In the hallway outside Judge Goldstein’s Courtroom, Jeff and Mary were in an exuberant mood. Jeff had his arm wrapped around Mary’s waist. He leaned into her and put a kiss on her forehead.

“Mary, I’m sorry to have put you through this.”

“Luv, it’s as much my doing as yours.”

A smart aleck, walking down the hall, called out, “get a room.” The couple began laughing, Mary sang out, “tried that, didn’t work.”

An embarrassed Father Tim advised the couple, “Jeff!, Mary! There is proper decorum in courthouses... ” The word ‘courthouses’ was barely audible as Father Tim realized what he was saying. “Sorry, kids, that was almost as bad as one of Mother Theresa’s hoard, wasn’t it?”

Father Tim continued, “About the room, I may be able to help you with that. Do you mind if we are late getting back to Jeff’s place.”

At this point, they were approached by a man in a somewhat rumpled sports coat, his tie hanging loosely around his neck. He addressed Father, “Strickland, haven’t seen you in ages.”

“Murray, you still don’t know where to find a dry cleaner do you?”

“I heard that you dropped out. Now you show up with a Roman Collar, so I am going to presume that I am semi-correct.”

“The fourth estate never learns do they? For the record that means, ‘No comment’ ” was the priest’s retort.

Murray faced the young couple, he said “So, Jeff, you got the ‘Parkway Rapists’, good job! How about some juicy details for the readers of the Evening Bulletin? Some comments from the girl would be nice also.”

“Murray, leave them alone!” commanded Father Tim.

“Awh, Strickland, He’s a hero right now. Think how much mileage he can make out of his celebrity.”

(Timothy, can’t you get this cretin away from our daughter and son-in-law?)

(Katharine, I’m going to let them handle it. It will be good practice for them. I’ll be standing by if they need any help.)

The priest raised his eyebrows in the direction of his young charges. He perceived another outburst from Jeff brewing. “He’s all yours, son. Just don’t use any heavy hard objects on him.”

“I’ve seen the results of your celebrity. Classmates of mine were set upon by your ‘Parkway Rapists’. They suffered almost as much pain from ‘newsmen’ as they did from the lowlife who attacked them! If you in anyway identify my wife in your paper, I will see to it that you will sing ‘alto’ in the choir forevermore. That is, if you have a throat left to sing from!” was Jeff’s angry retort.

Mary clutched at Jeff’s arm and murmured. “Thank you, Luv”

With that Father Tim led his entourage away from the sputtering reporter. When they were out of earshot he asked, “Sing alto? Where did that come from Jeff?”

Jeff replied, “Read it in a book awhile ago. It just seemed better than saying he’d be ‘sleeping with the fishes.’ By the way, that’s from the same book.”

“Jeff, you wouldn’t really do it, would you?” inquired their lawyer.

“No, Father, I wouldn’t but it felt good saying it.” replied Jeff. “I might have talked to Smokey to get his input though. He is not the kinder, gentler sort of protector that I am.”

(Timothy, you promised me an answer...)

(Little One, I have an idea, actually many ideas. I just have to fit them together.)

Father Tim asked the young lovers again if they had to get directly back to Jeff’s parents’? They replied that there was no great rush. Jeff enquired how long they were going to be, he wanted to call and let his parents know how things were going. He added that as much as they didn’t deserve it; they should call Mary’s folks and let them know also. Father Tim suggested that they make the calls from his office at the Chancellery. Murray followed them at a distance as they went to Father Tim’s car. As they were getting in the car Jeff motioned Smokey out. He pointed to the reporter and said to his helper, “Bad man! Tell him that it’s not nice to be following us. But, Smokey, Father Tim says ‘no permanent damage’.”

Smokey bounded over to the reporter. He stopped short, a close leap away. Smokey thought, ‘I have just the thing. First though, a little fun.’ He lowered himself on his front legs and began barking. He kept his lips raised to expose his full set of teeth. Murray froze in position, not knowing how to react to the animal. After a few moments of verbal assault, Smokey stood and quietly walked over to Murray. He then lifted this hind leg and marked the poor reporter. Smokey sauntered away wagging his tail, leaving Murray with wet pants legs and soaked shoes. Father Tim and the young couple broke out in raucous laughter. Smokey looked to his pack leader and attempted to say ‘He won’t smell much worse than he did before and I can now find him any time I want to. ‘Can we go now?’

All four got in the car. Father Tim drove out of the parking lot in the direction of the Chancellery. When they arrived at the building’s parking area, Father Tim informed Mary that the cardinal was a dog lover, the bigger the dog the better. The cardinal had had a Newfoundland Retriever until recently. The dog had died a short while ago of old age. The Chancellery still had a run for the dog, so they had a place for Smokey to wait until they finished their business. The trio, or should I say the ‘Quad’, proceeded to the run and installed Smokey in his temporary quarters.

Smokey immediately set about examining the area. The scents that remained told him that this palace had been occupied by an old female who seemed content. Since the odors were old, he decided that he would lay claim to the territory. He took his time marking the area as his mistress, pack leader and their super-top-dog walked away.

The remaining trio entered the office building, Father Tim leading the way. In his office he seated his little flock. His next order of business was to dial the PBX operator and instruct her to place any calls originating from his phone as if they came from him. He then turned the instrument over to Jeff and Mary to make their calls. Jeff and Mary had another one of their silent conversations. The substance of which was ‘the easy one or the hard one first?’ Jeff mischievously implying ‘ladies first’: Mary replying that only works for pleasant things. The end result was they would call Mary’s parents first and get the difficult done.

Mary picked up the handset and asked, “How do I do this?”

Father Tim said, “Dial ‘O’, then tell the operator the number and who you wish to speak to, then you hang up. She will call the number and announce that she has a call from the office of the Cardinal, Archbishop of Philadelphia, for whomever you have named. When that person is on the line, she will ring back here and tell you your call is ready. You then thank her. She will then make the connection.”

Father Tim added, “We could simply ask for an outside line, then dial it ourselves. But when the operator does her spiel it’s really impressive.”

Mary picked up the phone and dialed the operator. She then gave the woman her parent’s telephone number. She concluded with, “I will speak to either, Mrs. or Mr. Theodore Baker, please.”

The telephone in Mary’s parents house rang. Mary’s mother answered the phone. When she heard the operator’s pronouncement, she became excited. “Ted, come quickly, the Cardinal wants to talk to us!”

Mary’s dad hurried to the phone. Picking up the receiver he said, “This is Mr. Theodore Baker!”

“One moment, sir”, answered the operator. She then connected the call to Father Tim’s phone.

Mary thanked the operator then began, “Hello, Dad. We wanted to let you know what happened this morning ....”

She was interrupted by her father, “Child, get off the line; we are holding for the cardinal, I’m sure he has important things to talk to us about.”

“Dad, I had the operator place the call. Jeff and I wanted to let you know what happened this morning.”

“Mary, I don’t appreciate childish pranks! Having one of your friends call us and pretend to be the Cardinal’s operator is beneath even you,” with that he hung up the phone.

Mary paused and stared at the dead phone, she spoke to Father Tim and her mate, “They hung up on me! They accused me of playing a prank on them. They refuse to listen,” at which point she began crying.

Jeff came over to his wife and engulfed her in his arms. He was silent, as he had no words that would comfort his love. Mary’s parents were worse than his parents. He had been upset with the way his parents had been treating them. That had changed last night when they sat and listened to his troubles. He was not sure the moment when things changed; his feeling was that it was when his father chided his mother about putting words in his dad’s mouth. When he thought about it, his mom was the one trying to keep him a child. She was the one to always refer him to his dad. His father most often turning the question back to his mother. But then his mother was the first one to include Mary as family. Now that things were improving with his family they were deteriorating for Mary’s.

