Betrothed

Episode 1

"Amanda!! get ready, we're going to see your future husband" my younger sister shouted in a sing-song voice.

She obviously knew I hated it each time she referred to "him" as my husband. I mean, what 10 year old wouldn't be shocked and disappointed to know a huge and major decision about her life had already been taken, not that I knew anything about boys at the age of 10.

Butttt we all know boys have cooties, right? Right.

"AMANDA!!" my mom called, "Will you start getting ready or do I need to do that for you?"

"I'm coming, MOMMYYY" I shouted for good effect.

She knew I hated it when she screamed my name like that and in case she forgot I was just reminding her.

Not surprisingly, my eight year old sister was already dressed and ready to go, one might think she was the one going to meet her betrothed for the first time. At this rate she should have been the one given up for marriage at such an early age and not me.

"For the last time Amanda, Do. Not. Make. Me. Come. Up. There. Myself", my mom screamed for the upteenth time.

At this point I think betrothed or not she really was going to come up to my bedroom and give me a good s******g and I really didn't want to agitate her any further. Still wondering where my father was, I hurriedly got up from my bed, and ran to the bathroom to freshen up.

After hurriedly brushing and bathing in record time, I ran out of the bathroom almost tripping on the blue Pajamas I threw carelessly on the floor.

I wore my favorite pajamas the night before hoping it would make me feel better but even the innocent blue PJ's with the Lilo and Stitch design and embroidery couldn't work it's usual magic. I was scared out of my mind, not only was I scared about the meeting, I was also scared I would make a bad impression on my in-laws and my parents would be heavily disappointed at me, inspite of my fear, a little part of me was angry, angry at the fact that while I didn't understand fully the concept of marriage and love, I still knew it was a very important decision, one I would have wanted to make for myself.

I ran to my closet while shooing my thoughts away.

On the big couch inside my closet was the most puffy gown I had ever seen, waiting to be worn. By puffy I mean, imagine Cinderella's gown at the ball, yh the blue one, but double the fluff and layers. I didn't know how my mother expected me to walk in that and I guess we'll never know because I skipped the dress and instead wore my flay, sky blue gown, embroidered with beaded diamonds, it was long sleeved and glove at the end of the sleeve, I cut the tip of the gloves so my fingers would pass through it and also because I hated gloves. I wore my white pearls passed down to me by my grandmother which I absolutely adored and wore only when I felt scared or needed assurance and also because it complimented my cocoa brown skin.

I then put on my low heeled heels or whatever it was called, I wasn't that big on fashion and that equally irked my mother as she didn't understand how any one on earth wouldn't feel elated at the mention of Gucci or Prada and shopping all day long.

I wore my white pearl earrings and pearl bracelet. I needed help with my hair though because I hadn't mastered that "art". "May!!" I called out. My younger sister ran into my bed room excitedly but then stopped short and let out a loud gasp.

"What on earth are you wearing?" She screamed, "that's not the outfit mommy and I picked up for you". Ahh, of course I should have known, now that explains the Pink and multiple cloud like layers, I thought. "Shut up and help me with my hair you crazed princess". She giggled and got to work.

I don't know how she did it but before 5 minutes she was done, well as done as an 8 year old could be. I trusted her with anything fashion though because just like Mom she was a fashion addict.

I thanked her and then turned around to look properly at her outfit.

She was wearing a yellow puffy dress, imagine Belle from "Beauty and the Beast", yes, that one.

She wore yellow earrings and a diamond necklace couples with a white heel as low as mine. She had her curly hair in a protective style that looked really easy to make but too complicated for me to figure it out. All in all she looked really confident and cute. Her outfit really complimented her cocoa brown skin too, and her hazel eyes shone with excitement, a light that was supposed to be in my eye but was heavily lacking.

"Cheer up, it's not the end of the world, I heard your "husband " is the cutest boy in his grade, and respectful and he cares alot for his younger brother, he'll take care of you, you'll see". "Shut up May, and stop calling him my husband. We aren't married yet". "Yeah, YET". "Mayyyy" I shrieked, she giggled and ran out of my bed before I could catch up with her and tickle the life out of her. I loved my sister, more than life itself, but she took after my mother, which meant that she was a little too much sometimes.

I walked downstairs to meet my parents waiting patiently for me and now joined by May. May and I made eye contact as we saw our mommy boiling at my choice of outfit, however she couldn't force me to change now as we were almost late to the first meeting with the family of my "betrothed" and my mother hated been late to any event or meeting.