Jim and I reached up, and undid the clasps of our necklaces and took them off.
"Brad and Randy have come to grips with the unusual nature of their sons' relationship, and support their sons' decision. They support their boys, and love them, unconditionally."
Jim and I reached up, and fastened our respective necklace around our dads' necks, and together we said, "God watch between you and me, dad, while we are apart from each other."
Pastor Scott continued, "Jimmy Lee and TJ have worked on their own vows, and have brought each other a token of their love, and commitment. Guys."
We had decided that, because of what Jimmy Lee wanted to say in light of the attack, that I would go first. We faced each other, and joined both of our hands.
I started, "James Lee Iverson, you have been my best friend since first grade. You have always loved me, and protected me, lifted me up, consoled me, and made me feel good about myself. You have been there when I needed you. You are so dear to me. All I am is yours. My possessions, my dreams, and my heart. I freely give myself to you, my life partner. I promise to love you, care for you, in sickness, and in health, whether we are rich or poor, in good times and bad. You are my completer. I submit myself to you, as your mate."
There was sniffling everywhere, including Jim and me. He looked into my eyes. I could see the tears, but the shining I saw was the incredible love he had for me.
"Randolph Timothy Parker, Jr., you too, have been my best friend since first grade. You know me better than I know myself. You try to meet my needs, and wants, before I express them. You are selfless, and caring, honest, and full of integrity. You have cared for me in sickness, and in health. You have been there when I needed you. When others wouldn't come, you were there. You saved my life, physically, and emotionally. All I am is yours. My possessions, my dreams, and my heart. I freely give myself to you, my life partner. I promise to love you, care for you, in sickness and in health, whether we are rich or poor, in good times and bad. You are my completer. I submit myself to you, as your mate."
David started the soundtrack for "One Hand, One Heart" from "West Side Story" and Jim and I sang to each other:
Jim: Make of our hands one hand Tim: Make of our hearts one heart Together: Make of our vows one last vow
Only death will part us now
Tim: Make of our lives one life Jim: Day after day one life Together: Now it begins, now we start
One hand, one heart
Even death won't part us now
As the music faded, and the tears streamed down Jims' and my faces (and, apparently, most every other face in the crowd) Pastor Scott spoke again.
"Jimmy Lee and TJ have also brought tokens of their love and commitment to each other. The rings, please."
Our dads handed us the rings.
This time, Jim went first.
"Like a circle, with no beginning, and no end, so is my love for you. This ring is perfect today, no blemishes, no dents or dings, and no inscriptions. Today, our love is perfect, no blemishes, no dents or dings, just beginning to be inscribed. I give you this ring, as a token of my undying love. Wear it to show all persons that my heart is yours," and he slipped the ring on my hand.
It was my turn now, "My love for you is also without beginning, without and end. This ring is without beginning or end. My love for you, and your love for me, is a precious thing. Gold, pure gold is too fragile to stand along. It is tempered with strength from other sources. You and I draw our strength from our families, but our love for each other is precious, and pure. There are no blemishes, or scratches on this ring today. As we go forward in our life together, we will be bumped, and scraped, and our rings will be the physical reminder or our love, our commitment, and the story of our lives. I give you this ring, as a token of my undying love. Wear it to show all persons that my heart is yours," and I slipped the ring on his finger.
I looked at Jim, and he looked at me. That moment is etched indelibly in my mind. The smell of the freshly mown grass; the gardenias, the setting sun; my life's companion, looking at me with such love. It was, and is, a magic moment in my life.
Pastor Scott spoke again. "Jimmy Lee and TJ have made vows to each other, pledged themselves to each other, and have exchanged rings, as tokens of their love, and promises. There is one other commitment they have made, with their families blessings. In honor of both families, they have merged their surnames together, legally. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure, and honor, to present to you, James Lee and Randolph Timothy Parson. You may kiss your companion."
We gave each other a chaste little kiss. The crowd, who were a little unsettled, seeing two guys kiss each other, stood and applauded. It was magic.
When the applause finally died out, Pastor Scott spoke once again, "There will not be a recessional for this ceremony. You are dismissed. The Parsons' and their families are staying behind a few moments to have some pictures taken, and you are welcome to stay as well. The reception is waiting, and the ceremony participants will be along shortly.
