The Perfect Spouse

by Sioux Dallas

  They played a musical game at the shower. Mrs. Kerr would play the first three or four notes of a song and everyone would write what they thought it was. When she finished with the twenty songs, the person with the most correct answers received a special prize.

  Siobhan played a game with them telling something about a famous, or well - known person in the Bible. Everyone would write the name. The person with the most correct names would win a prize.

  There were so many women Siobhan knew she would never remember all of the names. She was grateful for Rebecca keeping a book with names and shower gifts. It would make it easier to write thank-you notes.

  Rose, Annalea and Lisa organized a shower for her at the agency. It was unusual to have a shower for a member, but this was a special occasion.

  Siobhan was determined and Jason went along with her feeling as if he’d been swept up in a fast carnival ride. She had told some of the young women that in Ireland bells are rung at a wedding because they are considered good luck and prosperity for the couple.

  Jason had to go to his office and help his staff. He couldn’t just disappear and leave everything up to them. Grace, being motherly toward him, checked on him daily as to whether he was eating properly and if he felt he was being ignored by all the flurry in wedding preparations.

  Nigel and Steve came to drag him to an agency party one night. Jason was literally in a fog when he tried to remember or plan. He did overhear some of the women talking.

  Zohra, Tiffany and Alicia were getting refreshments and talking. Tiffany looked at Zohra and asked, “Have you found a job yet? I know you must be getting anxious.”

  “No, I haven’t found employment yet. It’s getting scary. What’s the use of having a college degree if you can’t put it to work?”

  Jason walked over to them. “Forgive me. I’m not trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Zohra, what kind of a degree do you have?”

  “I have a BA in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting.”

  “Marvelous! Would you consider working for me?”

  “Jason, I think I’d love it.”

  “Come in Monday and meet everyone. If you like, you could work, with pay, for a month and then decide if you’d like to remain with us. May I count on you?”

  “You sure may. Jason, I would kiss you, but I know Siobhan would have my head,” she answered among the laughter of all of those around.

  * * * * *

  Jason felt as if he’d been picked up in a whirlwind. His friends gave him a bachelor party which he felt he didn’t deserve. They gave him several gag gifts, but did give him great gifts for his house. There was a lot of good food and wonderful fellowship.

  Dr. Charles Black was delighted to officiate and Mrs. Kerr wiped tears of joy from her eye when she was asked to play the organ. Steve volunteered to play a flute that he had made. It was a Native American flute made of aromatic cedar wood. Jason had heard Steve play and was mesmerized with the beauty of the music.

  “My cousin, Benjamin Bear Claw, will be visiting and he plays spiritually on a flute he made of black walnut wood. I’d like to have him play some, also.”

  Jason and Siobhan were impressed and pleased looking forward to hearing them play during their ceremony. Siobhan was curious about Steve’s heritage.

  “Did I hear correctly that you’re Sioux Indian?”

  “That’s what people call us. We’re actually Lakota. The name, Sioux, was given to my ancestors as a derogatory name by the French. It means little snake. They were called that because they were talented in crawling on their stomachs, through the prairie grass, without ruffling the grass. They could sneak up on the enemy easily in this manner.”

  Steve delighted Siobhan by softly singing a lullaby for her in the Lakota tongue. She wanted to learn and made him promise to teach her.

  * * * * *

  Zohra arrived early Monday morning and was welcomed by the staff.

  Jason had a desk delivered for her and it was placed facing Beth’s desk. She did not drink coffee, so brought her Diet Coke in and left it in the refrigerator. She confided to Beth and Grace that her savings was being eaten up quicker than she had planned and she was beginning to panic.

  “Jason saved me. I’m so grateful to him and promise to work diligently with all of you. Feel free to correct me at any time. I want to do a good job and help Jason’s business any way that I can.”

  They were impressed with her and immediately accepted her as a staff member. Zohra was only twenty-three, but was mature for her age.

  * * * * *

  The people, who had volunteered to make Jason and Siobhan’s wedding memorable, found that their church would not hold everyone who wanted to attend. Gifts were being shipped in from overseas as well as most of the U.S. and Canada.

  Mayor Albert Watkins suggested that a reception be held in the park. “Several long tables can be set up and decorated. There are some large pieces of plywood in our storage room that can be laid for a dance floor. Food can be catered or invite people to bring a covered dish, or both. We’ll be holding the fall festival in the park next month, so all the equipment will need to be taken out of storage anyway.”

  There was such a little time that dozens of people helped, running errands, supplying needed items, calling, doing whatever was necessary. Jason was astonished at the people helping plan and do. He had never been someone who would seek the limelight. He was very humble, and this left him with a boggled mind.

  Siobhan had her mother send the mother’s wedding dress to her. It was fine white silk and lace made Victorian style. It was a tiny bit loose at the top for Siobhan but Marcie Gordon was an excellent seamstress and she volunteered to sew it for Siobhan.

  Jason tried to be patient with all the hoop-de-la. He had been married before in a beautiful, formal wedding with a woman he adored, but he knew this was Siobhan’s first wedding and he hoped it would be for a lifetime. He just smiled at everyone and continued working with a distracted smile, hoping everything would be pleasing to Siobhan.