Jeff had the operator place the call to his parents home and after talking to his mother for a few moments, he said “ Mom, Mary is better at the details than I am. I am going to give the phone to her.” He then handed the phone to Mary. Mary began, “Mrs. Baker we...”

Jeff’s mother interrupted, “Mary! Call me Mom or Mother or even Valerie. Hang on Mary, I want to get your dad on the other phone.”

Mary then heard Jeff’s Mom call out “Bill, the kid’s are calling. Pick up the bedroom phone.” The next thing Mary heard was Jeff’s dad saying “Hello, you two. How are things?”

“Mr. Baker, this is Mary. Jeff is here but he gave me the phone.”

“Call me Dad or Daddy, Mary. How’s that renegade son of mine treating his wife?”

Even before Jeff’s dad stopped talking Jeff’s mom broke in with, “Mary, are you ok? Is your arm hurting much?”

Mary began crying again. After sobbing “It’s doesn’t bother me too much. The hospital gave me something to help the muscles relax.” She then pushed the receiver at Jeff. Saying, “They aren’t mad at me.” She started to sob again.

Jeff spoke into the phone, “Dad? Mom?”

He was surprised to hear both his parents reply. They conversed for several minutes. Jeff brought them up to date on the morning court session and the encounter with the reporter. Jeff’s dad thanked him for calling. Then he reminded Jeff that his obligation was to take care of Mary. “Give her our love, and I want to meet this dog of Mary’s,” was his dad’s parting comment.

With the calls finished, Father Tim asks again are they really sure about being ready to get married. “If I work this out, you will be married according to the laws of the church, remember we are talking about forever here. I probably can make it true in the civil area too. Can you two keep your enthusiasm in check for just three more days? Be mindful that Mary will be taking a lot of grief over this. And quite frankly, I will be using you to make a point with a certain group of nuns that we know.”

(Katharine, apologize to Him for the omission of the cardinal in that statement.)

The youngsters gazed at each other seeking the other’s counsel.

(Timothy, I know they are good at the mind reading thing but everybody would be better off if you stepped out and let them actually discuss it.)

(Good idea, Katharine, I was forgetting which hat I had on. The lawyer in me was missing that we were in the Priest mode here.)

“Mary, why don’t I go get Smokey? I have someone that might like to meet him. While I’m gone you two can talk it out.”

Jeff and Mary acknowledged the offer with matched smiles. Father Tim excused himself and went out to retrieve the ‘pup’. In his absence the couple had a short but deep conversation. They were very certain that they wanted to spend their lives together. And as Mary put it; “not just for the satin sheets part.”

Father Tim knocked on his own office door when he returned. Jeff and Mary again marveled at the respect that Father Tim was affording them. They told him that they were ready to take his help on their ‘project’.

Father Tim said, “Ok, we are in agreement, lets get things moving.”

He explained his plan; he will marry them Tuesday at Mary’s school during the Mass for the assembled girls, with a full Nuptial Mass. Afterwards Mary will read her essay with Jeff at her side. If Mary is willing to just wear her wedding ring and forego the wearing of her engagement ring at school, he will give her ideas to include in the essay that will probably force a deal with the nuns.

Father Tim turned his attention to Jeff, “Jeff, this is not all on Mary. You two will have to have your own residence. Jeff, you have to be willing to take over Mary’s support and any family that ensues. Mary has a year of high school to finish, then hopefully you will both be able to continue your educations. I have developed a strong feeling for both of you. I am going to help out, much like what Katharine’s and my parents did for us. I still own the house Katharine’s dad gave us as a wedding present. I am going to rent it to you for $1 a year for the next 5 years. If, at the end of that time, Mary has progressed as far as she wants to in college, the house will become yours. If you are blessed with children during that time, Mary’s college will have to be worked out. Children would come first, however, I hope that something would be arranged to let Mary finish school. Jeff, I am hoping that the government job comes through for you and that there will be continuing education opportunities available for you. Should anything happen to me in the meantime, the house will become yours for rent already paid. I know that is awfully cold sounding but I have been a lawyer too long to speak like a parent effectively. Just remember our Sunday dinner arrangements, please?”

(Well Katharine how am I doing?)

(Timothy, if we can wash some of the starch out of your shirts, you are going to be a wonderful granddad. Even if we can’t get it all out, you will still be a very good one.)

(Katharine, Love you, Granny .)

Father Tim went on, “Mary, I want you to finish high school where you have been attending, as a married woman not a child who needs supervision. And I am not going to be looking over your shoulder either. Next, I am going to send you to a friend of mine in the state that borders us to take care of the civil end. In that state, you are both of legal age. He is an old lawyer friend who is now a judge. I have not yet talked to him, but I am sure that he will cooperate. I would do it in that state but I don’t have faculties there. It will be recorded in church records as if it occurred in Mary’s parish: the civil will be recorded in that state. When we get to Jeff’s parent’s house this afternoon, we can get started on the details.”

Father Tim then educated them on the significance of the, “Full faith and credence doctrine” of federal jurisprudence. e.g. ‘married in one state, married in all states.’

The priest then said, “Now, let’s introduce Smokey to the Cardinal.”

Father Tim led them down an ornate corridor, through a set of carved wooden doors into the office of the Cardinal Archbishop of the Philadelphia Diocese. Bypassing the empty secretaries desk, Father Tim rapped his knuckles on the door to the Cardinal’s office, then opened the door. Peering in, he said to the occupant, “Good morning Cardinal Paul, spare us a few moments?”

The Cardinal replied, “Timothy, who is included in that us?”

“Oh, a nice young fellow and his charges.” Opening the door fully, he allowed Smokey to enter the room. At the sight of the dog the Cardinal beamed. He crouched down asking “His name?”

“Smokey, Your Eminence,” replied Mary as she entered the room.

(Timothy! Are you trying to soften him up?)

(Of course, Little One! One makes use of the tools at hand.)

“Smokey, would you like to come over here? I might still have some treats left in my desk?”

Smokey sensed strong aura of genuineness coming from this new human. He thought this person must have been the old female’s master. She seemed to be happy, so he must be one of the good ones. The Cardinal rummaged in of his desk drawers and came up with a few ‘doggie bones’. He offered one to Smokey. Who took it politely between his lips. The pup turned to Jeff and Mary asking with his eyes ‘Is this OK’. A broad smile from Mary caused the treat disappear into Smokey’s cavernous mouth.

“Cardinal Paul, may I introduce Mary and Jeff Baker? They are members, in good standing, of the Diocese. Smokey is their companion.”

Mary, being more familiar with the proper protocol, started to genuflect. However, the Cardinal reached out and restrained her. “Mrs. Baker, that is for formal situations.”

“I’m sorry, Your Eminence,” stammered Mary.

The Cardinal then extended his hand to Jeff in the traditional handshake manner, while saying, “Always a pleasure to meet people who appreciate our canine friends.”

“Cardinal Paul, you remember that I have often spoken of wanting to become involved in counseling couples who are having difficulties.”

“Yes, Tim, I have heard your requests, It’s simply that I need your legal expertise more. Do you really want to have that discussion in front of this fine couple?”

(Timothy dear, just what are you up to?)

(A little hard nosed negotiations, Katharine.)

“Yes, Paul, I do.”

(Timothy, just Paul, not Cardinal Paul?)

(Yes, Little One, a lawyer tactic, anyway, his position is more political than anything to do with dealing with Him.)

(Dear, why do you keep insisting on calling THE BOSS Him? Maybe you should be saying She.)