Getting all the pictures we wanted took longer than I expected, but this kind of photo opportunity doesn't come around everyday. Finally, all the pictures were taken. Jim and I took the Mustang to the reception, and our folks drove themselves. Fred and Caroline rode with us.
"So, where are you guys going for your honeymoon?" Fred asked.
"Like we'd tell you," Jim said. "I have no desire to have my bed short-sheeted, or have rice in the bed, or some such nonsense as that!!"
"It was worth a try," Fred said, through giggles.
We finally got to the country club. In 1982, the beer and wine legal drinking age was 18, so Jim and I had champagne fountains flowing, and wine served with dinner. There was "wedding" cake, and we hammed it up when we cut the cake. There was an open bar for everyone before the meal, and dinner was served promptly at 7pm. Dinner was either grilled tuna steak, or a ribeye, with string beans almandine, potatoes Dianne, a fresh veggie medley, toasted garlic bread, and chocolate soufflé for desert. Of course, those having the fish were offered a choice of iced tea, or white wine, and those of us who had steak, got iced tea or red wine.
The dancing band played softly the whole evening. It was a seven piece jazz combo Jims mom had found. They were great. This may sound corny, but Jim and I did dance to the first song, which we chose. It was Anne Murray's "Could I Have This Dance."
Could I have this dance For the rest of my life? Would you be my partner, Every night? When we're together, It feels, so right. Could I have this dance, For the rest of my life.
I'll always remember The song they were playing The first time we danced And I knew. As we swayed to the music And held to each other, I fell in love with you.
I'll always remember That magic moment And I held you close, to me. As we swayed together, I knew forever, You're all I'll ever need.
The song is a waltz, and Jim and I had practiced long and hard how we would dance to this song. We were both pretty good dancers, and we were able to change back and forth leading without anybody being aware that we had changed. We gave everybody a good show, and we had a blast.
Next, our dads came and danced with us, first dads and sons, then "dads" and "sons", until our moms cut in, and danced with us. After that, the dance floor opened up, and everybody danced.
At one point, I nudged Jim and pointed out Fred and Caroline.
"I've seen that look before," he said.
"Really? " I asked. "Where?"
"Right here, in the eyes of my man," he responded as he leaned over and gave me a quick kiss.
I just smiled. I think even our parents realized that Fred and Caroline had fallen hard for each other. I heard my mom mention to Mom Mason "I wonder what kind of wedding they'll want?" and the two of them just giggled and moved on.
Just before 9pm, my dad signaled a toast.
"The Masons, and we" he gestured at my mom, "would like to thank you all for being a part of this special day. I would like to propose a toast, to our sons. TJ, Jimmy Lee, we, your parents, have watched you grow, from babies into young men. We have not always agreed, and will not always agree, with your actions and your choices, but we love you. You are sons any parent would be proud of. If we have caused you grief, or hurt, we're sorry. If we have brightened your days, we are glad. We have been, and will continue to be blessed by God in the two of you. We are happy for you, and very proud of you. You are men of integrity, high moral fortitude, and character. May your days, and nights, be filled with love, happiness, joy, peace, and fun. May you grow closer as every day passes. Bless others, as you have been blessed, and never, never forget your way home. Salud!!"
"Salud!!" Was echoed all around the room. Jim and I were in tears. As soon as I drank to the toast, I went and hugged my dad. Jim joined right in for a three-way hug.
Jims' dad stood and said, "Jimmy Lee, TJ, there is nothing I could add to Randy's toast to express our," and he gestured at Mom Mason, "thoughts and feelings. Randy and I flipped a coin to see how this would go. He got the toast, I get the surprise." Jim and I looked at each other, and then at his dad.
"Ladies and gentlemen, some of you may not know this, but Jimmy Lee and TJ have both been accepted at UNC-Chapel Hill under full scholarship. They will be living off-campus, but not in the apartment they thought they were going to be living in. There is a small artist's community next door to Chapel Hill, called Carrboro. Nice neighborhoods, close to the college. TJ, since you're the math whiz in your household, how about you coming here and reading this for me."
"Yes, sir, dad," I said.
He handed me a fairly thick document, which I glanced over, until I saw the following words: Deed of Trust.
