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ds_flashfiction2003-10-21 11:07 pm
mamadeb.livejournal.com) wrote in ds_flashfiction2003-10-21 11:07 pm
Entry tags:
Marriage Challenge - With My Body
420 words.
Stella and marriage.
1980
Stella dumped her backpack on one of the benches, and straightened her turtleneck. It didn't quite match the washed-out denim skirt or the old Keds, but these were the only white things she had in her wardrobe. Ray was standing in front of the room, wearing his one and only suit, bouncing on his toes.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to talk to Prof. Larson, and Jennifer wasn't happy I'm not rooming with her next semester and...I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Here. I got these." He held out a supermarket bouquet. "Bride should have flowers."
She had to smile. She took the bouquet. "Thank you, sweetie."
"We. You could have a real wedding. A priest, a gown, bridesmaids...a church. You'd be so beautiful in a real gown. Not that you're not beautiful now, but."
She kissed him. "This is better. This is what I want, Ray. This is going to last forever."
He smiled at her as if he were the luckiest man in the world, and they turned to the judge, who was grinning.
And, if she was lucky, she'd even make it to Political Science on time.
1998
The room was packed with loud, happy people - cops, his relatives, her relatives. Even the Kowalskis showed up. Even he showed up. With him.
She wore a new grey suit, with a pale corsage pinned to the lapel, and Ray. Her Ray. Her new Ray. He wore one of his designer masterpieces, but on him it looked right and natural. And he looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman ever, like there was no other woman in the room, and no one else in his life.
And this time she wasn't thinking about her next case, or her next class. She was thinking about a bowling alley and a place where it never snowed, and a man who loved her but didn't worship her, and how tired she'd gotten of worship, even of the body.
And then she looked at Ray in what had to be his one and only suit, standing next to the Mountie the way she was standing next to her new Ray, and there was nothing of worship in that look, either.
She wondered if she'd still be married to him if he'd looked at her like that. And was glad he didn't.
Her Ray took her hand and smiled at her new wedding band, and walked her to the buffet table, leaving her old Ray behind with his true marriage.
Stella and marriage.
1980
Stella dumped her backpack on one of the benches, and straightened her turtleneck. It didn't quite match the washed-out denim skirt or the old Keds, but these were the only white things she had in her wardrobe. Ray was standing in front of the room, wearing his one and only suit, bouncing on his toes.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to talk to Prof. Larson, and Jennifer wasn't happy I'm not rooming with her next semester and...I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Here. I got these." He held out a supermarket bouquet. "Bride should have flowers."
She had to smile. She took the bouquet. "Thank you, sweetie."
"We. You could have a real wedding. A priest, a gown, bridesmaids...a church. You'd be so beautiful in a real gown. Not that you're not beautiful now, but."
She kissed him. "This is better. This is what I want, Ray. This is going to last forever."
He smiled at her as if he were the luckiest man in the world, and they turned to the judge, who was grinning.
And, if she was lucky, she'd even make it to Political Science on time.
1998
The room was packed with loud, happy people - cops, his relatives, her relatives. Even the Kowalskis showed up. Even he showed up. With him.
She wore a new grey suit, with a pale corsage pinned to the lapel, and Ray. Her Ray. Her new Ray. He wore one of his designer masterpieces, but on him it looked right and natural. And he looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman ever, like there was no other woman in the room, and no one else in his life.
And this time she wasn't thinking about her next case, or her next class. She was thinking about a bowling alley and a place where it never snowed, and a man who loved her but didn't worship her, and how tired she'd gotten of worship, even of the body.
And then she looked at Ray in what had to be his one and only suit, standing next to the Mountie the way she was standing next to her new Ray, and there was nothing of worship in that look, either.
She wondered if she'd still be married to him if he'd looked at her like that. And was glad he didn't.
Her Ray took her hand and smiled at her new wedding band, and walked her to the buffet table, leaving her old Ray behind with his true marriage.