|
Child Brides of India
By: C. Stanton Leman
Chapter 92: Miko and Sean Marry (MFFfg, rom, no sex)
Leeya and I awoke at six, her tiny frame still
blanketing
mine. I just loved holding her tiny butt cheeks in my
hands. I tapped said delicious butt cheeks lovingly,
telling her to wake up. She groaned at having to get up
saying, "I'm all tired out from last night. Boy that one-
way was great!"
"Speak for yourself," I remarked smartly, "I could rape you
right about now."
"Oh no you don't," she giggled as she shot off
the bed on
her way to the bathroom, "No preteen pussy for you for a
week!"
"Shucks!" I replied jokingly.
We showered without me accosting her and readied for our
prayers. The others arrived shortly after we got dressed.
After prayers and at breakfast, Miko was now very shy and
bashful. All the other women and girls were giggly and
conversive but Miko was somewhat quiet.
When I inquired about it to Miko, Priya cut in saying,
"Gosh! You can be so lame sometimes. It's finally dawning
on her that after today, the next time she sees you, she'll
be making her vows. Men!"
Having been duly put in my place, to the amusement of
the
female gender, I shut my mouth. Dad, being all wise, never
uttered a word. I had the thought that my generous IQ of
142 hadn't really served me well with the women in this
family. Hell, even Leeya could out think me and Tina and
the twins had me wrapped! I realized a male fact of life:
intelligence is no match for a woman's intuition. They'll
kick you in the ass every time!
The inevitable came with the completion of breakfast and
it
was now time for me to go. Mom teased, "Aw look at him. He
looks like a lost stray puppy whining, "Keep me, please
keep me.""
Jun got into it by quipping, "Remember Sean, good
things
come to those who wait (giggle)."
(More giggles)
"Alright," I said, resigned to my lot,
"I'll go upstairs,
get my skirt and leave."
Like the lost puppy I looked like, I trudged upstairs to
get my things. Having retrieved everything, I came down and
gave my family a goodbye kiss. Mom joked, "Gosh Sean, we'll
see you for dinner at five, you act like you're leaving for good!"
"It's just kinda hard being alone," I answered
truthfully,
"At a time like this."
Miko came up to me and gave me the tenderest of kisses.
When we broke the kiss, she then pulled herself into my
chest and gently hugged me. Looking up at me, she said, "In
the credenza under the TV is a photo album. It has photos
of me as a child in Osaka. Momma sent it to me a few weeks
ago. I hope you like them. I love you Sean, more than
anything else in the world. See you at five, OK?"
Standing on tiptoes, Miko kissed me again, only now with
more passion. I returned her kiss and her passion for
several moments, then broke away saying, "I love you too
Miko. Just when I thought I'd found all the love I would
ever have, you came along, enriching my life with even more."
There would be two limos for the women tomorrow so I
took
the keys to the navigator and slowly drove off. I arrived
at Miko's about eleven-thirty and went inside. Setting my
things down in the bedroom, I lay on the bed just to smell
her fragrance. Lying on my back, I grabbed her pillow and
covered my face taking in her scent.
The scent of her filled me with mixed emotions. I began
to
weep for her and became hard at the same time. Her
fragrance was like her beauty: soft, ethereal, erotically
exotic and comforting all at the same time. Having
satisfied my need to be melancholy, I rose, sat on the bed
and studied the room. Just like the garden I'd seen
completed and the way Miko explained how she'll dress
tomorrow, everything in the room seemed to have a place, a
position and a reason that lent harmony and meaning to each
object and the room itself.
I went to the living room and sat on the sofa, making
the
same appraisal I'd made in the bedroom with the same
conclusion. Every piece of furniture, every piece of
pottery or accessory brought a peaceful balance to the room
and her home as a whole.
Being American, I sped through life, having more
important
things on my mind than my surroundings. To me, furniture
was furniture and although many of the things Mom displayed
were beautiful, I never really thought about the planning,
time and care it took to create such an environment of
serenity. Like looking at nature: we see a beautiful vista
and gasp for a moment, then move on, our senses dulled by
over saturation.
I grabbed a bottle of water from the 'fridge, located
the
photo album and sat to see my new bride as a child. I
opened the cover to the first photo to see Jun as a young
woman holding a tiny little baby. Miko looks a lot like her
mother when she was younger.
