Hanging in the balance: a bleak moment
Boobala had decided to start saving some money every week of his allowance. His determination paid off. Now the money would come in handy for wedding expenses. He knew that the marriage license would cost $35.00 and that he needed money to buy a suit, put on makeup, pluck his eyebrows, cut his hair, do his nails and a bunch of other things too.
First, he needed to get his birth certificate. She knew where the safe key was. Mildred always hid it under the rug under the lamp in the living room. She and Harry had to appear in person with their birth certificates and a witness to apply for their marriage license at the City Clerk’s office in Manhattan. She was afraid to go to the Brooklyn City Clerk, thinking that someone might recognize the name since the store was so well known. She wanted to make sure that she wouldn’t run into someone who might know her. There was no need for them to have a blood test, as it was not required in New York State.
Boobala felt sad that she was not going to have a lavish traditional wedding like her friend Myrtle, who looked so beautiful in her white veil and dress, and wearing the most impressive engagement and wedding ring she had ever seen. Boobala was his bridesmaid. She couldn’t believe that it was only 2 weeks since Myrtle got married. What a sweet guy her husband Samuel was. Boobala thought that she looked elegant in her dress. Boobala had lost some weight, but none of the young men at her reception desk looked at her once. She felt like a wallflower, sitting up all night. ‘Maybe if she had used some makeup she would have helped, but then she would have had to deal with Mum’s comments. Thank God I didn’t have to wear those hideous dark-rimmed glasses. she told herself. She remembered how difficult it was to convince Mom to let her buy contact lenses for the occasion.
Boobala, feeling a bit jealous of Myrtle, said out loud, “Why do some people always have all the luck in the world? They’re talented, they’re beautiful, and they end up with the best men in their lives. Me, what have I? I’m heir to a great fortune and now I’m prowling like a thief in the night.I was making her miserable.She hated her life.
Boobala and Harry had been arguing on and off for days before getting their marriage license. Harry wanted to go to City Hall and get married there. Boobala was against it. She didn’t feel like sitting down until her number was called and then having to rush through the ceremony. She finally convinced him to go to the Justice of the Peace, where they had a few ceremonies to choose from at different prices. She hoped to have the “Blessing of the Rings Ceremony”, which would seal the vows they would make to each other. It also symbolized living together in unison, love and happiness for the rest of their lives. Harry put her off by saying, “It’s too expensive, forget it.”
‘Why are you giving so much importance to this? I should be lucky that I married her. What a pain in my ass she is becoming. he thought he. He wanted this act over and done with so that he could rightfully claim her inheritance as her husband.
Boobala started to sulk. She was so tired of Harry’s famous expression: “Forget it.” She didn’t want to please her at all. She felt cheated out of life and she didn’t like the feeling she was getting about the wedding, Harry and everything else in her life. She didn’t even have a honeymoon to look forward to, just that roach-infested apartment Uncle Jake got them. If she didn’t love Harry so much, she would have ended it all. So they were going to have a quick and easy ceremony at the Justice of the Peace for $250.00, which Uncle Jake ended up paying for as usual, since he wasn’t going to be there.
Now that the marriage license had been stamped, they had to wait 24 hours before they could legally marry.
No: 8 9/9/2011
To Be Continued: Part 7 of 9 of Boobala Darling Wins a Cruise