“Some of what we need to talk about concerns them. It is Miss Baker and Mr. Baker although. They want very much to be Mr. and Mrs. Baker. The difficulties they are having is not with each other but with some of the more officious members of the church hierarchy.”

Tim continued, “Cardinal Paul, do you realize how many of our youth we are losing?”

“Yes Timothy, I do and it worries me”, responded the Prelate.

“Paul, if you let me have a freer hand, there are things that will help the next generation look on the Church in a better light.”

“Just what concessions are you looking for, Timothy?”

Father Tim replied, “For starters, I want dispensation from the announcement of the Banns for this couple. That shouldn’t cause any problems. They have had the same surname for all their lives. The reading of Banns would only create confusion. Just to be clear, Your Eminence, they have no consanguinity that, they or I have knowledge of.”

The Cardinal didn’t even blink an eye, “Done, Tim. What else?”

“Well, I want a hand in shaping the way we treat the next generation. The things that the system is trying to frost off on our progeny isn’t far from what The Cathari were doing centuries ago.”

Father Tim was on a roll as he continued, “We keep hinting that the role of married couples is somewhat sullied. We are especially hard on our young women. We constantly stress that Our Blessed Lady was a virgin mother and that they should some how emulate her. We don’t ever mention that she could have been remiss in her relationship with her husband Joseph. Or the sacrifices he made to protect her and Our Savior. We are turning the very thing that should unite a couple into something that is tearing them apart. Physical love is good and HOLY, why can’t we at least say that?”

Father Tim appeared to be exhausted by his tirade. He exhaled deeply and uttered, “Forgive me, that is my well formed belief, Cardinal.”

(Timothy, THE BOSS heard that! She says bravo!)

“Timothy, I hear you. But the system we have in place has worked for centuries. Incase you have missed it, women control religion in the family. So we have catered to their desires.”

“Desires?” replied Father Tim in a sarcastic tone.

“Yes, Tim. If we let them control ‘Physical Love’, they won’t interfere with our dictates in other matters.”

(Timothy, tell me I heard wrong, that is not the official teaching is it?)

“Paul, that type of thinking is just what I am talking about. ‘Physical Love’ as you put it is a gift from God, not a control tool! Within marriage it is one thing that should unite couples not drive them apart. It’s the very essence of the married state.”

“Timothy, I will give you until the end of the school year. On Monday, call the office, I will instruct them to prepare all the proper permissions and see them conveyed.”

“Cardinal, there is one thing I want made very certain, Mary as Mrs. Baker will be allowed to stay in her school until she graduates,” replied Father Tim.

“Yes, Mary will finish her education in the system. Just make sure she doesn’t flaunt her special status. Timothy, I am trusting you to keep everything within the bounds of Canon Law, you are the lawyer after all.”

By the time the negations were complete, Smokey had his chin resting on the Cardinal’s knee nudging him for more treats.

The Cardinal walked the group out of the building. They seated themselves in Father Tim’s car. The priest and the couple getting into the front seat, Smokey was ushered into the rear seat by the Cardinal.

Before parting, the Cardinal reached into the car and grasped Mary and Jeff’s hands. He held them and said, “My children, have a blissful and holy marriage.” He raised his right hand and made the sign of the cross in the air.

Father Tim put the car in gear and drove off. Mary and Jeff had many questions for their adopted parent. The foremost of which was, where was Father Tim coming from? They were heartened by his help but they did not know his motivation.

(Timothy, It’s time to let them know I’m here too!)

Father Tim started off with, “Kids, my wife, Katharine, and I desperately wanted children. Unfortunately, we never were able. Mary, when Mother Theresa set upon you and referred you to me, it triggered long forgotten desires. You hadn’t been in my office two minutes when I heard my soulmate whispering in my ear. She and I decided to adopt you as the daughter we never were able to have.”

(Timothy, Maybe SHE will let me talk to Mary directly, If that is ok with you, Baldie.)

(Katharine, I need your input, besides I miss you! I don’t want to lose that.)

(Timothy, I am here to stay for you, like it or not, [sound of a raspberry].)

(Thank you, Little One, I will figure a way to get you back for that one, be prepared. If HE lets you talk to our daughter, you have my blessing. Anyway, as I often told you I am not bald, I still have some hair on top!)

Katharine was gone only moments when she returned and announced to her mate, (She says that I can talk to Mary, and will be able to hear Smokey but not talk to him. You are going to have to talk to Jeff the old fashion way.)

When they arrive at Jeff’s parents home they were greeted with open arms and much emotion. Jeff’s mom sat them at the kitchen table. She put coffee cups in front of everybody. Then she poured steaming brew into each. Jeff looked questioningly at his mother’s performance.

The senior Mrs. Baker just smiled and remarked, “You two grew up overnight.”

The newly arrived trio gave Jeff’s parents a detailed review of everything that happened that morning, including their meeting with the Cardinal and Father Tim’s plan for formalizing their marriage. Jeff’s 5 year old sister wandered into the kitchen. Jeff’s mother attempted to explain to little Barbie that Mary was her new sister since she is now her oldest brother’s wife.

“I thought she was his bestest friend; is that what a wife is?” questioned Barbie.

Father Tim offered, “Out of the mouths of babes!”

Jeff’s mom spoke, “Mary, show her your rings. See Barbie, they are like mine, that is because I am Daddy’s wife.”

“Oh, then Mary is Jeff’s mommy too?”

“No Barbie, I’m still your brother’s mother.”

“Then whose mommy is she?”

“Nobodies yet.”

“Can’t she just be my sister? She could give the rings back.”

The adult group began laughing. Barbie was hanging on Mary and pleading, “Please, pretty please?”

The two older sets of Baker’s try to explain the concept of wife/mother husband/daddy to the young girl. They reach a point where they attempt to explain that because Jeff and Mary love one another, someday Mary will become a mommy and Jeff a daddy. When this happens Barbie will be an Aunt.

“Oh goody!,” exclaims Mary, “Jeff, let’s go some place and get started on Barbie’s niece or nephew.”

(Timothy, she sure has spunk.)

( Mary, can you hear me? If you can, just THINK yes. )

( Yes, who are you? ), thought Mary.

( I am your new adopted mother, Katharine, Timothy’s deceased wife. If you want, you may think of me as Aunt D. )

( Mary, pay attention to the conversation. I will be back to you when things are less hectic. )

“If I’m an aunt, who is going to be my uncle?”, asked Barbie.

Jeff’s mom got flustered at Mary’s quip. “Mary, not in front of a priest and little children!”

( Mary, that was a quick comeback, don’t worry about Timothy. He absolutely loves slightly suggestive one liners. )

Jeff’s dad winked and said, “Son, I knew you would pick a good one.”

Father Tim simply chuckled. Jeff’s brothers arrived home from little league practice. They rummaged around the room, looking for anything to fill their stomachs, Barbie told them, “I have a new sister and you don’t.” as she was bouncing on Mary’s lap.

The boys knew Mary, but had little interest in what they consider girl stuff. After all ‘girls are yucky’, aren’t they? In spite of that, they listened to their older brother explain that he and Mary had married and he would be moving out shortly. The young men began to negotiate what they consider the most important family matter; who wouldl get Jeff’s old room.

Valerie shooed the boys off, saying there is going to be more ‘girl stuff’.

Jeff’s parents wanted to know how the upcoming nuptials were going to sit with the church hierarchy. Father Tim related the Cardinal’s parting blessing.

“If anyone has a problem with it, they will have to take it up with the Pope himself and I don’t see anyone doing that, not at least openly.”

