Absent On School Picture Day: Class of 1998 Book 1 by A. Hollis

Author:A. Hollis [Hollis, A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2016-09-06T08:27:06+00:00

Eighteen: Michael

December 18, 1999 5:15 PM

Douglasville, Georgia

“I do not think that being the son of the preacher qualifies me to give you any pre-marriage counseling,” I confess to Melissa.

Dad is inside the sanctuary waiting with Melissa’s groom, Tommy. Melissa is the most nervous bride I have seen in my entire life. That declarative carries a lot of weight coming from a preacher’s kid. She paces up and down the room like a caged animal in a white dress three times her size. I know that I should think that she is beautiful. I should say something to her, but I can barely open my mouth.

My heart’s one true desire is that I would be the one marrying tonight. Instead of Melissa, I want Alicia. No matter how far Alicia has fallen, I still love her. Tommy blows through girls like a nor’easter through a pile of fresh leaves. He will stick his dick in anything for five minutes or less; nevermind the damaged reputations he leaves in his wake. I would not want Alicia to feel about me the way that Melissa is feeling about Tommy right now.

“Maybe Tommy should marry someone else? Would you, Michael? Would you marry someone that you didn’t want to for the sake of being married? I need to talk to Preacher Dan. If I write a note on a piece of paper, would you take it to your dad?” Melissa asks me. Oh, no. The situation is a no-win scenario.

“Melissa, you’re a dear friend. I love you and Tommy. Equally, I should add. I love you both, equally. But, I’m not certain that half an hour before your wedding in the bride’s room is the right time to start writing notes. I think Preeti and Stephanie would both kill me if they thought I had brought any ink anywhere near you.”

“Tommy is like Heathcliff, Michael,” Melissa shrieks. “He can’t quite commit to anything. He thinks he’s good at everything which makes him good at nothing. He’s neither a complete rogue nor farmer, or he’s both. Tommy is neither a husband nor a lover. I don’t want to be either Cathy or Isabella. I don’t want to be in this book.”

We are in a small classroom in the Methodist church’s education building. Melissa’s eyes are huge and red. The contents of the bride’s emergency box are all over the floor. She sent Stephanie to get clear nail polish for some odd reason. Preeti is getting ice chips. I thought ice chips were for people in hospitals but, evidently, Melissa needs that right now.

“Well, maybe Wuthering Heights isn’t the right story analysis for your situation? Could you be Scarlett and Rhett instead?” I ask.

“Rhett was Scarlett’s third husband. The first two died; one young and one old.”

“Well, let’s keep thinking of other literary characters. Where is know-it-all Mrs. Couch when you need her? I’m certain she would have the perfect answer.” I say. I try not to sound mean, but I do.

“Mrs. Couch is probably sitting in a pew with her new husband.

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