I saw photos of a chubby little Miko as a toddler,
running
around in a diaper and her little potbelly, round face and
a wide toothy smile. She reminded me of Tina as a baby,
chasing her little bare ass around the house to put her
back on the pot. I saw a picture of her first attending
school in her little blue plaid jumper, white knee socks,
and pigtails on each side of her head.
I laughed at a photo of her when she was about seven.
She
wore a wide, happy smile with her two front teeth missing
and the evidence down the front of her dress over her
enjoyment at having a flavored ice cup. And as she
progressed in age from a chubby little girl into a slender
beautiful young lady in high school, wearing a blue sailor
suit uniform. Seeing the stages of Miko's life in pictures
seemed to draw me closer to her as if, in a small way, I
was a part of her earlier life.
Realizing it was three O'clock; I'd been daydreaming for
hours. Closing the album and putting it neatly away in its
place, I took my shower. I put on a suit, grabbed the keys
and my cell phone and headed to Pearce's for dinner.
Arriving at the restaurant a little early, I waited out
side for my family to arrive. Upon arrival, the women filed
out of the limo one at a time and again, I was amazed at
the beauty before me. Miko looked lovely in a summer dress
of white. Even Tina: I noticed as she walked towards me in
her yellow and blue sundress, her tiny breast buds slightly
poking out from her chest and she even wore strapped pump
sandals! My, what a lovely young woman she's become!
We had a relaxing, cheerful and familial jovial meal
with
good ambience albeit everyone was a little tense in
anticipation of tomorrow's events. After the meal and
standing at the car, I kissed my women goodnight. Tina
kissed me tenderly saying she was really happy for me and
that she was proud to be my daughter.
I kissed Miko passionately and she melted in my arms.
After
the kiss, we embraced tenderly and she looked up and said,
"Tomorrow I'll be yours, all my dreams will come true and
our lives sealed forever. I'm so happy right now Sean, and
when I see you next, I'll be making my vows. I love you
darling, dream sweetly of me tonight and tomorrow, we'll be
together soon."
With that she got in the car, closed the door and
started
to cry as they pulled off for home. I returned to Miko's,
undressed, put my suit away and climbed into bed. I cried
myself to sleep; smelling her fragrance on her pillow,
remembering the sweetness of her lips and her soft melting
body molded to mine.
I awoke at six as usual and lay there in bed alone for a
while. I was giddy with anticipation and was joyful this
day had finally come. As I showered, I thought of all our
firsts: the first time I saw her, her smiling face as she
handed me the scissors to cut Cinny and Liz's cord. I
recalled our first conversation in Priya's room and our
first seduction dance, our first embrace and that first kiss!
Isn't it funny how we reflect on those we love? It's
like
small video clips that flash through our minds of tiny
moments we view and unconsciously remember that we take for
granted. The way she smiled and her eyes light up. I can
picture the way she throws her head back with ease as she
breaks into laughter and the way she flips her sandal on
her tiny foot unconsciously as she converses.
I remember the way she was with my children, bathing
Malina
with such tenderness and care, the sweetness and love in
her voice as she sung my child a lullaby and to see her
run, dodge and dart as she laughingly played tag with the
girls. Moments in time: precious, fleeting moments in time
like snapshots of our life that pass through time and oh so
quickly vanish.
God has been so gracious to me! As I walk through the
rooms
of my heart, I find each filled with richly appointed
shared memories with those I've been given to love and cherish.
I recalled my mother's words upon the death of Emmy, and
looking back, she was right. Although at the time, I
couldn't see or believe through all the pain the blessings
God had in store for me. For through the pain came the
glorious blessings of God, rising up like the phoenix from
the ashes to soar to new heights in the heavens again.
I said my prayers, fervently asking for guidance and
strength to care for all my wives, including my new bride
Miko. After prayers, I ate a bowl of cereal and sitting on
the couch in my boxers, laughed through breakfast watching
Tom and Jerry.
Having to be at the Mosque by noon, I lounged around
until
ten and began to get ready. Being happy and giddy with
anticipation, after I'd donned my skirt, shirt and kimono,
even the split-toed tami socks and sandals, I played make
believe in front of the mirror, pretending to be the great
shogun ruling over his fiefdom, ordering my samurai to go
find me a beautiful girl to wed this afternoon. Shouting
gibberish Japanese orders, rejecting all maidens quickly
brought before me before settling on a beautiful young
peasant girl named Miko.