(Timothy, I will talk to Her. I am sure that She will give the Pope orders if it comes to that!)

( Now Mary, my daughter, we have wedding plans to make and there are entirely too many males present to do it correctly. But , before we kick the boys out, you must try one more time to talk to your parents. )

( Mommy K. do we have to, they have all but disowned me? )

( Yes, my child, just because they aren’t being good parents, doesn’t mean you can stop trying to be a good daughter. )

Mary reluctantly said, “Mom Valerie, could Jeff and I use the phone to call my parents and try to get things straightened out?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Jeff’s mom said, “I was hoping that you would try. Why don’t you go upstairs and use the phone in our bedroom, you can have a little privacy that way.”

Jeff stood and offered his hand to his spouse but he spoke to his sister, “Barbie, can I borrow your new big sister for a little while?”

Barbie responded with the certainty of the very young, “Ok, but don’t keep her too long. We want to play dress-up.” Squirming around to look up at Mary she continued, “some of my make-believe dresses will look pretty on you!”

Barbie hopped down from Mary’s lap, headed directly for her room. Valerie looked ruefully at her younger daughter, “She’s quite a handful; Mary, do what you have to do. I will find a way to keep her occupied this afternoon. You need to spend time with MY son. Now, for some rules of engagement. While you are in this house, he is my son and you are my daughter, so it’s MY way or the highway! In your home, it will be YOUR way or send me packing. Upstairs, you two, make the call, after, just remember it’s Bill’s and my bedroom, not yours.”

With the young ones gone, it was just Jeff’s parents and Father Tim sitting at the kitchen table. Bill and Valerie exchanged arched eyebrows and several other seemingly insignificant body gestures.

(Help, Katharine! Now they are doing it.)

(Timothy, silly boy, they are even better at it than our daughter and Jeff.)

The final piece of the unspoken conversation was a sharp nod of Valerie’s head.

Bill cleared his throat, then took a sip of his coffee. “Father, you have been so good with the kids, you should know that Valerie and I have a small problem.”

Bill turned his eyes away from the priest, looked to his wife, then stared at the table top. “It was during the war, Valerie and I eloped. When things settled down and I received an ‘essential occupation’ deferment, we tried to get married in the church. We were refused! In fact, we were told that we could not partake of any of the sacraments. Our pastor even went so far as to call the child Valerie was carrying a bastard. We walked out. When Jeff was born, we took him to Valerie’s parent’s parish to be baptized. We have raised all our children in the Church even though we are outcasts ourselves. We are telling you this in the hope that it won’t have some unexpected effect on our son’s and his wife’s future.”

Father Tim went into a slow boil, his blood pressure went through the roof.

(Timothy, Timothy Dear, slow easy breaths. Inhale...... now let it out slowly. I’m right here. Now is not the time for you to join me! You have much work to finish. Another breath, hold....relax; out with the bad air, let the anger go with it.)

(Little one, how do some people call themselves bearers of His Word? )

Father Tim composed himself. He took Valerie’s left hand, then placed Bill’s right hand atop his wife’s. With a voice filled with emotion Father Tim intoned, “Almighty Father, I beseech thee to bless this ring and the union that it has rightfully represented for the last eighteen years. In Your Name, I welcome this couple back into the fold.”

(Timothy, I have an one word message from Her, it is, “Amen” )

Katharine continued, (Psss. Don’t forget the Holy Water, it’s in your inside jacket pocket. The big ‘pen’ with the green top.)

Meanwhile, in the upstairs bedroom, Mary and Jeff were trying to reach her parents. They had dialed twice only to be greeted by a busy signal. On the third attempt, they got through, they were greeted with a gruff “What now?” from her father.

Mary began, “We’re sorry you misunderstood the call this morning. I have some exciting news. Farther Tim is going to marry Jeff and I Tuesday morning, we would like for you and Mom to be there.”

If our lovers thought they were shocked by the response to the earlier call, this one upped the ante several notches.

“You will be married, like bloody hell! You are too young. You have no idea what it is to be married. You can’t cook or do wash or even clean the dinner dishes properly. Just as important, you can’t seem to take orders from your father; how are you going to respect a husband’s wishes. And I suspect that so called boyfriend of yours thinks just because you are married, he can climb into bed with you. I will not have my daughter sleeping with a boy even though he is her husband! When you come to your senses and forget this nonsense, you can come home. Until then I don’t want to see or hear from you.”

“Dad, can I at least come home and get some clothes?” pleaded Mary.

“No, you may not. I bought those clothes: they belong to me,” sneered her father.

Mary did manage to get in a tearful goodbye before her father hung up the phone.

At Mary’s parent’s house, her father was still fuming. He decided that he would call the real Cardinal’s office Monday morning have him defrock that imitation priest that had barged in with his daughter last night. He bellowed at Mary’s mother to come to him. When she came, he informed her of his orders concerning his ex-daughter. He then told her to hurry up with his lunch, as he had a 3 o’clock tee time.

Back in the kitchen, Father Tim was beaming. He had been at this marriage counseling business for a day and he now had two sets of satisfied parishioners. He made the suggestion that the excuse for Jeff’s family to be at the school is that they are checking it out with the eye towards enrolling the younger children in the parochial school system. They had been chatting for about half an hour when Valerie jumped out of her chair, saying, “I’d better checkup on our lovebirds; it’s awfully quiet up there.”

Bill put a restraining hand on his wife, “Valerie, if the door is closed knock FIRST, or better yet I’ll do it.”

Bill went to the bottom of the stairs and called out in a loud voice, “Jeff, Mary, is everything OK?, Come back and join us when you can.”

Bill returned to the kitchen table. He spoke soothingly to Valerie, “Its hard to let them go, isn’t it. Give them some time and space. I’m willing to bet they will reward you by asking for your help when they need it or just to show you how much they appreciate you.”

An obliviously distraught Mary and Jeff arrived moments later. Mary’s eyes were puffy with tears. Her complexion was mottled with red blotches. Jeff’s appearance was not much better. Valerie shot out of her chair and enveloped Mary in a motherly embrace.

(Katharine, you better get over to her, it’s your turn to do something.)

(Timothy, I am ‘over there’ already, I have been quiet. She needs hugs right now more than thoughts.)

Bill said to his son, “I take it that it didn’t go well then. Is there anything your mother and I can do to help?”

Jeff looked over to where his mother stood with Mary wrapped in her arms, making soft cooing sounds. “Mom’s already doing it, Dad.”

Jeff paused then continued, “Her father not only has disowned her, he has thrown her out of the house, with just the clothes on her back.”

At the last comment, Valerie’s head swivelled in her husbands direction. With a rather pointed look at her spouse she announced, “That’s the final straw! Mary will be moving in with Jeff as soon as we can get back from some clothes shopping!”

“Mom, I don’t think that is a good idea. We sort-of promised Father Tim, that we would wait until after the ceremony on Tuesday before we ere...ea.., well you know. If Mary was in the same bed with me right now, I know, I couldn’t live up to my promise.”

Mary’s eyes shone as she looked to her consort. “They say male rape is impossible, let me tell you, they are dead wrong. Put me in the same bed with my Luv and I will prove it.”

“One court appearance per week is all you two are going to get out of me. So you better think of an alternative,” replied Father Tim.

( Mary, Timothy is a stick in the mud on this one. Keep the future in mind. )

(Katharine, I want to tell them yes, but I can’t. They have shown more maturity than I had hoped for.)

Father Tim offered, “Bill and Valerie, you should be proud of yourselves, you have raised a mighty fine man. A man, who any right thinking father would want for a son-in-law.”

