Brother Stan came into the room and had me stand in front of the cross. I was finding his speeches were long and meaningless. I was ready for what I n...eded to do. Brother Stan firmly secured my hands and feet to the cross. He looked me in the eye, and said. “You will be the bride of Daniel like the church is the bride of Christ.” Within a short period of time I could hear a large commotion on the other side of the curtain. I could tell there were a large number of people gathering. I stared to. Let me start by telling you a story, all mostly just rumor, innuendo and hearsay and without a lick of any solid evidence behind it. Tonight about twenty different people could tell this story and by the end of tomorrow at least two hundred people could guess most of the details, and so on. It all starts with a nasty little rich-fuck who moonlighted for a couple years as the infamous Monroe Masher." He paused while our drinks came, and I gave him a gentle nod to verify that he'd gotten at least. They must save money to buy furniture and household appliances. They must save money for when the children arrived and for their old age. They must save money just to save money. So went the parental creed. They were engaged for six years, then one day as Joanna came into the kitchen for breakfast, she fainted. Her grandmother took her to be examined by a doctor. Being reasonably astute, he was able to diagnose at least some of Joanna’s problem. She had been kept waiting for her marriage far. (I distinctly remember the elasticated garters that held them up) and apair of red children's high heeled shoes that she had had in a dressingup box when she was a girl.I felt odd, embarrassed and awful as she forced me twirl and parade aboutfor her and then to my utmost horror, when she was satisfied she draggedme back downstairs to show my Mum.Mum laughed out loud when she saw me, then she actually told my sistershe had done well.Mum turned to me smiling broadly and I remember she said, "You.