Looking at my watch, it was eleven, play time over, I'd
better get my shogun butt to the Mosque! I grabbed my
things and headed out the door to be married.
I arrived about eleven-forty and everyone was waiting
outside. Priya wore a royal blue kimono with white flowers
painted all over it. Monaavi had on a purple one with a
nature motif. Leeya's was imperial yellow (of course) with
sweeping green leaves and blue lilies. Mom's was blood red,
trimmed in gold and had sprays of mums all over it. Tina
and Tiya's were powder blue with white cranes and flowers
throughout. Cradled in poppy's arms was Malina in her
pretty pink kimono-like dress with her tiny chocolate feet
encased in tami socks.
Priya and Monaavi came up to me and I told them how
beautiful they looked. Priya said, "Oh Sean, if you think
we look beautiful, you should see Miko: she'll literally
take your breath away!"
"She's that beautiful?" I asked in wonder.
"And more," Priya confirmed, "By the way,
for the last
time, give me your ring."
I smiled as I slipped the ring from my finger and handed
it
to her.
Now, I became nervous! All the guests were inside as we
waited to be called. We heard the band begin to play,
signaling us to enter the hall. When entering the door,
Madoka playfully teased us with her flowered baton. She
wore a lavender kimono, trimmed in white with white
patterned flowers. Looking over the segregated crowd, I saw
Jun sitting in front wearing an ivory white kimono trimmed
in gold with pale blue flowers on it.
I was brought to my place before the Imam with our
cleric
witnesses behind me. My mouth was dry and my palms were
sweating waiting for Miko to make her entrance. Over the
speakers, we heard a soft Japanese tune being played on a
shamisan (A three-stringed guitar-like lute).
Everyone's eyes were glued to a side door that slowly
started to open. Miko stepped out, with Keiko assisting her
by holding up the excess length to keep Miko from tripping.
She was so breathtaking, I gasped and stepped back slightly.
Miko wore a richly embroidered white brocade shiro-maku
kimono trimmed in pink. The koshi-himo and date-jime obis
were pink with a wide, white brocaded formal obi and the
pink obi-jime obi was tied across the center of the wide
formal obi. I could see her purse barely sticking out of
the top front of the kimono with her fan and sword tucked
in her obi.
Over all of this, she wore her breathtakingly beautiful
uchikake kimono, which was open like a cape-like coat. The
uchikake was multicolored with a background in shades of
greens and gold and red and silver, overlaid with hand
painted chrysanthemums, cherry blossoms, flying cranes and
phoenixes. The sleeves and bottom were trimmed in deep red.
On her head, Miko wore a white, flat, bowl-like hat that
covered her brow and her face as she looked down
submissively. From each of her small, shell-like pierced
ears, Miko wore a hanging strand of diamonds about an inch
long. She walked with tiny shuffle steps as if her feet
were bound with a short cord at the ankles. She gracefully
pulled her fan, slowly opening and shielding her face as
with a veil, only her eyes peeking out over the top.
It took Miko several minutes to walk to her position.
Miko
never looked at me until she stood two feet away on my
left. She glanced over with such a sweet and tender smile I
almost melted on the spot! Her eyes sparkled and a single
tear spilled from the corner of her eye. Miko then folded
her fan and tucked back in her obi.
Being in position, Imam began the ceremony. After a
litany
of prayers and readings from the Koran, Imaam looked at
Miko as he said, "Today we will witness a solemn pledge
between Sean Michaels and Miko Ozawa. I ask you now, in the
presence of God and this congregation, to declare your intent."
Miko began, "I Miko Ozawa, have given myself to
Sean
Michaels in marriage."
Imaam asked her, "You are of age?"
"Yes I am Imaam," Miko answered politely, I'm
twenty-six
years old.
"And you are no longer a virgin," Imaam asked,
"And capable
of speaking on your own behalf?"
"I am not a virgin, Imam," Miko replied,
"And I speak on
own behalf and of my own volition."
Turning to Priya he asked, "Priya Michaels, as
first wife,
do you sanction this union?"