( Mary, we have procrastinated long enough. The time for the males to leave is now! We have a wedding to plan! And figure out where to hide you until Tuesday. ;-) )

Before Mary could say anything, Valerie spoke out. “Bill, your car keys, please. Mary and I have some shopping to do.”

Bill rolled his eyes heavenward, “Son, in case you haven’t observed this phenomenon before, our wives are about to apply ‘the shopping cure’ to their problems.”

( Mary, don’t pay any attention to your father-in-law, shopping always brightened my day. )

(Katharine, I sense your hand in this. Mary is OUR daughter, I’m not going to allow Jeff or his parents to pay for her upkeep, at least not until after the honeymoon. )

(Timothy, we are talking about pocket change for us. )

Father, or dare I say Dad, Tim cleared his throat as a way of gaining attention, “We have things to go over before everyone scatters.”

They all settled themselves around the table. Daddy Tim asked who, ‘The Best Man’ and ‘Maid or Matron of Honor’ were going to be. He needed confirmation that they are Catholics in good standing. He was relieved when he found out that Terry and Pat will fulfill those roles. He could use school records to take care of that church requirement.

(Ok, Baldie, do you have any more priestly requirements? If you don’t, I am taking over from here! This is one time where it is truly women’s work.)

( Mary, I finally got Timothy’s attention. He will let us take it from here. )

Father Tim reluctantly told the group that he had to leave to get back to Saint Luke’s. He was scheduled to hear confessions that afternoon. Mom Valerie told him that they all would attend Mass the next morning at Father Tim’s parish. They would all come back here for a longer planning session, followed by family dinner. Thus started a new tradition in the Baker clan. Each Sunday they would gather for Sunday dinner at one of the households or, in Father Tim’s case the rectory where he was in residence at the time.

Before he left Father Tim gave Mary his Gimbles’ charge plate. He borrowed the phone to call the store. He talked with the credit manager who remembered Father Tim as Timothy Strickland, Esq. This gentleman is happy to honor Mr. Strickland’s request to issue a plate on his account to a Mrs. Jeffrey Baker. Father Tim then said to Jeff and his dad, “I would have asked her to use it wisely, except the concepts of; ‘charge plate’, ‘woman’ and ‘wisely’ don’t fit in the same sentence.”

(So there, Katharine! That’s the one I owe you.)

Father Tim continued, “This ‘Father Tim business’ is growing tedious. Bill and Val, from now on please just call me ‘Tim’ or ‘Timothy’, Jeff, Mary try ‘Paternus’ on for size. If that doesn’t work for you; shorten it to ‘Pater’.”

Mary and Valerie took off. They went directly to Patricia’s home to elicit her help in the upcoming events. Pat offers to shelter Mary until Tuesday morning. They then go to Pat’s mother’s beauty shop to ask permission for Mary to stay over until Tuesday.

Before she agreed Pat’s mom elicits the full details from the clutch. When the story was finished, Pat’s mom just turned up her lips, “Yes, Mary can stay. There is a price that must be paid though,” as she was saying this, she was winking at Mom Valerie.

“Patricia you and your ‘young man’ must stop pretending that you are ‘just’ classmates. You and your beau must sit down with your dad and I on the weekends and talk. Now to important matters: Mary, I will do your and Patricia’s hair Tuesday before ‘school’, provided that you have your Jeff and Pat’s Terry come in Monday afternoon to let me fix their hair.”

“Why mother?” came from Pat’s mouth.

“Call it advertising, Men are starting to wear their hair longer now. Maybe I can generate a little more business this way, besides then I can run my hands through that divine crop that Terry has! Don’t worry I won’t try to steal him. Your dad is enough for me.”

( Mary, with friends like these you may not need me. )

( Mommy, they are nice but I need you and Mom Valerie. )

 A shopping spree then ensued. What did you expect, two young women and a charge plate and that doesn’t even take into account a mother who does not consider herself of sufficient years to have a daughter-in-law. Valerie used her own charge plate, though. Besides buying her ‘Mother of the Groom dress’ she goes to the little girls department. There, she picks out an ornate dress for her youngest daughter, Barbie.

(Oh! Mary, I think your friend is such a dear. You need someone your age to confide in, Pat is just the type of person I would have chosen for mine. )

( Mommy Katharine, I’m so happy, except I don’t want to be here right now I want Jeff’s arms around me and his hands touching all my good parts. )

( Be patient, dear; you have the rest of your lives to enjoy that. And I do mean enjoy! The first time may be a little painful but then woweeee! )

( Aunt D. I don’t think the ‘first time’ is going to be a problem. When I was little, mom put me in a gymnastics program. One day we were practicing floor splits, one of the other girls thought it would be funny to push on my shoulders when I could not get all the way down. It tore something and I started to bleed from you know where. They called mom and she took me to her doctor. He examined me and told mom that it wasn’t a real problem. At home that night mom told dad. He became upset, he said that I was now damaged goods! I think that is why he doesn’t love me. With Jeff I feel whole. )

On the way back to Valerie’s home, they stop by the supermarket where Jeff and Terry work. Patricia ran in to inform Terry where to find her tonight and tell him their evening ‘Date’ will be a little different tonight.

That evening, Bill and Valerie and the two younger couples began planning the wedding. Later Jeff’s parents leave the two couples alone in the living room, after making comments that since Jeff and Mary are almost an old married couple, they can chaperon Pat and Terry. As they themselves might be in pursuit of things that are reserved for persons fully married.

( Mary, I am going to spend some time with my husband. You certainly don’t want me around right now. )

Oh, the floundering of the inexperienced. Jeff pawed Mary a little too vehemently until she exclaimed “Ouch, that hurts” where upon Jeff began to offer profuse apologies.

Jeff removed his offending hands. However, he moved his mouth to Mary’s ear. He nibbled easily at her earlobe, his breath exiting his nose went directly into his love’s inner ear. Mary shuddered at this intimacy. Her hands wandered to some new places.

“Luv, get your hands back where they belong! ”, murmured a somewhat incoherent Mary.

Jeff and Mary pushed the bounds of what was appropriate for betrothed. Unfortunately this left them totally frustrated.

Meanwhile across the room, Terry was questioning Pat. “I am ready to ask you a very important question. Do you think you can give me an honest answer, considering what they are doing?”

“What did you have in mind?”

Terry became very nervous, his mouth seemed to be suddenly filled with cotton. He summoned courage from some unknown depth. Then he blurted, “Be my wife?”

Pat’s response was to lean into Terry’s lips with an open mouth. She sucked his tongue into hers with desperation. Although she wanted to do more, the instructions she had received from the nuns prevented her from going further.

Terry was shaken to his very core. Patricia, the smartest woman in the senior class was willing to settle for a mere football jock ME? Sure, he got good grades and was in the upper half of the senior class but he was a jock. He loved physically dominating his opponents on the football field. The thought of trying that in life bothered him. He wanted his partner to be his equal, not a slave. Yet this woman wanted him!

Pat did not know how to react. Terry was so strong yet he didn’t seem to be willing to use that strength. She wanted him to overpower her. She then could have what she desperately wanted with out guilt.

Both Pat and Terry had similar thoughts: I will talk to Jeff/Mary and see what they advised.

Later that evening, Terry drove Pat, his soon to be mate, and Mary, his best friend’s wife, home. Mary hung back when they approached Pat’s front door. Now it was Pat and Terry’s turn to push the bounds for an engaged couple.

( Mary, may I rejoin you? )

( Aunt D., you’re back! Jeff and I had some exciting moments. Tuesday night is going to be a long wait. )

( Daughter of mine I have been letting you have your own life. You don’t need me to be hanging around during Jeff’s and your private moments. )

If there was sufficient light, the change in Mary’s complexion would have been very noticeable. Her cheeks became almost the same color as her hair.