"Oh, my gosh!!! Is this what I think it is?" I asked.
He reached over and flipped a page, pointed to a spot and said, "Start reading here,"
"Consisting of all the land and parcels located at xxx xxx street (again, you don't need to know where we live, sorry!!) registered in the county plat book number, (again, privileged info)." I looked up at him and said, "You guys bought us a house?"
Jim stood up and said, "They what?"
Dad Mason said, "Your parents and Phyllis and I tried to think what would help you two out the most, and, keeping you from being distracted from your studies is what you need the most. We know that the biggest bill you could have would be rent. We know that you, TJ, have money in a savings account, and you know that Jimmy Lee is getting his trust money. That should take care of everything except incidentals, so if the rent is taken care of, neither of you needs to work a part time job. Guys, go to school, put all you have in your degrees, only work if you want to, but most of all, enjoy being together. This house is not much. It is a two bedroom, one bathroom bungalow, with a screened in back porch, and a fenced in back yard. We four went up five weeks ago, looked it over, and paid for it. Do us proud, and become well known, respected in your own right. Become rich, and then take care of us in our old age."
Jim said, "Dad, I don't know what to say!"
"Don't say anything, son. You guys are going to have a rough life. You will face much persecution, and struggle. We just want to make things as easy for you as we can."
Jim took his glass, and raised it, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, to the four most wonderful parents we could have asked for. " He took my hand, and continued, "We love you, and we thank you. Salud!!"
"Salud!!"
Then our grandparents stood up. Jims' granddad said, "Boys, we've talked to each of you, and both of you about our feelings. We love you both, very much. We do not necessarily agree with your life choice, but we will support you the best we can. The eight of us have been in contact quite a lot lately. We know that you're planning on going down to our summer cottage for your, uh, honeymoon, I guess you'd call it. Well, here is a little gift for the two of you, from the eight of us," and he handed Jim an envelope.
Jim opened it up, and his hand went to his mouth, as he gasped. I looked over his shoulders, and could not believe my eyes. Round trip airline tickets to Cancun, Mexico, and reservations for a week at a resort.
"This is too much, gramps," Jim said, as tears started to flow down his cheek.
"This is our way of helping you to get your life together off with happy memories," he said.
"Just your being here, and this whole day is happy memory enough!" Then Jim told the assembly what we had been given.
I picked up my glass and said, "To our grandparents!! May God return blessings to you all, a hundred fold, for your generosity! Salud!!"
"Salud!!"
We mingled with the crowd a little longer, but, soon, it was time for us to leave. We had made reservations at a bed and breakfast thirty miles away for our first night together.
We went to the locker room to change into our traveling clothes.
"I love you, Mr. Parson," Jim said to me.
"I love you, Mr. Parson," I said back.
We kissed, deeply, rubbing our hands all over each other. That kiss, like all of Jims kisses, took my breath away.
"Uh, Jim, honey. We'd better stop, before I ravage you right here in the middle of the locker room. And although we can do that now, I really don't want an audience the first time."
He laughed and let me go.
"Are you happy?" he asked me.
"Deliriously!" I said.
"Me too!" he said as he grinned.
Every one went out with us to bid us farewell. We got the birdseed thrown at us, as we headed for...oh man!!!! They had ROYALLY decked out the Mustang. I looked for my dad, and he was doing his best to look innocent, but I knew better. And, I guess it was appropriate. They used blown up condoms instead of balloons. The car was covered in toilet paper, cans drug along behind us. There was a big sign attached (reinforced and tied to the back, I found out at the car wash) that said "Just Committed". We've still got that sign, carefully folded up in our picture album of our commitment ceremony. Our guests and Jim and I were the only ones that understood that sign. Jim and I got several strange stares before we made it to the car wash where together, we cleaned the car up before heading to the bed and breakfast.
It had been a wonderful, beautiful, emotional day. But the night had not even begun!!! ______________________________________________________
Sniff, Sniff my box of Kleenex has run out!!! I'm writing this story, and the trip to Cancun surprised me!!! I wasn't expecting that from the grandparents!!
Well, what do you think so far? Try not to bust your zippers waiting for Chapter Seven!! After this build up, I hope you're not disappointed!!!
Later, TJ