Priya answered, "I have sanctioned and encouraged
it Imam."
"And do you Leeya Michaels," Imam asked of
Leeya, "As
second wife do you sanction this marriage?"
"I have sanctioned it Imaam, Leeya answered,
"And
encouraged it also."
"And you Monaavi Michaels," Imaam asked,
"As third wife do
you sanction this union?"
"I too Imam," Monaavi answered, "Have
sanctioned and
encouraged it."
Imaam asked Miko, "Do you accept Sean Michaels as
your
husband with the dower that you have agreed upon?"
Miko replied, "I have accepted and have given
myself to him."
Imaam asked me, "And do you, Sean Michaels accept
Miko
Ozawa as your wife?"
I replied, "I have accepted her as my wife."
Miko then stepped forward with her cleric witness and
signed her dower agreement, then I signed, and finally my
witness signed and I returned it folded and in the envelope
to Miko.
Then, I signed the Nikaahnama, then my witness, followed
by
her witness and finally by Miko.
Imam said some more readings and the blessing of the
rings.
He nodded to me, and as I held the ring out to place it on
her finger and repeated after him:
"Miko, I give you this ring as a symbol of our
vows, and
with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In
the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. With
this ring, I thee wed."
As I spoke and placed the ring on her finger, she slowly
opened her fan bringing up to cover her mouth.
Tucking her fan back in her obi, Miko had taken my ring
from her obi where she'd tucked it, and while placing it on
my finger repeated after Imaam saying, "Sean, I give you
this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am,
and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of God, The
Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. With this ring, I thee wed."
Miko added, "Omuko san, let this ring symbolize the
love
between five souls, and with this ring I seal all of our fates forever.
After some more readings, the Imaam finished with,
"In as
much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong
commitment, love and devotion, I now pronounce you husband
and wife, In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
Imaam outstretched his arms and proclaimed, "Those
whom God
has joined together let no one put asunder. God bless you
and this congregation.
With that, everyone clapped and cheered. All the guests
were separately seated for dinner by sexes, and Jun and
Madoka immediately fetched us both, taking Miko and I to
our table to feast as man and wife for the first time.
The Japanese chef and staff laid out a lavish menu
beginning with muses and Canapés followed by a course of
marinated Atlantic salmon and caviar with yellow pepper sauce.
This was followed with a course of shark fin,
egg-custard
style with avocado coulis and cream of crab and cauliflower
soup with freshly baked bread. After that, cod fish with
clams, Florentine-style, with tomato and estragon
sauce.
And if THAT wasn't enough, they next served tenderloin
of
beef with red rice and bamboo shoots and herb mustard
sauce. Dessert was baked ice cream served with freshly
brewed coffee or tea.
After stuffing ourselves on the lavish meal my Mom had
so
beautifully and expertly planned, Miko and I were snatched
up by Jun, Madoka and my women folk and seated on pillows
about three feet apart with the Koran placed between us.
Priya told Miko, "Don't look directly at him," she then
handed her a mirror and said, "Use only the mirror to view
him," then moved away.
Under the direction of Imaam, all the women prayed for
Miko
and I, offered their salaams and I returned their salaams.
After the Muslim prayers and salaams, Mom and Jun prayed a
Bible reading from the Book of Proverbs:
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is
worth far
more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life. She sets about her work
vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to
the
needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household,
for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings
for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her
husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his
seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments
and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She
is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the
days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful
instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs
of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also,
and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you
surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman
who
fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she
has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
When the reading wad finished, we rose to
congratulations
by our guests. I looked at my new wedding band and it was
stunning! It had a one-caret diamond in the center and two
smaller ones flanked each side. Miko told me that the large
diamond was me and if I held my hand out looking at it,
each wife was represented by a smaller diamond beginning
with Priya as the farthest right diamond and reading left,
each wife in succession.
While talking about our rings, Tina came up; hugged Miko
and said, "I'm the luckiest girl in the world! I now have
FOUR mothers! Welcome Momma."
Miko touched her cheek, kissed her sweetly and answered,
"Thank you my beautiful daughter, I hope I can live up to
that honor for you and your sisters."
Tina leaned up, kissed Miko's cheek and affirmed,
"You
already have, Momma." And walked back to her sisters.
