Friday the 13th 'The Wedding'

In the 70's we were all about free love, burning bras, flags and incense. We wore tye dye shirts and macrame' belts. We wore flowers in our hair and even put flowers on our cars. I was what was known as a 'hippie wannabe'. I dressed the part but I didn't really walk the walk. I had tried smoking marijuana a couple of times. I am not a smoker so I coughed up more than I ever inhaled. I never took to drugs which is surprising knowing the addictive behavior I have as a whole. I didn't like being out of control. I felt like my whole life had been that way and I didn't like knowing that a substance had the power to take over my thoughts and actions. I never got into drugs, thankfully. I did try to take speed aka 'white cross' to help me lose weight. I think it made me eat faster! I only tried that once. Even though, Frank never indulged in any of these things he was attracted to me because I was daring and outgoing. I think I did the things he didn't have the courage to do.

I had to plan for a wedding in less than 2 weeks. Frank told me that he would marry me in front of the justice of the peace and not in a chapel or church setting. That was okay with me. I had quit going to church many years before. I just wanted to be his wife. I was going to invite my family and friends to the wedding. I told Frank so he could invite his family and friends too. His face froze when I told him of my plans. He told me in no uncertain terms that no one could come to the wedding. He didn't want anyone to even know when or where it was going to be. I was shocked. I thought he was kidding. No, I could tell by the look on his face that he was dead serious. I did not see the huge red flag that was waving in my face.

I had told my sisters that I was getting married. Now I had to tell them that they couldn't come. I was heartbroken but I continued to make plans. I called my dad and left a message with Kathryn that I was getting married and that I was pregnant and then I hung up. I didn't give her a chance to respond. I wanted to hurt my dad. I knew he would be disappointed in me. I wanted to disappoint him like he always had done to me.

I borrowed a white cotton dress from one of my girlfriends. It was a maternity dress, it had a red, white and blue striped belt that went just above my stomach. I had to work the day of my wedding so we decided to get married on my lunch hour. I wore a uniform at the bank where I worked so I had to bring my dress to work with me. I hung my dress in the backseat of my car the night before so I could change before we went to the courthouse. I had bought myself a gold wedding band with little intertwined rings etched all the way around it. I was ready for my big day. One of the ladies at work had went into the ladies room where my dress was hanging. It had axle grease all down the front of it from the back of my car. I hadn't even noticed it. She had left work and taken it to the 1 hour cleaners for me. She also bought me a red rose in a handheld glass carrier so I would have flowers. It was so nice of her. I still did not see the red flag.

Frank came to pick me up to take me to courthouse. My boss had given me an extended lunch so we could grab some lunch too. When I got in the car there was a white corsage box sitting in the seat next to him. Wow! I opened it and inside was a pink carnation corsage with a little rhinestone heart. I loved it and I told him I did. He grumbled that my sister, Linda, had given to him to give me. He didn't want me to take or wear any flowers inside the courthouse. He didn't want me to call any attention to us when we went see the judge. My heart ached but I knew he wouldn't marry me if I didn't do as he said. I didn't see the red flag.

He had a couple of his friends, Marty & Jeff, stand up with us as our witness's. I had wanted my sisters to be with me on my wedding day. Later I learned that my sister, Linda and my step-mother, Kathryn were in the back of the courtroom that day and saw the entire wedding. I never even knew they were there. I felt so alone that afternoon. I had never met Frank's friends until that day. The judge asked me three times if I really wanted to get married that day because it was Friday the 13th. I said yes three times...I think a cock crowed in the background. In a matter of minutes we were husband and wife, I felt complete. I was someones wife therefore; I must be lovable.

We had a 'Full Meal Deal' at Burger King for lunch to celebrate. Frank did not eat inside restaurants so we went through the drive through and took back to my apartment. I was the only one working at the time so I had to go back to work until 6:00 pm that night. Not quite like the wedding I had dreamed about as a little girl.

Frank picked me up after work and took me to his friend's house for dinner. Frank was a very picky eater so he dictated the menu. I don't remember everything but I know we had a frozen turkey roll as the main course. Marty had bake a two layer cake with white icing. She had put a bride and groom on the top. I loved it! They even had presents for us. It almost seemed like a real wedding day. Their little girl was sitting at the table while we were eating. The cake was just too much for her so reached over during the meal and took a big hunk out of the side of the cake. The bride and groom fell to the floor. I didn't see the red flag.

After dinner we left and went a gas station where Frank's brother was working on a car for the demolition derby. We pulled up out front, I was looking forward to meeting his family. I started to open my car door when he told me to just wait in the car. I sat in the car holding the little bride and groom from atop the cake in my hands. I sat there for a really long time. I didn't dare get out of the car because he had told me to wait. After what seemed to be hours his sister-in-law looked out the door and saw me sitting there by myself. She came out to the car and asked me who I was. I held up the bride and groom and said I am Frank's wife, we got married today. She about flipped out. She went inside to tell everyone. The next thing I knew Frank came flying out and jumped in the car. He started it up and gunned the engine. The gravel flew and we peeled out of the gas station. I was shocked. I asked him what I had done, what had happened. He refused to look at me or to answer me. For the first time I was scared...what had I done? Frank pulled up to my apartment and told me to get out. I got out and stood on the sidewalk with my bride and groom. I had tears streaming down my face it was my wedding day and I was alone. I didn't see the red flags.....