( Mommy, am I supposed to break them up? )

( Not unless you don’t value your life. Cute aren’t they? Hey! I have a name for them. Hence more they are “Muscles and Boobs”. If we make it “M&B” nobody will be the wiser! )

( Aunt D, they are my best friends. I don’t like making fun of them. )

After a few minutes, Mary pushed over a flower pot to remind M&B that she was there and it was time to get into the house.

(Timothy dear, I think I may have been a little too forward.)

(Katharine, I am not the expert here. I love your irreverence, it keeps my starched collars from chafing too much.)

- - - - - - -

Sunday was a total blur for those involved. Getting the whole crew to Saint Luke’s to attend the 11 o’clock Mass took all the organizational skills that Valerie had acquired over a life time dealing with a husband and children. To make things more difficult, Bill was more amorous than usual that morning. Not that she objected, it was more than pleasing that he wanted to make love to her, but time was short. Men just didn’t understand the proper order of things.

Pater hosted the entire entourage for breakfast at the rectory. The talk was light. It avoided anything that had to deal with Tuesday. During a lull in the conversation, Barbie, who was sitting on Terry’s lap looked up at him and asked if he could be her ‘uncle’ when Mary became a mommy. Pat responded to that question for Terry with “Sorry, Barbie, he’s already taken!”

(Timothy, this is what I always looked forward to. We have a family now.)

( Mary, when you become a mommy, you are going to have your hands full with my grandchild’s Aunt )

After breakfast, the clan moved on to Bill and Valerie’s home for a strategy session. Many details were worked out all under the careful direction of Valerie and Katharine, so much so that Pater, Bill, Jeff and Terry’s input was totally ignored. In fact, the males were only allowed to speak when it was to say, “Yes, dear” or “Yes, Mom”. Mary had the largest speaking part but that was because that is how Katharine made her choices known. The only break before dinner was when Jeff’s Uncle Ralph called to tell him that he had fixed the glass in his car and that they could come over and pick it any time. All the males, save Pater, were then despatched to recover the car. Father Tim was instructed to remain behind in case a ‘liturgical question’ arose.

Dear reader, I will spare you the effort of hearing all the minute details. Rest assured nothing, not even the color of socks that Pater was to wear, escaped the scrutiny of our planning committee.

There is one item that requires mention though, early in the planning, Katharine noted that Mary’s difficulties with the nuns centered around her being ‘in uniform’. Let’s make the theme of the wedding mashal. “The Military has the ‘pomp and circumstance’ down to the ‘T’.”

On Monday Father Tim spent most of the morning on the telephone and in conference with several other members of the teaching staff. Katharine was constantly checking her list and reminding Timothy of all the myriad details that must be taken care of. Few of the people on the need to know list are spared assignments. The notable one is Jeff, his only tasks are to accompany Terry to the formal wear rental agency. There they will be fitted out in morning coats and striped trousers. Jeff is then to proceed to Pat’s mother’s hair salon to get his ‘DO’. He is to go home to get a good night’s rest. Terry’s other duties are to be a chauffeur for the ladies and since it had been discovered that he was the best typist was instructed to type letters to several establishments, authorizing them to provide goods and services and bill Father Tim at the school. Pat was to advise the editor of the school newspaper that it would be a good idea to get the paper’s camera ready to take many rolls of film the next morning (although she was not told why, just that she will be photographing). The trio is then hustled out of the building to perform their jobs. The first of which is to have Pat and Mary delivered to the showroom of the school’s provider of girl’s uniforms. There they are fitted for very special uniforms. These will be made as a favor to Father Tim. Next they are driven to a florist where Katharine ‘helps’ Mary pick out flowers for the festival. Next stop is Strawbridge’s. There, armed with swatches of ‘uniform’ material and Pater’s charge plate, they pick out shoes and fancy underwear in a proper hue to match. Before they left the store, Mary questioned Katharine:

( Mommy K, what do you look like? )

( Why do you ask, dear? )

( Lets go over the better dress section and pick out a dress for you. I will picture you in it tomorrow. It’s a memory I want. )

Back at the school, the two regular freshmen altar boys are brought in on the plan. They are convinced to help when they are told they will become part of a school legend to be told and retold again and again, even into the next century.

Father Tim presented the document he had received from the Cardinal’s Office that morning to the school’s principal. The letter stated that Father Tim had been authorized to institute several ideas that might keep more of the youngsters in the flock. It instructed persons at all levels of the school to give Father Timothy their utmost cooperation. Father Tim requested that the next day’s schedule be adjusted so that the entire student body attend mass in the morning. Then to make an announcement that if any student wished to receive the Eucharist tomorrow they should fast accordingly. The cafeteria should be prepared to provide a meal for the students after the mass. Father Tim then asked that rather than using the bleachers for the students, that the chairs be pulled out and placed. The arrangement should be such that the school band and choirs be in front. He had been in contact with the band and choir directors about the music to be played. Then, on the right side, a row of five chairs and on the left, a row of two. The next were to be the chairs for the students.

The school principal considered all the requests in light of Father Tim’s letter and a very unusual occurrence that morning. The switchboard had received a phone call from the Cardinal’s office, requesting to speak to a student, Miss Mary Baker. The student had been summoned. Since the Cardinal’s operator had not requested privacy, he, the school principal, had listened into the conversation on the extension in his office. The talk was somewhat baffling to the principal for the conversation alluded to things that he had no knowledge of but were known to the mere student. If he were to describe the conversation, he would report that once the student was on the line, she was connected directly to the Cardinal himself. The Cardinal asked if he could borrow the student’s pet dog for a couple of days. The Prelate made reference to the idea that Mary had more important things to occupy her time in the next several days.

The Cardinal then made a cryptic remark, “Thank you, Miss Baker, I will return him to the Baker family when you’re situated to take him back. While he is visiting me, he will be treated royally.”

Even more complexing was the final exchange between the Cardinal and the student.

“Mary, one of my aides talked with your father this morning, he assured your dad that Timothy has my full support. When you see Timothy, please, remind him that we need his help on that zoning matter at Thursday’s meeting.”

“I will, Cardinal Paul,” responded the young woman.

When the student and the Cardinal ended their conversation the school principal hung up his phone. He wondered to himself, “The Cardinal was speaking to the young lady almost as an equal not a lowly high school student. Then Mary had addressed His Eminence with a rather familiar ‘Cardinal Paul.’ The principal concluded that in dealing with this student in the future he’d best tread very lightly.

During the last lunch period, the PA system began summoning student members of the band, choir and the school’s award winning Drill Team to clandestine meetings. At these meetings the students and their advisor were asked to keep the secret.

- - - - - - -

Tuesday morning arrived all too quickly for most involved, most, that is, but not all. It seemed to take forever for our star crossed pair. Most of the faculty of the school ‘knew’ something was afoot. They did not have even an inkling of the magnitude. The student body was only slightly better informed. Approximately one hundred of their number had been drawn into Father Tim’s grand scheme.

Terry arrived as usual in his car. Instead of reporting to his homeroom he went to the backstage area of the auditorium. Had our ever vigilant entrance monitor been more observant, she would have noticed that he was accompanied by a another person. A person who was not a student at the school. The most unusual aspect entirely escaped her notice, for both wore khaki rain gear on a sunny day. Father Tim drove into the staff parking lot and parked his car. He came around to the passenger side and opened the rear door. Mary and Patricia emerged, wearing trench coats similar to their respective partners. Their arrival also went unnoticed by our favorite entrance monitor as she wasn’t charged to scrutinize the faculty entrance. Father Tim escorted the young women to the dressing room area behind the stage.

