Glitch and Cody

Chapter 15 - Let's Dance

Glitch

"And now you may kiss your bride!" somebody shouts, and chaos erupts. I'm not surprised because I've already known for some time that Phantom's Rest is prone to chaos. It might be the local sport. 

While some brides run away screaming or giggling or both, others are more than happy to be kissed, and all this smoochie-cheerfulness is punctuated by Humphrey Richards shouting into his microphone that there will be no kissing of the brides.

"I should hope not!" Mr. Dunkirk bellows, waving his fork in the air, a fresh slice of pie - his fourth, I think - set before him on the counter of the dessert stall. I glance at Cody, wondering if he is planning on kissing me or whether he is afraid that I'll tear off his lips and shove them up his nose, as Allie is threatening to do to Jasper further down the line behind me.

I wouldn't, of course, I definitely wouldn't, but looking up at his face, I can see that Cody is not with me at the moment anyway. His eyes have gone opaque, staring into a void that has opened up between us, and I find myself wondering if he is thinking about other lips he'd rather be kissing now than mine.

I squeeze his hand, wanting to call him back to me and away from the lips-memory that is making him look so tense. He swallows heavily, his eyes clearing up, but whatever memory it was that took his mind away just now has not left him happy. Gazing at my face, his expression softens, and a gentle smile pulls at his lips that seem very kissable to me. I'm surprised when he leans over slightly and kisses the top of my head.

That was the perfect first kiss to seal a community wedding in the town square where a crowd of people are all laughing together, sharing in the joy of fake unions. I grin widely, holding onto Cody's hand a little tighter.

On the stage, Mrs. Dunkirk is trying to talk into the microphone a roadie placed on the mic stand, but it is too high for her, and when he tries to adjust it to make it lower, Humphrey causes it to be too low. He tries again, and he seems to be stuck in a loop now, making it go up and down until Mrs Dunkirk gets in his way, grabs the too-tall mic by its stand and tilts it towards her. 

When they were doing the vows, the same stagehand helpfully held the microphone up between them while they were looking at each other, holding their candles in one hand and each other's hand in the other. That young man, Jerry Longford, is now leaning against a speaker box, grinning happily, enjoying the show. He is clearly not going to step in and save the day.

"Every year, our festival starts with a dance and social, and this year is no different, so folks, brides, grooms and everybody else, kick off your shoes and get ready for some fun!" Mrs. Dunkirk announces. "We have once again hidden the elusive Silver Egg containing vouchers for every shop in town and every stall at the carnival for our brides and grooms to find. Remember to keep an eye out for it."

"As always, the lucky winning couple will also be entitled to free food and beverages and some other privileges for the remainder of the festival," Humphrey announces excitedly, nearly doubled over to be able to speak into the tilted mic.

"That egg is ours this year! Do you hear me, Davy?!" Aggy tells her brother with enough aggression to cause him to nod his head fiercely in agreement.

"Let's hope it was hidden somewhere it will be found this time," Mrs. Dunkirk huffs, glaring at the bent-over man. "Not like the last couple of years where it was found months later in the most impossible places. I mean, for example, stored away with the Christmas decorations... Really? That cabinet is only unlocked once a year!" 

"I... uhm... can't make any promises," Humphrey mutters, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously, and he hastily straightens up and takes a step back, pulling the mic up with him. "And now, the moment you have all been waiting for! Honourable Councilmember-."