Show Summer Stories some are not By DES BARKER June weddings have come and gone as have July Before me lie August weddings and as I contemplate the future dates I recall the past ones one in As I crossed the threshold I became a part of a turmoil found only at major and After observing the scene in a I deducted that I was attending a celebration on the occasion of the I saw a boy of 12 wearing a necktie a scene never witnessed at a major Her Parents Talking around a puddle of punch a thoughtless guest had spilled on the I entered the receiving line and met the bride's His sociability was the usual type found at weddings are haven't seen you for Drop out to the Why only a week or so ago I was asking my wife whatever happened to I passed on to her She was wringing out a tear soaked I extended congratulations and between doesn't seem possible that she's old enough to be His father made no He stood gazing past me with a eye that wandered from the serving table to the to the to the bridesmaids and back to the Embryo Mother-in-Law As I paid my respects to his her countenance displayed the attitude taking my will she remember to make him wear a hat in the sun and not to eat As I breezed by the best man and the the former was making the benedict ill-at-ease with talk of deserting his duties and kidnapping the before me stood a girl with the usual accomplished look of the We awkwardly touched lips and I recalled one of those hot summer afternoons when you've finished an iced drink and the ice slips from the bottom of the glass to your Special Entertainment In I kissed Wishfully Hopeful and the bridesmaids Entering the next I found a seat and juggled my way through punch and half a dozen introductions and assorted bits of J noted a woman surveying the scene with recalling nostalgically her awakening to bliss when the bay-windowed with her was a handsome youth ready to cut a swath a yard wide from here to the brightest He was over in a corner talking prices with a friend and telling him that he would get along all right if his wife would only follow the Gifts Or White Elephants I joined the bulging eye and gaping mouth clan in the gift room and and my way through a number of including nine pairs of salt and peppers and no less than 14 pickle As I re-entered the reception room the bride was making preparations to throw She was blinded so completely by the love and for her that the flowers were thrown I smiled uncomfortably from behind the orchid blossom and feeling like a horse who had just won a bolted from the |