  Finally the day dawned. It had been impossible for Jason to select one of his friends, at the agency, over the other for a best man, so he asked Greg to fill that spot. He wore the traditional black tux with white pleated shirt and black cummerbund. When he stepped through the side door into the church, he was pleasantly surprised to see the sanctuary so crowded that people were standing up around the side and men were rushing in with folding chairs for them. He felt moist eyes when Steve and Benjamin played some hymns on their flutes and then a Native American song asking the Great Spirit for love and protection on the couple.

  He could hardly believe how beautiful the matron of honor was in her cream-colored gown carrying a bouquet of peach roses. The bridesmaids followed in pastel colors carrying baby’s breath and day lilies. Finally the organ sounded the notes to welcome the bride. Jason did get tears in his eyes when he saw Siobhan looking like a beautiful Victorian lady. He knew how sad she was that none of her immediate family could attend and he made up his mind to be extra kind and thoughtful to her.

  Siobhan had no escort. She came down the aisle proudly and stately. She was beaming with love for him and joy for the occasion. The ceremony was one that would be talked about for years because of the part that both the bride and groom had written their vows. There was hardly a dry eye in the house.

  Just before they were to light the trinity candles, Jason wondered why Greg slipped over to the second pew and got in a line with friends. Gary and Angelica, Nigel and Alicia, William and Dottie, David and Rebecca, Cole and Linda and Mark and Kristi. They all stood and with big smiles ringing a tiny golden bell for about ten seconds. Siobhan was touched that they remembered her statement about the ringing of bells during the wedding ceremony. Jason reached over and, with his thumb, wiped a few tears from her porcelain cheeks.

  When Dr. Black introduced the newly weds, everyone stood and cheered. Jason and Siobhan walked back up the aisle with lo
ving wishes being called out to them. Gary took wedding photos while the crowd went to the park.

  Jason could hardly believe the crowd. “Half the people in the whole county must be here,” he said in wonderment. I can’t believe this crowd.”

  The women had accomplished an amazing day with so little time. A group of men and women had been practicing with their instruments and furnished the music. White satin ribbons with big bows had been strung overhead over the ‘dance floor’ in an X between trees. Flowering, potted plants had been loaned from a local florist and were placed around the ‘dance floor’.

  Jason was humbly thankful that they had all made it a special day for Siobhan. But I haven’t lived here that long. While is everyone being so nice? Thank you, Lord, for giving me another chance to have a happy marriage and raise a family.

  The delirious couple toured western states for a trip and stopped in Texas to meet Steve’s family.

  Siobhan confessed to some of the young women that, when she had helped Jason finish decorating his house, she had hoped to be the one living in it. She was a popular teacher and was too happy to describe her feelings. Jason still felt a little numb because everything had happened so fast.

  Jason had only been back at work for a week when he decided he absolutely must look for a larger building. He planned to take Franklin with him unless he and Grace wanted to retire. He would make sure Grace had a good retirement package.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The weekend dawned bright and clear with a temperature in the low seventies for the fall festival. Jason closed his office on Friday and Saturday so his staff could help work and enjoy what was offered. He was thankful it wasn’t cold or rainy.

  People from all over the county came on Friday because they all knew the children would be swarming in on Saturday. No one minded paying the small fees for various events or food because they knew the money was going for a good cause. Vendors would keep a certain percentage from their booths and the city would get a percentage to be deposited in the benevolent fund for the indigent.

  Jason had never served on a committee for such a project. He had been willing to give it his best, but he was overwhelmed when he discovered he, not only was made the chairman, but others on the committee stepped back and let him take over. He begged for their input and some did help.

  Jason vetoed carnival rides. “They’ll take up too much space and they might be dangerous. We have the swings, see saws, slides and merry-go-round already in the park.

  He was, as the old saying is, tickled pink when he got favorable replies from food vendors. There would be a fish and chips rolled in newspapers. The women’s sewing club had agreed to take charge of the chicken barbeque booth and also serve a choice of potato salad, macaroni salad or corn on the cob. The men’s Saturday Prayer Group took charge of the dogs, burgers and fries. The high school glee club had the booth with all kinds of beverages, both hot and cold. Jason’s favorite, funnel cakes, made him prance around like a kid. The volunteer firemen took charge of the booth that had kettle corn and caramel apples. The last food booth was cotton candy. The police patrolled the grounds as long as the festival was open.

  The local garden club had the face painting and volunteer members from The Perfect Spouse took charge of the cake walk. Nigel took charge of the three legged races. One for men, one for women, one for boys and one for girls.

  The crowd cheered with glee when the five - eight Mayor Watkins paired with his six-two grandson to enter the three-legged race. There was even greater cheering when they won the race simply because they were the only ones who hadn’t fallen down.

  The Merryweathers loaned twelve ponies, six at a time to work for a short period of time. They didn’t want them worn out or maybe hurt. Families brought their own cameras, but Gary had a sign that he would take professional pictures. He had western hats and fake belts with toy pistols.

