Youth's Mist

Youth's Mist Ch 19

Joven

Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth, now that has a nice ring to it! I'm a married man. Wow! Mind blown! I'm smiling and receiving congratulations, careful to avoid any City Council members. My new bride is at my parents' house, while I go to fetch the town doctor.

"We need to talk, Joven," Heif says, walking up beside me.

"Sure," I say "you can go with me while I get Dr. Woolsly to do an exam on my wife's arm." I smile like a goofball.

"Joven, do you hear yourself? How did you get Pann down here? I get a phone call from you at like two o'clock in the morning, demanding I meet you at the south entrance with the Newbie elixir."

"A nightmare, Heif, a freakish nightmare is what happened," trying my best not to yell at my best friend or shove my finger in his face. "After you left Monday, I went crazy. I can't explain it, but my heart was ripped in two, and the pain, it went from my heart down to the fingers on my right hand. I never want to feel that way again. She was flying high on those narcotics the UpAbove people use. While I was waiting for her to float back down, I took my elixir and borrowed her bathroom. While soaking in the water, I realized I couldn't leave her behind. She's alone in the world; and yes, selfishly I didn't want to wait a year to make her mine in name and body."

"I did explain my reasoning to her, but honestly I can't tell you if she understood everything. But she did say YES, not sure what I would've done if she hadn't confirmed her intention of joining with me. So, now it's done, my friend. Mr. & Mrs. Ainsworth, sounds good huh?"

"Do you realize the repercussions from this action? What If the Mist had failed to rise? The City Council members will want answers?" Heif stops his constant barrage of questions as we get closer to our destination. Not really having an answer; it's best not to answer him anyway.

We reach the town's clinic and go to the back; knowing the physician resides behind his medical office. Getting the doctor, we head out to my parents' home, and Heif remains silent, thank goodness. Normally, a new Dewstone bride or groom would be taken to their new home, but nothing about today could be defined as normal.

Upon reaching the front door, I'm greeted by both parents, well this can't be good. The doctor proceeds in and Heif leaves a puff of smoke from his fast departure. So, going to fly solo against irate parents huh? Thanks, Heif.

"Son, what have you done?"

Great! Here we go again. I explain, again, the last twenty-four hours. I again stress the importance of having Pann near me.

"So, in conclusion," I say "you have a new daughter-n-law and when she's well I'll be starting on those grandkids." This does not get the response I had expected. Both parents are now staring at me, like I'm guilty of something. Meanwhile there are storm clouds turning grayer by the moment over their heads.

"Son, you're our smartest, and only child, but you got a lot to learn about the female race. But we'll skip that for now. You realize we have laws for a reason, right? Have you lost your senses? It's like the time I caught you trying to start a fire in a CAVERN!" He adds sarcastically and continues. "Pann, who seems delightful, didn't go before the committee for voting, no interview, no screening of any kind. You're darn lucky she said 'Yes' at the right time." Dad pauses, giving me a chance to defend myself, and you better believe I'm going to!

"I've got this dad, and mom, I can handle it. This past week almost killed me; I can't be without her. She was hurting and alone," I turn to dad exclusively; "What would you have done to protect mom?" This leaves both parents quiet.

I know it was fast, and that I've only had one and a half dates with her. But the heart, my heart, knows its soul mate, we beat in unison, I feel it. So, please be happy for me, for us. She's the upbeat, to every downbeat of my heart. We've taken the vows in the mist in the sunrise of the Summer Solstice, and soon the reverend will be here for certificates to be signed. Tonight, we will confirm those vows; together, mom and dad, again I say TOGETHER. Pann and I will be joined in this world and for all eternity. Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth, and now if...

"MR. AND MRS. WHAAAAT"!!!!! I hear a very loud, very angry female voice behind me and I know I'm sunk. Turning slowly, hoping I'm wrong, but nope their stands my dear beloved.

"Pann, you're awake and you look much better," I add meekly. A married man for 3 hours, and I'm already learning to cower, great! And I roll my eyes.

Yes; the doctor explains, "the medicine they had given her has mostly worn off. I've given her new, safer medicine to help with the pain in her right wrist and headaches." He turns to Pann, and I swear he does it on purpose to makes things worse for me, he addresses her by her new name. "Mrs. Ainsworth, if you need me please don't hesitate to call, and be sure and return to my office in a few weeks to get that cast off and therapy started." The doctor smiles, likes he's secretly enjoying the pain of another man, aren't we suppose to encourage each other? Male bonding? Hello?

He leaves and then the awkwardness really sets in. They say it's like an "elephant" in the room, but this feels more like a herd. I finally know how prey feels, in a cage with a room of hungry lions. Dad takes mom by the arm and announces, but not making eye contact with anyone in particular, that "they are going for a walk."

I watch them leave, feeling like a bird pushed out of a nest to plunge to a predator below. With a sudden desire to be five years old again, so I could hide under my favorite blue blanket till all my problems go away. Well, staring at a closed door isn't helping, so I turn to face my new wife.

"Pann," I hold a single hand up, "please sit down and I'll answer all your questions." I notice, like the day we met, she sets far away and leans away from me. I've got a lot to learn about the female race. "But first, let me tell you a story."

Heif

Power walking, keeping my eyes forward and making sure to not look back. I've never seen the elder Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth so agitated. I tore out of there so fast, that I wouldn't be surprised if you could see the tire tracks on Joven, from how quickly I threw my best friend under the bus.

"Hey Heif!" I hear my name and slow my pace, putting on a passive expression on my face.

"Hey Karmony, how are you doing?" I ask politely.

"Eh," she shrugs, "another summer solstice never a bride, but maybe next year. So, what was up with Joven and Jan at the ceremony?"

"Pann, her name is Pann, and now she is Mrs. Ainsworth. They took their vows; we all saw it." Strange that Karmony referred to this morning as a ceremony and not wedding, odd indeed. Not wanting to add to Joven's drama, and only slightly misleading Karmony. I hope she chooses another subject. Why is she so distracted with Joven or Pann?

"I don't know, they just seemed— Off." Okay so she's going to stay on the same subject, like a dog with a juicy bone.

"Karmony, you know vows spoken in the Mist are for eternity, just wish them well and move on." Kind of brutal, I know, I'm dealing with no small amount of jealousy at this moment.

"You know, Heif, sometimes you're a jerk," she declares and stomps off. Well, I can be thankful she didn't punch or pinch me this time. Although I do admit that the talk could have gone better. But she needs to accept Joven is taken, and that's not likely to change. Plus, she knows divorces are very rare. If both Dewbies want one, it must be filled out and completed in UpAbove, and even then, their souls will be reconnected in the hereafter.

Probably explains why we don't marry young, and have only one day a year to get married. Joven found Pann, proving that surely, I can find someone who can tolerate me here on earth and then again in the Beyond.

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Music Credit: Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major BWV 1046 - 3. Allegro