She had a pink flower tucked behind her ear. The groom wore a black jogging suit. He had a pink flower pinned to his sweatshirt. They kept smiling at each other.
When in Rome started off by reading some love poem. I almost laughed, because I had this picture in my mind of her playing first base in her judge's robe. Then she got down to the important stuff, like the Do you take... question. She asked Grandma first. "Do you take this man to be
your lawfully wedded husband?"
Grandma said, "I do."
After that Buzzy Senior was supposed to place the ring on her finger. But just as he was about to take it from the lace pillow, the Ring Bear and his helper sang, "Surprise!" And they started twirling, holding the pillow between them.
We were surprised all right. Because as they twirled, the rings flew off the pillow and landed somewhere in the grass. "Oh oh... " the Ring Bear said.
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Everyone got down on their hands and knees to search.
"Suppose we can't find them?" Sheila asked. "Can Muriel and Grandpa still get married?"
"Don't worry," When in Rome said. "I'm here to marry them one way or another."
"Here's one!" Dorothy of Oz called, holding up a gold band.
It took a few more minutes before Bicycle Bob found the other.
"Okay," When in Rome said. "Let's give it another try. And this time, no surprises!" She looked at Mitzi and the Ring Bear.
"But surprises are fun!" Mitzi said.
"Next time you try that kind of surprise you're going to get a big surprise from me!" she told them.
They got the message.
On the second try everything worked. When in Rome pronounced Grandma and Buzzy Senior husband and wife. Then they kissed and everyone cheered. Well, almost everyone. A few people, like Mom, got teary-eyed.
The wedding barbecue was a huge success. Big helped Dad and Mr. Tubman tend the grills. Tony Ickle had brought gallons of ice cream. And Mrs. A had baked a blueberry wedding cake. So we all wound up with blue teeth. All except Fudge. He still won't go near a blueberry.
146
147
The party lasted for hours. Everyone was having too much fun to go home. Finally, the bride and groom fell asleep on lawn chairs. I knew how they felt because I was pooped out, too. Only the Fudge-a-maniacs were still going strong.
Sheila yawned and sat next to me on the porch steps. "Wasn't that the most beautiful wedding?" she asked.
"Yeah." I said. "It was the best wedding I've ever seen." It was also the only wedding I've ever seen.
Sheila smiled at me. "I just want you to know, Peter..." she said, in her kissy-face voice, "that even if we are related, I'll always hate you."
"That's a relief," I said. "Because I'll always hate you, too."
"Promise?" she asked.
"Promise," I said.
"Let's shake on it."
I put out my hand.
She grabbed it.
Then we shook.
147
When in Rome started off by reading some love poem. I almost laughed, because I had this picture in my mind of her playing first base in her judge's robe. Then she got down to the important stuff, like the Do you take... question. She asked Grandma first. "Do you take this man to be
your lawfully wedded husband?"
Grandma said, "I do."
After that Buzzy Senior was supposed to place the ring on her finger. But just as he was about to take it from the lace pillow, the Ring Bear and his helper sang, "Surprise!" And they started twirling, holding the pillow between them.
We were surprised all right. Because as they twirled, the rings flew off the pillow and landed somewhere in the grass. "Oh oh... " the Ring Bear said.
146
Everyone got down on their hands and knees to search.
"Suppose we can't find them?" Sheila asked. "Can Muriel and Grandpa still get married?"
"Don't worry," When in Rome said. "I'm here to marry them one way or another."
"Here's one!" Dorothy of Oz called, holding up a gold band.
It took a few more minutes before Bicycle Bob found the other.
"Okay," When in Rome said. "Let's give it another try. And this time, no surprises!" She looked at Mitzi and the Ring Bear.
"But surprises are fun!" Mitzi said.
"Next time you try that kind of surprise you're going to get a big surprise from me!" she told them.
They got the message.
On the second try everything worked. When in Rome pronounced Grandma and Buzzy Senior husband and wife. Then they kissed and everyone cheered. Well, almost everyone. A few people, like Mom, got teary-eyed.
The wedding barbecue was a huge success. Big helped Dad and Mr. Tubman tend the grills. Tony Ickle had brought gallons of ice cream. And Mrs. A had baked a blueberry wedding cake. So we all wound up with blue teeth. All except Fudge. He still won't go near a blueberry.
146
147
The party lasted for hours. Everyone was having too much fun to go home. Finally, the bride and groom fell asleep on lawn chairs. I knew how they felt because I was pooped out, too. Only the Fudge-a-maniacs were still going strong.
Sheila yawned and sat next to me on the porch steps. "Wasn't that the most beautiful wedding?" she asked.
"Yeah." I said. "It was the best wedding I've ever seen." It was also the only wedding I've ever seen.
Sheila smiled at me. "I just want you to know, Peter..." she said, in her kissy-face voice, "that even if we are related, I'll always hate you."
"That's a relief," I said. "Because I'll always hate you, too."
"Promise?" she asked.
"Promise," I said.
"Let's shake on it."
I put out my hand.
She grabbed it.
Then we shook.
147
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