Cinny and Lizzy and Tiya also came up one at a time and
embraced their new mother and aunt and expressed their love
and returned to the festivities
Miko had removed her white hat and her hair glistened
with
brilliantly ornate combs. She was simply radiant! Miko
clung to my arm as we mingled and talked with our guests.
Miko hugged and kissed Keiko and thanked her for all her
help and friendship. Miko's friends, Abby, George and Pita
gave Miko envelopes, which she politely tucked inside her
kimono saying with a bow, "Domo arigato."
Priya instructed Jun what to do next. Jun took her
daughter's hand, placed it in mine and said as Miko
translated, "My heart is at peace knowing that my baby is
loved and safe. Cherish her all the days of her life and
give her many children. Now go, go in love and build your
life together as a family."
Miko and I mingled with the guests for another thirty
minutes or so as Mom, Jun, Madoka and my wives made their
way home, Poppy and Pita being the "designated babysitters"
for the girls. I managed to pull the photographer aside and
tell him privately I wanted him to follow us home because I
wanted photos in our wedding attire at various places in Miko's garden.
We were followed out to the limo with cheers and good
wishes as we prepared to leave and begin our life together.
I opened the limo door and helped Miko slide inside. We
then pulled away from the curb and left for home.
As we started for home, Miko was quietly looking down at
her rings twirling them around her finger. I softly
chuckled and she blushed, looked up and asked quizzically,
"What?"
"Oh nothing," I replied with a soft smile,
"I was thinking
as I watched you twirl your rings that Priya, Leeya and
Monaavi did exactly the same thing on our way home from the
wedding. Why DO you girls twirl your rings?"
She blushed and smiled, quiet for a moment, then looked
at
me and answered, "Because they represent a new life. An
endless circle of love, without beginning or end and sealed
with a vow to go on through eternity."
Miko started to weep and I asked her if she was all
right.
She looked at me and smiled tenderly and answered, "This is
the happiest moment of my life and I can't believe that God
has been so gracious to me. I know that in time God will
grow our love but right now, I feel like I couldn't
possibly love you any more than I do at this moment."
Looking down at her rings again she continued,
"When the
Imam asked me if I was a virgin, I felt a freedom in
admitting my past mistake and having been born again by
God's grace. I made my proclamation to you for all to hear
with joy, conviction and confidence."
"I love you Miko, more than words could ever
express" I
professed, "And your love has brought a whole new meaning
to my life. I somehow see more beauty in life and am able
to understand a little better the quiet order of things:
everything in life has a place where it fits in harmony
with the world around us. All too often we rush through
life, desperately seeking happiness and grab the first
thing that comes along: like a piece of a puzzle. We push,
we turn the piece in our hands and try to force it into
place trying to make it fit. All the while never really
learning how it's meant to be."
Leaning over and kissing her nose, I continued,
"Sitting in
your apartment yesterday, I realized that when everything
is in harmony, there is a peaceful serenity in life and a
perfect place where we all belong. When Emmy died, I
thought my world had come to an end. Mom consoled me by
saying that God would replace her with a blessing far
greater than that which I'd lost and He's doubled that
blessing. He then gave me Monaavi and now, you."
With tears on my cheeks I looked into her eyes and
explained what that meant to me by saying, "Each of my
wives has brought a unique and special gift into my life.
Priya has brought me the awakening gift of first love; a
love that has unbelievable strength and a sense of purpose:
she's been my anchor and guiding light in life. Leeya has
given me the gift of a pure sweet love that will forever be
child-like and yet enduring all the days of my life.
Monaavi brought me the gift of duty to family and a devout
devotion for God, and you, you Miko have brought me peace.
Peace in my heart, peace in my life and a reassuring
serenity that passes all understanding. With you, my
blessings are complete. From the bottom of my heart, my
beautiful, sweet bride, I see the heart of God in you. I
love you Miko, God how I love you!"
With that, I kissed my new bride with incredible passion
as
we wept in each other's arms. Breaking the kiss with a
tender embrace, we pulled up to the gate. I asked her,
"Ready to begin your new life?"
"With joy and happiness," Miko tenderly
replied.
The limo pulled up the curved drive in front of the
house.
Standing in the open double doors of the doorway was my
mother, holding the Koran and Jun holding the Bible.
