The 23rd Short Story
My Lady in Red
"My Lady in Red"
ANDY'S LESSONS FROM LIFE
My 23rd Short Story
I hope you enjoy more of Andy's life experiences and the lessons that come with them.
"My Lady in Red"
“Sometimes, the thing we search for has been staring us in the face for years.”
--Andy Skrzynski
After our trip Up North, our lives grew hectic as Bonnie and I prepared for our union. What seemed like plenty of time, when we kicked off our marriage plans, came and went in a flash.
Bonnie was stuck with much of the particulars since the wedding was in Michigan. I had plenty to do in preparing to rid my house of its current contents. No way on God’s green earth was my dear friend of more than 15 years going to put up with a couch and loveseat, lavishly adorned with huge, bright marigolds.
I knew I didn’t possess the best taste when it came to picking out fashions, but my new bride-to-be didn’t have to be so pointed about it. There was no need to call it “ugly.” A little subtlety could have gone a long way, if one would simply have tried.
Basically, I had one weekend to unload all unwanted furnishings. Of course, “unwanted” meant ALL of my furniture, except my stereo system.
Bonnie loved the sound from the speakers that stood waist high, especially if I played her favorite kind of music -- Motown. Nothing sounded better to her than the songs she and her older sister, Karen, used to dance to in their basement, back in the 1960’s.
To satisfy my beloved fiance’s desires, I dutifully placed an ad in the newspaper detailing all the prime goodies that would be available for the picking, during the weekend ahead. That Saturday morning, I awoke before sunrise, slurped down my coffee, and loaded my poster boards in the back of my shiny, cherry-red Camaro, with a T-top to boot.
I headed out of the neighborhood and strategically positioned at least 30 unique yard-sale signs, starting ¼ mile away along six different paths, leading all the way up to my house. May I say, those signs were some of the most creative designs I had ever seen in my life? They better have been. It took me forever to make them!
When I returned home, I parked my car out at the curb and opened up the garage door -- ready for action. Being of sound mind, I had placed all of the furnishings and other sale items in my garage and tagged them the night before. Since it was still an hour away from the start of the proceedings, I had plenty of time to settle down and get comfortable -- so I thought.
It couldn’t have been more than two minutes after I plopped my rear in a folding chair, when a slender, middle-aged man pulled into the driveway. His pickup truck appeared to have escaped a washing for many years. My first customer hopped out like he had been awake for hours and was ready for action.
He must not have owned a watch, because he was way too early. Without so much as a hello, he whisked along and glanced at each of the bigger items and took a little more time examining a few of the smaller things.
He paused for a second as if thinking, then turned toward me. "Is this everything you’ve got for sale today?"
Kind of shocked by the questions, I stuttered a moment then nodded. “Yyyep, this is it. Is there anything you’d like?”
He waved his arm over the entire area. “What would you take for everything?”
My eyes almost popped out of their sockets before shifting back and forth, as I tried to decipher what I just heard. Did he really mean everything?
Thinking I must have been dreaming, I tried to shake the cobwebs out of my head before drawing a deep breath. “Everything?”
He chewed on his lip a moment, then nodded. “Yep, I’ve got a son going to school in Mexico. He could use every bit of what you’ve got here. How much do you want for it all?”
Fortunately, math was one of my better subjects, so I quickly added it up in my noggin. Then I knocked off a tad for good measure, since I wouldn’t have to mess with it all day, and gingerly replied, “Six hundred even. It’s less than I priced it, but if you want it all, you can have it for six hundred bucks.”
Having done a couple of garage sales before, I expected him to quickly counter my offer. To my surprise, he blurted. “Great, I’ll be back in 10 minutes with another truck and some friends. We’ll take it off your hands in no time at all.” He hopped back in his truck and sped off.
As he disappeared down the road, I didn’t know whether to believe what just happened or chalk it up to some prank my friends were playing on me. I kept looking up and down the road to see if I could spot one of my goofball buddies, videotaping the whole ordeal to be shown at one of our next parties. This was one of those perfect kind of tricks we so enjoyed playing on each other.
I never did see any of the usual pranksters, and in less than 10 minutes, up pulled the same guy with another beat-up pickup and his friends. While he peeled off a bunch of crisp $20 bills, his friends began loading the goods in the truck beds.
