Idabell's Wedding Day

Short Story by: texasjane

Reads: 155 | Likes: 1 | Shelves: 0 | Comments: 3

A short story about my mother and her sister and their retirement

It was Idabell’s wedding day. Last-minute preparations were being made. Her adopted mom could not have done more for her. Idabell’s aunt, her mom’s sister, had made the wedding gown her mom had designed. She was going to wear a wreath of the baby’s breath-holding a small veil to cover her head.

Now, everyone knew that Idabell’s mom and her aunt were very close sisters (and not just because they lived next door to each other) and loved each other very much… they argued about almost everything. Today was no different. The arguments had started early while they were on the phone. Idabell’s mom hung up the phone and was mumbling something about more bows on the gown. Idabell had just gotten out of her perfumed bubble bath when she heard a loud crash. I left Idabell with a towel and ran to the hall.

My mother, Idabell’s mom, had fallen in the hall and hit her head. I noticed she was unconscious. I immediately called 911 and went back to her. I was so scared. My mom was 82 and her sister was 86. These two retired ladies had been looking forward to this day for a very long time.

I called next door and let my cousin, Tina, know what had happened. When the ambulance got there they worked on mom for just a minute or two before she regained consciousness. She kept saying she was fine. Her age and the fact that she had hit her head made it imperative she go to the hospital. I followed the ambulance in my car.

My aunt and cousin both arrived a few minutes later. The ER team had ushered Mom into an exam room. We waited and waited. No one could tell us anything.Three hours went by and I finally decided to demand to know something. n Finally a doctor came out. He apologized for making us wait.

He then proceeded to inform us that Mother had suffered some brain trauma. The hit on the head had brought on some dementia and he wanted to send her to a nursing home and put her under the care of a psychiatrist. I could not believe what I was hearing. I asked if we could see her. He said what he wanted was for us to sit in his outer office and listen to his conversation with her. Maybe you can shed some light on her delusions.

We all followed him into the outer office. He put his figure to his lips as if to tell us to be silent. He went inside and left the door slightly ajar.

“Now, when can I get out of here?” My mother asked in a very impatient voice. “I have a wedding this afternoon.”

“Ms. Jane,” the doctor said in a soft, patient, patronizing voice, Tell me more about Idabell.”

“Idabell, dear doctor, as I have explained fifty times is a pig.”

Again in a soft voice, the doctor responded, “And she is getting married today? And this happened when she was in her bubble bath? Are you upset because she wanted to put more bows on her dress? Tell me, Miss Jane, have you and your sister always argued?” He asks with a very determined voice, "Have you always called your sister a pig or do you call her other names? Does she call you names?"

“Idabell is getting married, my sister made the wedding dress. I designed it and she made it. I was arguing about putting more white satin bows on it when I got frustrated. I went down the hall and did not pay attention to the water that had gotten on the floor when Idabell got out of her bubble bath. That is why I fell, Doctor.” My sister is dressmaker. Now my mother was shouting. My sister and I fight all the time. I repeat, Idabell is a pig."

“Please, Miss Jane,…

“You may call me Mrs. Walker or Jane, but don’t call me Miss Jane again like I’m some sort of throwback from the eighteen hundreds.”

“Please, Mrs. Walker,” the doctor continued, “Can you tell me why you think your sister is a pig?”

“Boy, have you got it all wrong. Idabel is a pig.”

“It is Idabell you do not like? She is the bride and you don't like her?”

“Doctor, read my lips, Idabell is a pig.”

I could not stand it any longer. I entered the room. My aunt, cousin, and I had been laughing our heads off. I quietly handed the doctor an invitation to the wedding.

“Doctor, there is nothing wrong with my mother. The wedding is scheduled for 3 pm this afternoon at this nursing home. Idabell gets married twice a week to Hamlet. They are two very well trained potbellied pigs.”

My mother rose from her chair, picked up her handbag, and patted the doctor on the shoulder. “You should get out more Doc.”

The wedding went off without a hitch. The doctor showed up and shook his head in disbelief.Idabell and Hamlet had been performing the same wedding ceremony for nursing homes across East Texas for almost a year. My mother and aunt had found a new excitement in their retirement as wedding planners.

Submitted: June 16, 2020

Humor humor retirement

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Comments

Excellent Theophilus

It was funny. My rating for this is 5 STARS!!

Wed, June 17th, 2020 9:04pm

Author
Reply

Thank you so much. I had another reviewer say the characters were not believable... I just replied... I grew up with those characters believe me they were real. I appreciate your comments. It touches my heart.

Wed, June 17th, 2020 7:36pm

Excellent Theophilus

Aw, what a nice way to get a name. Even though it was funny.

Thu, June 18th, 2020 7:57am

Excellent Theophilus

Oh sorry, that was meant for whats in a name? Hm but all the same its still going to come to you right? Even with that, i have sent it to the other story.

Thu, June 18th, 2020 8:24am

Author
Reply

I was beginning to wonder. I am glad you cleared that up for me. Thank you. I appreciate your review. It means a great deal to me.