People Of All Types Get Married

I work as the county clerk in a rural county not far from one of the more populated counties in the state. We have couples of all types come our way to get married, lower fee, faster service. It's as big a money maker as the rent a cop pulling cars over for rolling through the stop sign, or speeding over twenty five.

For many years it was rural folks, trailer park types, a few young girls and a divorced truck driver. But since we went for our neighbors to make the drive, we have everything from two fifty year old women, to high school kids eloping. None of our business, but we do ask the bride if she is there on her own desire.

Last week we had a fifty four year old man who showed up with a twenty four year old girl. He appeared well to do, she not so much so. The Judge asked her 'what brings you here?' she answered that he brought her. When he asked her if she was there to get married, she turned to look at him. The Judge felt that he needed her to think without his influence and he asked me to take her to the ladies room to freshen and pretty her up. It was then my job to ask her. why was she marrying that old man.

We spent fifteen minutes in the ladies room and she said he had a real nice house and he told her she could put a kid in every room. I had to ask outright 'is this man pressing you to get married?' Oh no, she replied, he got me pregnant. They were married and she sent me a picture of her new born son.

Once the Judge refused, two kids who were running away from home. While he had them wait for him to be free to marry them he had me call their parents, who came down to the court house to take them home.

I won't tell you about the weirdos, the obviously drunks, the sixty two year old woman with a young stripper who wanted to take her for a ride.