Avenging Vivien

February 28th, 1966 | Night

Dear Diary,

Daddy held another town meeting today. It was different from other ones we've had. Momma did my hair and had me all dolled up for it. I know I should have been happy, since I usually was never allowed to wear makeup. Daddy was worried that I'd look like a floosey, and only allowed it if Momma did it, and only on special occasions. But I didn't get why this town meeting was so special-we had one every month.

I got an answer to my question as soon as I walked into the courthouse. It was really an abandoned church that Daddy and the Martinets fixed up so we could use it as a meeting place. It's impressive how far it has come along in the past six years.

I realized why Momma dolled me up for this. It seemed as if every single Gates member was there, filling up nearly every pew. At the front of the courthouse stood my classmates, equally looking clean. Wyatt Oliver was looking particularly dapper. His hair was slicked back and the corner of his mouth curved into a crooked smile. Boy, he looked a whole lot like Elvis Presley right then. If Daddy knew the way Wyatt made me feel, he'd have a fit. Daddy doesn't want me to grow up. In some ways it's adorable, in others it's a little odd.

I tried my hardest to avoid staring at him. It was a difficult effort, might I tell you! I let my eyes wander around the courtroom before even thinking about looking at him again. When I finally allowed myself, you wouldn't believe what happened! He was looking right at me! Those dark chocolate eyes were gazing right into mine from across the room, and I could have died right then and there. I might have imagined this next part, so bare with me Diary. I swear, he beckoned me to stand next to him! With a slight tilt of the head and a twinkle of his eye, I just knew it!

Skip a few minutes, and that's when the ceremony began. My father, dressed in his very best suit, stood at the podium in the front of the room. The Martinets flanked him, each holding a silver ring. If one didn't know any better, they would have thought this was a merged wedding ceremony. They wouldn't have known that this was really our Initiation.

Daddy drawled on about the meaning of our society, and what we all stood for as individuals and as as a community. I couldn't tell you it verbatim, because that isn't necessary. I've heard my Daddy say these same things for six years in a row. In all honesty, I completely tuned him out for that speech. Daddy can talk for a while, and I was too busy being silently ecstatic from standing next to Wyatt Oliver. It wasn't until the community vows that I began to pay attention.

Our vows are similar to wedding vows. But rather than making a lifelong promise to a person, we make a promise to our community. I want to write down what we had to say, but it's nearly ten now. I'm fairly tired at the moment, so I will continue this in the morning.

Love,

Viv