by Glenn Ickler
I remember nothing of the next few minutes except that Martha was wearing a lavender dress that set off her coffee-with-cream complexion and dark brown eyes to the utmost bedazzlement. Befogged as I was, I must have given the correct answers to Rev. Jefferson-Schneider’s questions because eventually I heard her pronounce us man and wife and tell me I could kiss the bride.
As we embraced, I whispered, “Wong says Grandma Mendes can stay.” Martha tightened her grip and we kissed for a long, long time—much longer than any just married kiss I’ve ever witnessed. When finally we disconnected and turned to walk down the aisle my eyes were wet with tears, but I could see that every person in the room was applauding our performance.
The End
Acknowledgments
My sincere thanks to the management and employees of Madden’s Resort, who unlocked the door and allowed me to tour their lodge in their off-season so I could visualize a model for the fictitious Madrigal’s Lodge, where this story takes place.
Thanks also to the St. Paul field office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for information about the process of obtaining citizenship.