I stepped out of the limo and assisted Miko to exit the car
and stand. I scooped her up in my arms as she squeaked a
little girl's squeal of joy with a giggle and walked to the
door. We entered and Mom and Jun placed the holy books over
our head.
First Jun, then Mom, kissed Miko on the cheek and
welcomed
her into her new home. Setting her to her feet, Miko's
three sisters hugged and kissed her, welcoming her in turn.
We gathered and sat in the family room as Mom made and
served tea. As we talked, Miko withdrew her fan and began
fanning herself. Mom asked her if she was all right and
Miko chuckled and replied, "It's late spring and I'm
wearing three layers of clothing. By tradition, I was
supposed to change earlier but Sean asked me to remain in
ceremonial wedding dress."
"Do you always listen to your husband?" Priya
asked in a
kidding way.
"For now," Miko relied cutely as she looked at
me out of
the corner of her eye, "I'll wait a week before I start
giving him grief."
"You'll fit right in sister," Monaavi
observed.
The little snot observed and asked, "How do you go
to the
bathroom in that thing?"
Miko and her family giggled as she replied, "Very
carefully."
After about a half hour of small talk about the
ceremony,
Jun commented on the fact that she was surprised by the
Imaam's acceptance of the Christian prayer offered by Jun
and her. Mom surmised that it was probably because it was
from the Old Testament and didn't have a reference to Jesus
Christ.
The photographer showed up and we took a variety of
group
photos in front of the house, along with a few of Miko, her
mother and Madoka. Dad and Pita showed up with the kids
about ten minutes later, which meant more photos with the
children, all in their brightly colored kimonos.
Once back inside, I smiled gently at Miko and said,
"Come
Darling, I have a wedding present for you."
My wives looked at me curiously while Mom, Dad, Jun and
Madoka simply smiled. Rising to stand before her, I
extended my hand for her to follow.
"Can we come too?" Leeya asked.
"Not just yet, Sweetie," I replied, "Let
Miko see it first"
Miko picked up the excess of material from the floor and
followed me out the back door. I pulled a handkerchief from
my pocket and as we rounded the barn, I blindfolded her. I
led her by the arm down the little winding path to the
bamboo gate hidden beneath the pines.
Standing before the gate, I removed her blindfold and
kissed her saying, "Let this gift, in some small measure,
give you a picture of what's in my heart for you."
Miko read the inscription on the gate, smiled
reflectively
and brushed her fingertips over the wood-burned characters
with slow gentle movements, then began tracing the Japanese
characters with her small slender finger.
"Close your eyes a moment," I requested and
pushed the gate
open leading her inside.
"OK my little lotus blossom, open your eyes,"
I requested
lovingly.
When Miko opened her eyes, she covered her mouth in
stunned
surprise and with a huge gasp cried out, "Oh my sweet,
sweet Omuko san!"
Her knees buckled and I had to grab her to keep her from
collapsing. As her disbelieving eyes scanned the garden,
she wept emotionally in disbelief as she recovered her
legs. She turned to her right and gazed upon the fountain
spilling over into the koi-filled pool. She sat on the
stone trimmed granite ledge with her legs gracefully tucked
to one side and leaned over dragging her hand slowly
through the pool of water.
Silent, Miko looked up at me with a tearful weeping
smile
that filled my heart with gladness. She rose, turned and
walked the path, pausing to watch for a moment as the water
cascaded over the stones and into the stream.
Turning to her left, she saw the meditation bench
nestled
in its alcove. She stepped inside the alcove to stop in
front of the bench, knelt and began to pray. After a moment
of prayer, Miko stood and turned to face me with a tender
smile. Her tears still flowed softly down her cheeks as she
touched the side of my face with her hand, looking at me
with a loving smile.
She shuffled down the path and slowly started to cross
the
bridge. At the pinnacle of the arch, she stopped and gazed
over the pool looking at the gazebo. Miko then turned and
looked back at the bubbling fountain spilling over the
black granite obelisk.
My beautiful, graceful lotus flower finished crossing
the
bridge and slowly shuffled and stepping into the gazebo, sat
erect on a bench looking out over the pool with a serene
look of contemplation. Silently she brought her hand up to
her shoulder, wordlessly bidding me to take her hand. I
stepped up behind her, took her hand tenderly, and placing
my other hand on her shoulder, kissed the top of her head.
