Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Let Him Speak Now...

The Rogue Speaks:

Well, I'm only one day late for Jenny's Saturday Centus! I decided to write about something that actually happened many years ago when Rod and I were professional wedding guests(the children of our friends kept us on the go to many places around the country.). This took place in the same little church in which John F. Kennedy Jr's wife was baptised. We were in high cotton, but more about that later. This sort of thing only happens in movies, right? Wrong!! And we have lots of witnesses to prove it!!

The white-bearded man rolled through the church door,and staggered into a pew. Eyes rolled and hushed whispers could be heard.

“... let him speak now, or forever hold his peace..."said the minister.

"Let me speak!" shouted the man.

"Shut up, Eddie," someone said, pushing him down in his seat, The bride gripped her bouquet.

"PleasePeasePlease," her lips moved silently.

"I want to speak!" And again a hand appeared, shoving him back down.

Quietly, the minister spoke to the man. Then he returned to the bride and groom.

“Friends, Uncle Eddie wants to bless this union. Thank you, sir, for your sentiments."

"...off the wagon again!" each whispered to the next.

13 comments:

Tom Hakkinen said...

That's great Judie! What a character! He reminds me of "drunken John", Letchworth's local town drunk. The congregation for that wedding seemed to know exactly how to deal with such a "harmless" type. Nowadays, I think people are too afraid, and the more likely response would be police or security getting called and maybe an ugly scene resulting.

JJ said...

Judie: You brought back memories of Newport, our old stomping grounds.

Judie said...

Askeli, these nice people were way too prim to call the police. Rod and I were sitting in the back of the small church, but close enough to see all the color drain out of the mother's face, but her espression never changed.

JJ, glad you enjoyed a trip down memory lane!

nothingprofound said...

Aren't you just dying to know what uncle Eddie had to say? Or maybe he was just so drunk he thought he was at an AA meeting.

Sarah said...

Somebody stop giving uncle Eddie the eggnog!

Judie said...

I only had 100 words, so I left out the fact that Uncle Eddie said that he had been married for 54 years and they were all wonderful!

Sarah, the wedding was in the early fall, still warm, and Uncle Eddie got into "the recipe" before showing up for the ceremony! His wife was pissed!!

Sarah said...

I hope she didn't put up with THAT for 54 years! What a character :)

bluzdude said...

I don't think I've ever been to a wedding where they actually said the line about objections or the holding of peace.

I know for mine, I made sure that line wasn't in there, because I knew one of my friends would have said something. (regardless of who I was marrying, just to cheese me off)

In fact, for one of my earlier engagements (it took 3 before I actually got married) a work friend sent my fiancée a sympathy card.

True, I tend to run with the wise-asses.

Judie said...

Actually, at the rehersal the night before, the minister did mention that line, and said he didn't want any surprises. I'm sure that Eddie's wife had contemplated divorce over the yeas. The reception was held at the old Gimbel estate, and Eddie was nowhere to be found. The bridesmaids got pretty wasted though, and were climbing the trees around the porch in their stocking feet. By that time, no one really cared! The bride was just relieved that it was only Eddie who stood up!
Bluz, there is a reason you run with wise-asses, but we love you anyway!

Cher Duncombe said...

Judie, this was hysterical! I kinda wish someone had stood up and objected at my former wedding, drunk or not. They would have had more sense than I did!

Judie said...

Cher, just scrape 'um off! That's what I did!!
xoxo

Unknown said...

Wow, Judie,
Image writing a non-fiction text out of this prompt. I am amazed!
Well-written!
Hope you have a Happy New Year!
(I am a little late with comments.)
Anna
Anna's SC#34

Jenny said...

Judie, what an incredible read to start the New Year with. I love your stories...you really are an amazing story teller...fact or fiction!

I've never actually heard of anyone speaking up (except in a movie or two) so this was really fascinating to me.

I enjoyed reading the back story in your comments, too!