In parting, he cautioned them, “Get yourselves ready. Don’t open the door unless the person has the correct counter sign.”

Pat said, “Pater, we know what you have said but is this all necessary?”

“Patricia, this all part of a legend that I am trying to create; please humor me.”

The two young women proceeded to do those things that women do to get ready for a spectacular entrance. The seams of their stockings were check for straightness, hair was gone over so that it was ‘Just Right’; makeup in the form of lipstick and rouge was applied and checked for effect. The latter was in direct contravention of the ‘No makeup while in uniform rule’, although we may give them a pass on that one as their uniforms were a little non-standard. That and we won’t mention the stockings were also in violation of ‘the rules’.

The homeroom bell rang at preciously the appointed time as usual. In his office, Pater dispatched several of his student helpers to the homerooms with slips reporting that Mary, Patricia and Terry were present but under his supervision.

After attendance was taken, the public address system came to life. After the normal prayer and pledge of allegiance, it summoned the student body to the auditorium for a liturgical service. Precise directions were given as to the order they were to arrive and how they were to deport themselves. The first to enter were to be the faculty and staff; they were to seat themselves in the very last rows of chairs. The teachers were NOT to sit with their classes! The student body was requested to show the staff that they would ‘act their age’ without oversight. The young flock was admonished to pretend that they were arriving for a graduation ceremony. The order to arrive was; the Junior class, followed by the Seniors, Sophomores then finally the Freshmen. The PA system would advise each class when it was their turn. The faculty and staff were then instructed to deport themselves with dignity and no talking while in rank or whence seated. The last comment was made with a little mirth from the student making the announcements.

As the staff assembled outside the auditorium, doors the band' s percussion section began playing a Drum Cadence (mp3 of the music) . They took this as a sign for them to enter the room. Mother Theresa and her gaggle reluctantly followed the instructions and joined the rest of the teachers.

The students continued to follow the directions from the PA. The junior class men and women began to congregate around the entrance. Then at the bidding of the PA, they composed themselves. When the first ones entered the room the band began to play J. P. Souza's "Gloria" (mp3 of the music)

Next to arrive was the senior class. The band then struck up a different air this time they played Souza's “The Black Horse Troop”. (mp3 version)

Then the Sophomores began entering. The music this time was Souza's the “Saint Julian March” (mp3 rendition)

The last to assemble and enter were the freshmen. For their passage the band played “To Honor with Dignity (The Adjutants Call)” (mp3 of the music)

While the freshmen were entering the room, the color guard from the school’s Drill Team gathered outside of the seemingly empty school office. What they were doing was not something they had practiced, however, they managed to perform their appointed tasks well and with pride. The three standard bearers arranged themselves in the corridor. Centered and in the lead by a pace was the student carrying ‘Old Glory’. Behind him one pace to his right was a young lady supporting The Papal Flag, to her left by two paces was another student bearing the flag of the Commonwealth. The honor guard assumed position flanking the standards. This guard consisted of two men and two women students. Each male had his sword unsheathed and held upright in the center of his body. The females stood to the outside of her companion. Instead of a sword she carried a bouquet of red and yellow roses. The captain of the guard, with a pair of lieutenants at his side, then tapped on the office door announcing their presence.

He opened the door and strode into the room with his companions. Once clear of the door he stated in a loud and ceremonial voice, “Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Baker, the honor of your presence is requested in the school chapel for the wedding of your daughter, Mary, to Jeffrey.” This statement was accompanied by a salute from the Captain. Receiving no reply, he made a curt nod to one of his lieutenants. The officer made a sharp about face, then marched to the corridor and assumed a position three paces behind the guard. Once he was in place, the entire group moved forward three paces.

Back in the office, the Captain continued, “Mr. and Mrs. William Baker you and your family’s presence is also requested at your son’s marriage to Miss Baker.”

With that, the remaining lieutenant stepped forward and offered his arm to Jeff’s mother. The young officer escorted Mrs. Baker and her family to the troop in the hall. In the corridor a Sergeant of the Guard approached. He extended his white gloved hand to Barbie Baker. They formed themselves into the procession with Jeff’s mom and her escort behind the Mary’s missing parent’s escort. Jeff’s Dad came next followed by Barbie and her escort, then Jeff’s younger brothers.

The contingent started on their trip to the appointed place.

There was a knock on the door to where the female side of the wedding party was hiding.

Pat asked, “Who seeks entrance?”

Mikhail, one of the altar boys, replied “I am an emissary of King Shahryar’s Chief Wazir. I seek Scheherazade.”

Pat opened the door to admit the freshman boy. As he stepped into the room, he became spellbound by the vision in front of him. He saw a girl, nay! A woman! whom he knew, dressed in the most awe inspiring uniform that he had ever seen. It was cut from pure white brocade adorned with silver threads. The only spot of color was the round school logo (today we would say icon) above her left breast. Her head and face were covered with a large mantilla. The blouse she was wearing was not the usual plain white cotton one; it appeared to be fabricated from the same lace as her headpiece. Mikhail turned his gaze to the other woman. Her ‘uniform’ was constructed from material similar to the first woman’s except for its color. It was a deep emerald green and her mantilla’s color matched her jumper but only covered her head. Both dresses, while they were in the form of a school uniform jumper, had been expertly fitted to the women. If it had not been for the school patch each bore, no one would have considered them to be regulation school wear.

In that instant, Mikhail knew what he wanted to be his life’s work. He would follow in his father’s footsteps. He would be a tailor except that he would specialize in making formal wear for women. If he could make his dates half as beautiful as these, he would be the envy of the rest of the males in the school as well as having the girls fight over the chance to have him dress them for their proms. But for his prom, that honor would be reserved for his date alone.

Mikhail told the young ladies Father Tim says that, “All is ready. Come to the backstage waiting area. Be ready for your cue.”

The colors and their party made their way into the back of the pseudo wedding chapel. Once through the doors, the Captain of the Guard had a stroke of pure genius; he walked over to where the faculty were seated. He had a whispered conversation with the principal. He requested that the principal and Mother Regina Marie (the vice principal for women) stand in for Mary’s parents. Receiving an affirmative answer, he escorted the two to the reassembled Troop. At this, the band directed the attention of the student body to the procession, with ‘To the color’ (mp3)

Each of the male part of the color guard returned his sword to its scabbard in diference to being in a house of worship. Their female companions, with their roses, moved next to the standards to provide the honors. As the color group proceeded down the aisle, the band played “Amazing Grace”(The Music)

(Timothy, I wish you could see all of this it is absolutely beautiful, just like I planned. Mary and I thank you.)

There was a short pause while the ‘families’ were seated. Back stage, Father Tim motioned to the cross bearer and the two altar boys. The three walked onto the stage and approached the altar that had been decorated with an abundance of flowers. Jeff and Terry, in their finery, followed several steps behind. Pater softly called to Mary and Pat. They joined him. With Pat leading the way, Father Tim escorted Mary to her waiting fiancé.

This was a major break in tradition but was the best they have been able to come up with as to whom was to walk Mary down the aisle. The band, now in orchestra mode, began to play Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria”(a midi version)

With the first few notes of this hymn and the appearance of Mary in her white ‘uniform’ a soft murmer passed through the assembled students. Mother Theresa, forgetting the instructions she had been given, gasped out loud, “Father Strickland is supposed to be wearing red vestments; it’s Phillip Neri’s feast day and he’s a martyr.”