Sitting erect, graceful and silent, Miko withdrew her fan
and slowly opened it, then said as if in a far away place:
"Though I go to you ceaselessly along dream's path,
the sum
of these trysts is less than a single glimpse granted to
the waking world."
"That was beautiful Miko," I said lovingly.
"It's a Japanese love poem," Miko revealed,
"By Ono Oh Komachi."
Turning and looking up at me with tear-filled eyes and a
tender smile Miko said, "This gift you've given me is the
place of my dreams. No one will ever see what this means to
me, for it is mine to treasure secretly in the intimate
place of my heart. Sean, I never could have imagined a
vision of love like that which you've given me. My heart is
overflowing with so much love for you I cannot comprehend
it. You truly do understand my Japanese soul, and looking
around, I see the vision of love you share with me."
Miko gently pulled my entwined hand in hers to her cheek
and pressed it to her as we looked out over the pond to see
a robin alight from a cherry tree. Miko said prayerfully,
"I have trusted in God with all my heart and soul and He
has given me the desires of my heart."
"Proverbs right?" I inquired.
"Yes," Miko confirmed, "How'd you
know?"
I chuckled and answered, "You forget, I was raised
a Baptist."
Just then, we turned to see my family enter our garden
of
love, wide-eyed with wonder. After carefully studying each
little detail, they joined us in the gazebo. Priya, with
tears on her cheeks said, "Oh Sean, this is so magnificent!
What a beautiful gift! I'm so happy for you Miko and I know
that you've now found your home."
After taking some photos, everyone left us to be alone
again.
After a few heartfelt hugs and kisses, Miko asked me,
"Sean, may I sit here for a while, alone?"
"Sure Baby," I replied lovingly.
Quietly I left Miko to her dreams and returned to the
house. About thirty minutes later Miko came through the
back door.
It's strange in an uncanny way that one just knows when
someone you love has something so personal that it needn't
be inquired about. This was the case here. Everyone that
loved Miko and shared in her joy on her wedding day simply
knew that what she felt for her garden was somehow a very
intimate and personal thing.
Monaavi asked Miko tentatively, "Miko, can we visit
your
garden also to meditate and pray?"
"Oh please do!" Miko gleefully pleaded,
"My wish would be
to experience the words on the gate: for EVERYOONE who
passes inside. Something of such beauty yearns to be
shared. It was given to me but in the end, it cannot be
mine alone. Let each who pass through the gate find their own
special meaning within."
As a tension-relieving joke to change the subject, Dad
asked, "Anyone hungry?"
Having eaten like gluttons at the reception, everyone
laughed holding their stomachs. I was now about to receive
my little wedding surprise.
Priya turned to me and said coyly, "Sean?"
I just knew something was up by the tone in her voice
and
answered warily, "Yes my Beloved?"
With a smile that seemed to have a concealed purpose,
Priya
remarked, "There's one more thing you need to do isn't there?"
"And what's that my dear?" I asked cautiously.
Miko touched my hand and I turned to her. She had a
devilish smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye and I
had the feeling I was being roped into something.
"Darling?" Miko cutely asked.
"Yes my little lotus blossom," I cutely
replied.
"In a show of cultural unity," Miko explained,
"The girls
wore kimonos to day."
"I know, Sweetheart," I replied warily.
"And in return," Miko continued coyly, "I
have embraced a
custom from India."
Pulling her tiny, slender, tami-socked foot from her
sandal, she smiled and asked, "Please remove my booty
please."
She said that with a twinkle in her eye and an impish
grin
and I sighed a smile. I obliged her by kneeling at her feet
and taking her dainty foot in my hand, brought it to my
lips with everyone looking on and planted a kiss on her
toes.
Teasing her I remarked, "Phew! These pretty little
doggies
stink!"
Miko smiled and held her ground as all looked on and she
replied calmly, "Priya told me you'd say that. She also
told me your were a toe-sucking pussy and for you to clean
them for me.
Evidently, Priya had been telling tales out of school.
"Ohhh," I drew out with an exaggerated nod, "She did, did
she?"
I gave Priya an accusatory look and she looked back as
if
to say, "C'est la vie."
