THE GIFT

My fiancee' was the picture of the handsome groom; his bride was also lovely in my wedding gown.  Had I but known the type day the day before my wedding would be, I believe I would have overslept. I arrived at the rehearsal to be greeted by my fiancee's nervous brother.  He informed me with sweat running in rivers down his face that Lathine needed desperately to see me in the changing room.  I went forward with great eagerness. You would have to know my Lathine to understand my eagerness.  You see, Lathine and I grew up together.  We were best friends from the age of eighteen months, therefore it was rather expected that we would eventually get married... to each other.  We had in all our years of growing, never found anyone who could take the others place, therefore on my twenty-eighth birthday, Lathine proposed. His proposal had not come as a shock to anyone much less myself.  We had always been together except for that one summer he chose to travel to California.  I would have been with him then had not my uncle Herman decided to take a walk one night... off the pier.  Lathine and uncle Herman never got along very well.  It was neither of their faults actually.  Uncle Herman was just very protective of his favorite niece... me.  For some strange reason he had this ridiculous notion that Lathine would some day hurt me, he was absolutely convinced and would not be shaken. Well, on this day I hurried to rendezvous with Lathine, you see, the night before we had discovered a new avenue in our relationship, it was called passion.  It had only taken one unexpected kiss and an entirely new dimension had been added.  We had always been confidants, friends, partners but knew not of the scope of passion we were each capable of together. As I hurried down to the church basement, I can almost remember the tune which was playing in my head.  Almost.  I entered the room seeking my prince, instead I found myself faced with a frog.  Very politely, being forever the perfect gentleman, Lathine unwrapped his arms from around the body of the woman standing before him who was not me.  He was even nice enough to remove his lips from her own. As I stood there swaying in no breeze, I calmly was informed that he would indeed be getting married the next day... only not to me.  You see, that summer had brought about more than just a severe case of sunburn for Lathine, it had brought about Sheila. In terms which even a child could understand if they listened, I was asked to do just that, understand.  Lathine and Sheila had fallen in love that summer and couldn't get up.  As it so happened, Lathine had been unable to do anything about it because of a slight problem... fear of her husband.  But as in all fairy tales, she had arrived in town early that morning... divorced.The pair was so sweet in asking for forgiveness, adding the fact that our pastor had just arrived, I found myself graciously forgiving them both.  For who can win against love?  My forgiveness was so complete that I offered to give Sheila my wedding gown, she already had my husband-to-be.  I figured she could use the entire package.  It wasn't as though I had any immediate use for it. The wedding went on as planned, only in a country town can one phone call prepare everyone for such a change in less than twenty-four hours... I hate the country.  The entire town turned out for the wedding... savages, traitors.  There was only one moment of discomfort, that was when I entered and they could not decide which side to seat me on, as friend of the bride or groom.  My mother tells me I was very brave... and very stupid.  Actually I was replaying past episodes of Murder, She Wrote,  in my mind. After the brief service, which ended with everyone saying what a beautiful couple they made and how they knew I would always see that the right thing was done, I even offered to drive the happy couple to their new home; the apartment Lathine and I had so painstakingly remodeled and decorated.  There was yet another surprise waiting for me.  Lucky me.  I was asked that being the swell sport I was if I would mind taking Ginger out for awhile.  Of course I said yes.  No one would possibly spend much time investigating the sudden demise of a pet I figured.  Besides, I couldn't see where I could be made to feel any lower, I was wrong.  You see, Ginger was not the family pet but rather the daughter they had created that summer long ago... together.  This Ginger was a beautiful seven year old.    As it were, I kept Ginger for a whole week in order to allow the newlyweds a honeymoon.  The day I returned Ginger was the day I moved out of town.  The move was accomplished rather quickly for I found it easy to pack when everything which can be broken... is. Two years later there was a knock at my door.  A door located in a different state.  I opened it to find Lathine, Sheila and Ginger on my doorstep. I was again asked to take care of Ginger so that the two of them could enjoy some time alone.  Of course I intended to decline, that was until I looked at her, you see that week two years prior had been a very hard time for me.  I had fallen in love with little Ginger, totally against my will and superior judgement. Two weeks later, the happy couple returned for my Ginger.  My mother swears to this day she knew my life would never be the same for she claims it was at that point that little Ginger began to look like me.  I heard nothing from them until three years later.  I was once again in a different state.  I have yet to learn how they learned my new address but my mother always did have a rather sly smile.  This time they were having problems in their marriage and wanted me to watch Ginger for an extended period of time.  I was not to know how extended.  A month later I received a packet in the mail.  In all honestly I was not the least bit alarmed by the big brown envelope... until I opened it.  There was a brief letter letting me know they would be out of the country for awhile and knew I wouldn't mind watching the child.  Enclosed were all kinds of legal papers I would need to enter her in school or anything else I could come up with.  In polite terms, for the duration she was mine. For six glorious months I complained to my mother about the gall of the two then hung up afterwards and enjoyed myself with Ginger.  Then something even stranger happened.  I began to dread every time the phone rang or the doorbell sounded.  For a brief time, we considered taking an unscheduled trip to the Bermuda Triangle, leaving the return date open... indefinitely.  Only our mutual dislike for flying insects which bite brought us to our senses. One day, nine months later, I received a phone call from what's-his-name and his wife's lawyer.  He wanted to see us the next day, he said he had a very important letter for us.  We agreed on a time to meet.  I was sorely tempted to accidentally miss the appointment, I did not give in.  Ginger and I willed ourselves to be brave.  Two hours before the meeting we cried in separate rooms.  We did not want to be parted.  We even discussed demanding visitation rights.  It was only when I reminded myself Ginger was Lathine and Sheila's daughter that this idea was dropped. High noon arrived as did the lawyer.  Ginger and I swore to keep a stiff upper lip.  The moment the doorbell sounded, two bottom lips hit the floor. Sometime later the lawyer, such a nice man, had gone and we sat dazed on the sofa staring blankly at each other.  I felt very bad and repented within for the delight I had taken in imagining the two had some how met with a terrible accident which left them not dead exactly but rather unable to take Ginger from me.  You see, there was no need for that, she was now legally mine for better or worst.  I knew it was going to be a breeze for we had been through worst already.   Lathine and Sheila had decided to stay away, they had given me complete custody.  May they have a long life.  They had decided having a child was a great inconvenience to their way of life.  I also realized that from that moment forth the law would have something to say should I ever decide I wanted to send my little gift back. I am now a single parent and I find I love every moment of it, with the exception of those moments when darling Ginger starts to act like... me.  You-know-who gave me a wonderful gift of freedom and self when he decided to marry what's-her-name.  Ginger is now fifteen, she is graduating from high school today, number one in her class.  My baby is growing up and looking just like me, her mama.  Just think, I have all of this and didn't even have to sweat and suffer birth pains.  When pregnant women ask me how much my baby weighed when she came I just smile as I tell them the truth... fifty-two pounds, and she came gift wrapped.