  Children begged to have their pictures made dressed like “real cowboys”.

  Steve had contacted some nearby Kickapoo Indians who operated a sand painting booth. A person could buy a small jar or a fish bowl. There were containers of all sizes. The native Americans would show them how to make their own sand painting.

  Ohio was an Iroquoian word, ohiyo, meaning “it is beautiful”.

  A farmer had donated about one hundred pumpkins. A person would purchase a pumpkin and was furnished knives and scoops. They would carve a jack-o-lantern. Around three o’ clock, three judges would select six pumpkins for prizes. Grace was thrilled when Franklin was awarded one of the prizes.

  People from all over the county had donated cakes, some from the bakery and some baked at home. Six TV trays were set up inside a circle with a cake on each one. A person would pay twenty-five cents to march to music around the circle. When the music stopped, the person got to claim the cake beside them. If they had taken a step past the tray, they had to keep walking. The person either beside the tray or would have to take a step to be beside the tray got the cake.

  The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4 -H and Future Farmers of America had volunteered to keep the grounds clean. They had set up big barrels at various places. A couple of the girls made cute signs for the barrels about placing trash in there and keeping their park clean. “Keep your park clean and park your trash here”. They were given money for their clubs.

  Notice had been sent out for weeks in the newspapers, over the radio and on television about the fall festival in the Village of Fayette. The newspapers took lots of pictures and wrote great articles about the festival.

  As the day progressed, Siobhan had to laugh. Every time she came near Jason, she reached up to wipe the powdered sugar from his face and off the front of his shirt. This gave him away that he had sneaked another funnel cake. “It’s only for once a year,” he kept excusing himself.

  The park was open at eight on Friday and Saturday morning and closed both days at eight in the evening. Sunday they opened at two and closed at six.

  On Saturday the Princess of Fulton County and her court had been introduced and they rode on a float in a parade down Main Street. Children marched with their pets. Different business had entered a float. The high school band played several patriotic songs as they led the parade behind Mayor Watkins in a convertible and the Chief of Police in an official car.

  Jason was glad he had vetoed the dunking booth. It probably would have been too cool to get wet. He patrolled the grounds Sunday evening to make sure the park was left clean.

  Monday morning he bounced into work amusing his staff. “As hard as you worked, I’m surprised to even see you here,” Grace teased him.

  “I could never have done it alone. Too many people worked just as hard if not harder. Boy, am I glad that’s over and kick me from one end of the county to the other if I EVER get involved in anything like that again.

  Epilogue

  The entire group had gathered at The Perfect Spouse out of respect for Elaine. The couples no longer needed dating help, but they had fond memories of the people involved in the agency.

  Elaine was touched and ecstatic. “Joe will be so thrilled when he hears how many couples have found each other through our efforts. We have been so very happy together and wanted others to have the same opportunity. Yes, Joe made an unwise decision, but he’s writing a book about his dark days in hopes of helping others to not make the same mistake. God bless you all.”

  With tears in several eyes, Elaine went around hugging everyone and congratulating the couples.

  Mayor Watkins and the council members agreed that they made a very wise decision to hire Steve as Chief of Police. He and Lisa would be married near Christmas and they had already found a house not far from Jason.

  The couples remained friends throughout the years and shared their good and bad news. They also loved each others children and treated them as extended family.

  Fourteen months after they were married, Jason, with his heart in his mouth, rushed Siobhan to the hospital. They, with hearts full of l
ove and thankfulness, were overjoyed to have a strong, healthy little boy.

  “Da will be so pleased to know we named the baby after him. James Ian.

  I know mum would want me to name him after her father, but we’ll have another one,” Siobhan laughed happily.

  Much to their surprise, and Jason’s disgust with himself, they welcomed a sweet baby girl, ten months later. The doctor laughed and said when two babies were born within a year, they called them Irish twins. Three years later they had twin boys.

  They agonized over naming the twins. They finally agreed on Michael David and Aiden Piers. Jason was adamant about no more children.

  Jason surprised Siobhan by purchasing tickets for her parents to come visit and meet their new grandchildren. Siobhan was tearfully happy.

  The Perfect Spouse continued and many more people found the love of their life. Elaine and Joe wish it for you and everyone.

  Some Extra Treats from Sioux Dallas

  Spiced Tea

  You won’t find this recipe anywhere else unless someone got it from me. It came down through my mother’s family and was used as medicine by her mother who was a midwife. It was also a beverage that the majority of the people liked and enjoyed it whenever they pleased. It can be sipped any time you please or used for stomach cramps, indigestion, or insomnia.

  First make a strong unsweetened tea base. I use ten or twelve Lipton tea bags and enough boiling hot water to have a strong, strong pint when it finished steeping.

  To this add a large can of unsweetened grapefruit juice, a large can of unsweetened pineapple juice, and a large can of unsweetened orange juice.

  Stir in one full teaspoon of each of the following: powdered cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and all spice. The more variety of spices, the better. Stir well together. Add juice from two fresh lemons.