"Uh huh, " Miko nodded.
"For you my princess," I gave homage,
"I'll do anything you
require of me.
Taking her right foot in hand I slowly began to reveal
what
lie ahead. It seems that one of the reasons I was to be
away last night was so the girls could have a mini henna
party. For when I bared Miko's foot, it revealed that it
had been intricately painted with henna.
All the women giggled in delight and looking up, Miko
gave
me a cheese-eating smile. Miko said with an impish tone,
"Before you can pluck my little lotus blossom, first you
need to find our names."
I chuckled at their ingenuity and set to the task. Let
me
tell you, a foot is harder to inspect than a hand. Even her
Achilles tendon and heel were painted. After ten minutes I
found her name in between her third and pinky toes in tiny
scripted letters.
"Ah ha!" I proclaimed, "I found it!
Here's your name Miko,
you're just four letters away from being pl-ucked (emphasis
on "ucked").
I uncovered my bride's left foot and began again. This
time
it was harder. After thirty minutes of frustration, I found
my name had been painted so that it began at her heel and
spiraled around to the hollow just behind her ankle.
"He, he," I dastardly chuckled as I pointed
out my name.
I stood, in my skirt and kimono, placed my hands on my hips
with the authority of a shogun and proclaimed, "The deed is
done and I claim my prize. Come my little cherry blossom,
come to my castle and I shall pluck thy peach from its
branches and dine on your sweet, ripe fruit!"
"Oh Shishou san (master)!" Miko pleaded as she
fell to her
knees bowing deeply and wrapping her arms around my ankles,
"I am but a poor innocent peasant girl, I know
nothing of
such things! Oh please Shukan san (lord), do not shame and
defile me, dishonoring my ancestors with thy need"
"The emperor has given me this land," I
expounded with a
proud wave of my hand, "And everything in it! My need is my
will and my will shall be obeyed. Tonight I shall peel away the
petals of your fragrant peony and partake of thy delights.
I shall scale your twin peaks and gaze upon the valley
below and hide myself in the warmth of your grotto."
"Oh Shishou san, you shame me with thy words,"
Miko pined
with passion, "If you find favor with me, treat me with
kindness, whispering endearments in my tender ear. Woe me
with your charms and claim me tenderly. Shower my petals
with kisses like rain in the spring. Coax my desire with
butterfly touches. Draw out my passion like the hummingbird
drinks its nectar, ne'er a pistil broken. Let me drink from
the well of your heart and like the plum tree in due season
I will issue forth my fruit, ripe and sweet. Grant me but
this and I shall be yours completely."
"And what if, to sooth my dry, parched
palate," I inquired
with compassion, "I should drink quickly as if dying of thirst?"
Really into the part, Miko withdrew her sheathed dagger
(to
gasps from the audience) from her obi and holding it to her
stomach as if to commit hari-kiri replied with conviction
as she stared into my eyes, "Then Shishou san, it is better
to die with my honor intact than to live a life of shame!"
Moved by her conviction, I replied softly, "Put
away thy
dagger little one, for you have found favor in my eyes.
Come, come away with me my little water lily, let me soothe
thy spirit with the sweet wine of my affections. I will
shower you with tenderness as you desire and woo your heart
with gentle whispers and soft kisses. Take my hand, my
little peasant girl, let us dance in the heavens on the
wings of the phoenix to the song of clouds and rain."
I extended my hand beckoning her and she gracefully
rose,
head down in submission. Miko stood before me, and placing
her hands on my shoulders, leaned up and kissed me sweetly.
The crowd went wild with cheers, clapping and ovation. Mom
yelled out, "Bravo, bravo, beautiful performance! Encore,
encore please!"
I turned with a wry smile and answered, "The encore
shall
take place in the bedchamber of the shogun to a closed audience."
Miko blushed a beautiful pink, gracefully flipped open
her
fan and covered her face, save her sultry eyes. I leaned
down and kissed her tenderly. I took her hand gently and
leading her from the room to the spiral staircase asked,
"Would you care to dance?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In the past, I’ve had numerous
requests
to see the other girl’s wedding attire but had no photos.
Anyone wanting to see Miko's traditional
wedding attire, email me at csleman (dot) story (at) yahoo
(dot) com and I'll send photos.
Continued in Chapter 92…
|