The Wrong Road Part 1 Through 16

The Wrong Road Taken Part 12

Returning to the podium, Martin called the masses to order.

"Ladies and gentlemen, a little order, please.
A vote has been called for if you please, shall we commence with the voting.
Will all those present who vote in favor of admitting Luke to the order of practitioners please rise."

As I looked around the room, people began to rise from their seats.
When the sound of chairs sliding backwards from those who stood ended, I saw not a single person still seated.
From the stage, Martin spoke above the noise.

"Is there anyone here who objects to including Luke among this body of practitioners?"

From the back of the crowd, a lone voice silenced all those around.

"I have an objection; Lucretia took this beautiful young man off the market before I had a chance to snag him!"

In an instant, there was a palatable sigh of relief as the objection was noted and filed in the minutes of this meeting.
Producing a gavel, Martin banged it on the podium three times, announcing,

"The vote has been taken and counted.
Luke, will you please join me here on the stage.
Stepping up to the stage, Martin grasped my hand while turning me towards all those seated.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I officially introduce to you Luke, our newest member of practitioners.
Now the real noise began in earnest.
Martin allowed the rejoicing to continue for a few more minutes before banging the gavel a hundred times to get everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we had gathered here for a singular purpose.
Seeing that this singular purpose has been completed and the official business has been concluded, we would normally disband and go our separate ways.
However, thanks to the latest development, that of Luke and Lucretia's pending nuptials, I hearby extend this party for an unknown and unlimited length of time.
So, let the party commence."

Martin escorted Lucretia and I to the middle of the aisle below the podium, where a long line of well-wishers had gathered.
It seemed that the entire collection of guests had come forward to congratulate the two of us.
During the next twenty minutes or so, my hand was shaken somewhere around a hundred times.
My cheek kissed at least as many times.
By the time the line had dwindled to just a few stragglers, my hand was numb, along with my rotator cuff, in serious need of surgery.
With the last handshake, I turned to Lucretia for a kiss that rivaled the best Hollywood screen kiss.

Turning back towards the mass of people, I saw that a pair of chairs were brought forward, into which Lucretia and I were pressed into.
From nearby a band gathered to celebrate the occasion.
Once seated, the chairs were lifted high in the air by a half dozen people as we were paraded around the tent while those around us, as well as those hoisting us aloft, began dancing.

A glass of champagne was thrust into both our hands, in what could only be considered a miracle, not a drop was spilled by myself or Lucretia's glass.
The second our glasses were drained, they were refilled.
Looking around the room, it appeared that everyone present was on their way to a major bender.
After fifteen minutes, we were lowered to the ground, where we fell into each other's arms.

Chairs and tables were moved to the outer edges of the tent, where a wide space had opened up to become a dance floor.
Lucretia and I stood in the center of this vast space, facing each other.
I bowed to Lucretia, and in return Lucretia curtsied.
Taking her in my arms, a waltz began playing, filling the room with an infectious desire to cut loose.

I may not be the most adept at dancing, and dancing a waltz was at best a lesson in tangled feet for me, but the two of us danced on.
Once we had made the circuit around the floor, everyone began to join in the dancing.
At the conclusion of the waltz, the band began switching up the music.
From the waltz, they turned towards playing a mixed bag of music.
Next up, the band began playing "Jump Around" as Sylvia took to the stage to sing the lyrics.