Hanging in the balance: a somber moment
Boobala had decided to start saving some money every week on her 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, make up, wax his eyebrows, cut his hair, get his nails done and many other things as well.
First of all, he needed to get his birth certificate. She knew where the key to the safe was. Mildred always hid it under the rug under the living room lamp. 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’s Office, thinking that someone might recognize the name since the store was so well known. She wanted to make sure that she didn’t run into someone who might know her. There was no need for them to take a blood test, as it was not required in New York State.
Boobala felt sad because she wasn’t going to have a splendid traditional wedding like her friend Myrtle, who looked so beautiful in her white veil and dress, and wore the most stunning wedding and engagement ring she had ever seen. Boobala was his maid of honor. 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 looked at her once. She felt like a wallflower, sitting up all night. ‘Maybe if she had worn some makeup it would have helped, but then she would have had to deal with mum’s comments. Thank goodness I didn’t have to wear those horrible dark-rimmed glasses. she told herself. She recalled how difficult it was to convince Mom to let her buy contact lenses for the occasion.
Boobala, feeling a little 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 do I have? I’m heir to a great fortune and now I’m sneaking around 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 saying, “It’s too expensive, forget it.”
‘Why are you making such a big deal out of this? I should be lucky to marry her. What a pain in my ass she’s becoming. he thought. He wanted this act to be over and done with so he could legitimately 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 indulge her in anything. She felt cheated in 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 as usual ended up paying for, since he wasn’t going to be present.
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