How It Was For Men And Women In The Old World

A story of when we were teens. I have a friend still, we became friends in grade school. He has a sister Vivian one year younger than him. We have been friends like I say, close to brothers really.

Well when we were still in high school and his sister was a grade lower I spent a lot of time at his house. His mother wanted his sister to learn how to be a hostess and she taught her how to make cakes and pies and cookies and we were the guinea pigs for her. Part of the deal was that she would set the table for us, with fresh brewed coffee and serve us afternoon delight.

He could only see her as a pest sister. I saw something different. Standing by my side with her starched apron on, serving me coffee and cutting a piece of pie for me, shit, you fall in love. We are talking about fifteen and fourteen at the time.

One day we are having our afternoon coffee and cake and he asks me if I want her. I said I thought she was so nice and pretty and all that. He gets mad and stands up, 'do you want her or not?' Well she's yours, take her.

His mother stood at the door of the kitchen shaking her head. 'Vivian are you ok with that?' Vivian stood there looking at me, we were kids, like I said I was fifteen. 'Do you want me?' Vivian asked. Well what do you say, of course I want you. What else could I say. Her mother said in passing 'well Vivian you belong to him now. We'll keep her until she is grown up',

They dressed Vivian in an Italian wedding gown. She was so small, even her heels didn't make her tall. The trio that played the music played an Italian wedding march. Her brother walked her down the isle to me. 'Here, have her, she's yours' and walked off. The guests, including my parents all shook their head. Vivian's voice carried throughout the sanctuary as the Priest requested that she repeat her vows. My voice cracked, that's what my father said.

For her wedding my parents gave Vivian a complete set of Limoges China, and a set of silver cutlery. An aunt gave her Belgian table linen for her table. My grandparents gave her a set of English cut glass, and goblets for wine. We were set up in a house of our own, furnished and all. I was still in University and she had just finished her Baccalaureate studies. On our wedding night we were sent to the Grand Hotel.

We sat across from each other in the living area of the wedding suite. Vivian stood and button by button, piece by piece she took off everything she had on. She stood before me and said to me 'do you still want me?'. I said yes. 'Then this is what I have to give you as a wedding present'.