Page 123 - Contrast2015

Clarissa looked bewildered at the empty basket and the piles
of petals that marked the first half of the aisle. She had not
prepared for this and she looked around for help, but the
attention of the crowd was once again directed to the rear of
the church as the bride took her first steps into the room.
Someone, a stranger, appeared and quickly steered Clarissa to
her front row seat, where she sulked over her performance for
the remainder of the ceremony.

⁂

The good weather continued and the reception was held
outside in an open yard nearby surrounded by trees. Strings
of lights illuminated a wooden dance floor that had been built
for occasions such as this. Clarissa sat, alone, at one of the
many tables, watching the condensation grow heavy on her
drinking glass. Her mother had neglected to mention that
there would be no one else Clarissa’s age for her to play with
after the wedding.

The bride and groom were dancing now, and all eyes were
on them. Clarissa took the opportunity to find something else
to keep her occupied. She grabbed her basket and headed
toward the edge of the clearing.

Underneath the shadow of the trees, Clarissa spied a
clump of wildflowers. Perfect, she thought. She could practice
throwing the petals and figure out exactly where she had gone
wrong. The distance between two of the larger trees seemed
about the same as the length of the aisle. She plucked the
flowers, popping the tops into her basket and discarding the
stems. Once the petals were all separated and the basket was
sufficiently filled, Clarissa stood at the base of the tree and
began to hum the tune of the “Wedding March.”

She took a single step. One… she counted, Drop petals. A
handful of petals fell beside her. Step two. Three, drop
petals… Step four. Five, drop petals… Step six.

| 121