It’s gotten really stuffy in the room. I pull at my starched collar a bit, glancing towards to the window air conditioning unit to see if it’s on. Despite the rattling coming from the west window, there doesn’t seem to be any proof that the decrepit thing is actually cooling the ancient room. I glance at my watch quickly. 12:04. Technically, I was supposed to be on my lunch break four minutes ago.
“…Speak now or forever hold your peace.” A pen taps hard against the podium and I snap my head up. Judge Mills is looking at me, eyebrows raised expectedly. I feel myself furrow my brow as if to say “How would I know?” But then shake my head. Honestly, this is the worst part of my job. It’s not even supposed to be my job, but I’ve always been a pushover. So when young naïve couples show up to city hall to get married, not knowing they needed to bring a witness, I always get asked as they fill out the paperwork I hand them. And I, of course, say yes. I mean, who am I to stand in the way of young love, even for the hour it would take to run outside and find another witness?
I’ve been a last minute witness for 77 weddings in my three years of working as a secretary here, and I always feel a little grimy afterwards. I can’t exactly place my finger on it, but whenever I sign my name on the witness line I feel like I lying. How do I know that it’s ethically okay I’m supporting these marriages? I never know if the couple is right for each other, in general I know them for approximately ten minutes prior to the ceremony.
I consider the couple in front of me. Sarah Howard and Steven Johnson. Nice, generic names. Steven Johnson is plain look enough, nondescript sandy brown hair, and similar eyes, medium height…I would guess around 5’ 9”. His bride is pretty much the same, a little shorter, slightly mousy brown hair, pale skin. I’m focusing on the plainness of this couple when I suddenly realize that there’s something very different about them…they’re so…normal.
I generally see two kinds of weddings here at city hall. There’s the shotgun, someone’s a little-too-pregnant for the big white dress church ceremony wedding, and then there’s the couple with a head over heels (normally trying too hard) bride and a groom who is obviously gritting his teeth at the very idea of marriage…but doesn’t want to lose her or whatever his reason may be.
This couple doesn’t seem to fit into either of these stereotypes. I watch them look at each other excitedly, speaking the vows that have echoed in this room thousands of times before, and they actually look happy. Suddenly I am reeling with curiosity. Why would this normal, relatively happy couple opt for this ceremony that has as much charm as a visit to the DMV? I know it’s probably rude, but after the vows and they are walking out the door, I blurt it out.
“Why are you getting married in city hall?” The couple stops and looks at me, calculatingly. The guy shrugs his shoulders.
“Stage fright.” I nod and let them leave the room. I think it really is time to get a new job. All this speculating is exhausting me.
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1 comment:
Very cute story. Interesting perspective. You are a talented writer. You should think about KTR, Yearbook, or the Creative Writing class for next year.
This story from the bride's perspective will be interesting. I'd like to see a little back story for the couple.
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