A freshman girl whose thought process was an order of magnitude faster than the nun’s recognized the significance of Mary’s white uniform, Jeff and Terry’s tuxedos to which she added ’ wedding music’ and the priest’s white vestments. The girl matured years in the time it took her to turn around and address the offending voice. “You heard the announcement, no talking, two day’s detention, Mother! Be quiet now, you are witnessing history in the making!” Many years later, this now young woman would become one of the first female CEOs of a major corporation.

Back up on the stage/sanctuary Mary and Jeff knelt on the “pres du”, Pater turned to the altar. He began Mass with the words, “Introibo ad altare Dei.”

Mass continued until it became time to read the Epistle. At that point, Patricia and Terry walked to the pulpit. Terry reached under the lectern and retrieved an ornate missal. Opening it and placing it in front of Patricia, he pointed to the passage she was to read. She began to read, “A reading from the letter by Paul to the Ephesians, chapter 5 verses 25 and following;

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

When Patricia finished reading, Terry added “Thus is the Word of the Lord.”

In the back row, Mother Theresa was working herself into a state of apoplexy. Two of her FEMALE students were in the sanctuary during Mass and they were out of uniform. One of them was even reading the Epistle. Just where did she get that green thing she was wearing? Our budding CEO was able to intervene however. All it took was a stern look and the words, “That’s two additional days, Mother!”

Patricia closed the Missal. She and her consort returned to their chairs on the right side of the sanctuary.

(Katharine, now comes the important part. Is she sure?)

(Timothy, They are both very sure, now don’t forget the ad lib we worked out.)

Pater read the Gospel (in Latin of course) while standing at the altar. Finished with that, he turned to face Jeff and Mary. Patricia and Terry joined their friends at the foot of the altar.

Father Tim winked at the two couples and in a stage whisper, “This is the start of a lifetime for you, let’s get it done.”

Then, turning on his microphone, he spoke to the assembly, “Beloved in Christ we are gathered here today to join the Bakers in holy matrimony, I ask any married couples present to repeat their vows as Mary and Jeff make theirs.”

( Mary, you will have to fill in Jeff later. Timothy is going for another of his ‘two fers’; he is making Jeff’s parents marriage official. You are the Maid/Matron of Honor; Jeff is the best man. )

Father Tim had Mary and Jeff take their vows. Jeff even broke tradition when he used the same words he used in the car a week and a day previous.

The ceremony was complete when Father Tim made the statement, “I pronounce you husband and wife according to the rites of holy mother the church.”

(Katharine, you can let that breath out. We have a daughter and son now.)

Jeff and Mary looked into each other’s eyes and grinned. It took them awhile to realize that Terry and Pat were each nudging them, attempting to gain their attention.

Pat finally hissed, “Earth to Mary, Father wants to finish Mass before noon.”

Mary started to giggle. ( Daughter, its not a laughing matter. Don’t spoil your day. )

( Mommy K, nothing can spoil this day now! )

In the front row, Bill's eyes were tearing and Valerie gave a very good impression of a Cheshire cat.

( Mommy K. Tell Pater that I love you both. My Luv and I can’t thank you enough. )

Our lovers had another one of those conversations. Mary reached out and grabbed Pater’s Chestibule pulling him to where she could plant a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, DADDY,” was all she could croak.”

To suggest that the rest of the Mass was calm and stately would have been a lie. Mary was alternating between giggling and crying. Jeff was doing only slightly better. He occasionally tore his gaze from his wife to look at his parents. Their infectious smiles in his direction pleased him and directed his attention back to his WIFE. “She’s my wife, not my girlfriend anymore, MY WIFE!”

Thus went the remaining part of Jeff’s and Mary’s nuptials.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Father Tim approached the lectern, he tapped several times on the microphone to gain everyone’s attention, as is if he needed to put on such a spectacle.

Without preamble, he began, “Last week a faculty member required a student to write an essay. That student will now read her work to the student body.”

Mary alighted from her kneeling position, approaching the pulpit as if it were a gallows. Our heroine retrieved her essay from under the Missal that Pat had used earlier.

( Dear, head high chin out, you can do this! )

Mary squared her shoulders, inhaled deeply and read her essay. (See appendix A).

One notable point of the essay was when Mary said...

“For those of you who do not realize what you have witnessed this past week and this morning, let me explain. But first I ask my husband to join me at the lectern.

“No, Mother Theresa, we are not going to scandalize the student body. I asked him to join me; not join WITH me, that will come later in private. And rest assured Mother Theresa when we express that sign of affection I will not be a school uniform but in the one God gave me at birth.

At this point Mother Theresa fell back into her chair, her mouth working like a gasping guppy and fanning herself with a sheaf of papers to keep from fainting.

They went to Jeff’s school in the afternoon. They talked to the assembly about the dangers of frequenting lover’s lanes. As a twist, push for better understanding of teenager’s drives. Just because “adults” want us to remain children our bodies are well into adulthood by the time we are juniors and seniors.

Jeff and Mary took off in Father Tim’s auto. They headed directly to the courthouse in the neighboring state. When they arrived The Honorable David Kodiak met them. Judge David had prepared the way for them. Jeff and Mary obtained a license to marry in near record time, which is a good thing as they arrived at 4:50 PM and the office closed at 5:00 PM. Civil license in hand, they exited the courthouse. Outside they rejoined Judge David and their two friends. The Judge had arranged a dinner reservation at a nice restaurant close by. When they arrived they were lead to a separate room. To the couples surprise they were greeted by Jeff’s entire family and several others, including Jeff’s biology teacher and his wife. Before dinner Judge David had everyone gather around. He ‘married’ our lovers for the second time that day. The couple commented ‘we now have our parts memorized. This is Mary’s and my fourth or fifth time. I don’t mind saying how much I love her and I will renew my vows any time but, I hope that finally everybody will recognize that we are truely and verily of one flesh.”

Pat inquires of Terry, “Do you have a long sword like the color guard this morning?”

Terry deadpan’s, “I have a very long short sword. I will show it to you any time you ask.”

Father Tim had arranged a suite at the biggest hotel in the city for Jeff and Mary. He gave them strict instructions. Relax and enjoy yourselves, with one caveat, neither of you are to come out of that room virgins. I am wary of Mary’s parents attempting a nullification.

(Timothy, stop being such a Neanderthal, the next thing you will be asking is for them to hang out the blood stained sheet.)

I am going to tell you little of the occurrences in that room. This much I will relate: the newlyweds explored each other’s bodies, in great detail. For both, it was an exciting process. When their sub brains finally took over, appropriate parts were sized up. These parts fitted together very well, thank you. Some parts were a very nice handful, the parts left exposed just begged to be kissed and their tips adorned with licks. Others were neither too long nor big in girth; though our pair took great delight in repeated measurements.

Wednesday morning, Jeff drove Mary to school. This time he walked around the car and opened the door; he took Mary’s hand and walked with her to the door of the school. If one were to have looked closely, they could have discerned that Mary was walking with some discomfort. They stopped directly in front of the same entrance monitor who began the situation. They stopped and embraced, they kissed lightly then turned to the novice nun and said “have a pleasant day, Sister.”

- - - - - - - -

THE CONCLUSION OF PART ONE

Epilogue

This is the end of part 1. But it is not the end of the adventures of Mrs. and Mr. Baker Teenagers/Lovers/Old Married couple. What kind of trouble do you think they could get into when Pat and Terry come over to visit? What will be the Nuns reaction if Mary becomes ‘Great with child’ in her senior year? Will their paths ever cross Marsha and her brood? Inquiring minds want to know.

Saint George

Pennsylvania

USA

December 31, 2004

© Copyright 2004 Saint George all rights reserved.