As new as those green sheets of paper looked, I half-wondered if he plucked a few from a clothesline hung in a basement somewhere. Before I could ponder the thought any further, he quipped, “Goodbye,” as he stepped into his vehicle, and drove off again.
I barely wrapped my mind around what had just happened, while turning toward the garage to sit down and think about what I would do next. Off in the distance, a woman’s voice startled me. “Sir, is this where the garage sale is supposed to be? I see a sign in your yard, but where is all the furniture and other stuff you claimed to have in your newspaper ad?”
I gulped. Crap! How am I going to explain this? What about everybody else that shows up?
I sucked in a deep breath. “You’re not going to believe this, but a man came by earlier with two trucks and bought me out. He just took off!”
She smiled. That’s where those pickups came from. I just passed them on the way here.”
Man, am I lucky she saw them. I grinned. “Yep, that was them, alright. He wanted everything for one of his kids down in Mexico -- going to college or something like that.”
The friendly lady smiled again while she shook her head. “I was hoping to buy some furniture. I can’t believe you sold everything before the sale was even supposed to start.”
“Believe me; I can’t either. He just showed up and boom, bam, he was gone in a heartbeat! I never heard of anything like it, but my fiance is going to be a happy camper that I got rid of it all”
“She will?”
“Yep. I’m getting married soon and Bonnie's tastes are way different than mine.”
She grinned. “Don’t take it too personal. It happens to the best of them. By the way, I’ve never seen so many garage-sale signs in my life. I had to come to see who spent that much time putting all those signs out.”
Suddenly, my heart jerked. I’ve got to take those signs down, FAST!
I really didn’t want to be rude, but I had no choice. I shot her my worried look. “That reminds me. I’ve got to get rid of all those signs you mentioned. I’m really glad you stopped by, and I’m sorry everything was gone, but I better deal with those signs, if you don’t mind!”
Fortunately, she was sweet and smiled. “I understand. I’ve got to find some furniture somewhere else, anyway. Take care and good luck with your marriage, young man.”
*** The Next Day ***
After dispensing with the most urgent task at hand for the weekend, I moved on to the next important item on my list of things to do. While preparing for our wedding, I wanted this event to feature something extra special for the lady who owned my heart -- something she’d never forget -- but what? I was quickly running out of time before I had to fly up to Michigan in five days.
Come on, Andy! Think! My mind churned and churned until my head hurt. Finally, after way too long, it dawned on me. Perfect!
During one of our many conversations, my gorgeous partner mentioned some of the musical instruments she had enjoyed playing when younger. I instantly ruled out the bulky monstrosity used to liven up Polka’s at weddings. The accordion just didn’t possess any romantic appeal in my book, but alas, one of the other instruments she mentioned was just what the doctor ordered.
While out to lunch the next day, I visited a local music shop. Mind you, as I browsed the owner’s offerings, I didn’t want to settle for some plain old instrument. No sirree! I wanted something new -- something unique.
After picking out a fine specimen, I asked the owner to paint a loving memory on the face of it that would withstand the test of time and always be present, whenever she strummed its taut strings. I explained in detail what I had in mind.
A present is fine, but the delivery of such a gift would require a bit of creativity, if it was going to capture her heart -- right? I pondered how I could best surprise her in such a way she would NEVER FORGET the moment.
From my past experiences as a kid, I knew I had to be careful. Some of my most memorable experiences turned into horrors I’d prefer to bury for eternity. I simply could not let that happen to my precious lady.
After I finished all of my preparations and picked up the present from the music store, I looked to Heaven. “Lord, please help me make this one of Bonnie’s best moments ever!”
As our special union was closing fast, I flew up to Michigan. The next day, two of my best Texas friends flew up to join me.
Ted was going to be my Best Man and Tom came as my Groom’s Man. I was so grateful to have a couple of buddies to stand near me, during what was hopefully one of my finest hours.
That fateful morning, while standing near the altar of Bonnie’s Catholic church in Canton, Michigan, I glanced down the center aisle as the organ continued playing. Shannon and Colleen looked adorable with the biggest grins ever as they walked along the red carpet.
They appeared to be enjoying the moment every bit as I, except without the nervousness. In fact, they appeared to be in one of their playful moods.
After two prior weddings, you’d think I would be cool as a cucumber, but no; sweat was already streaming down my sideburns, and it wasn’t even that warm in the chapel. After everybody got settled into their pews, the organist began playing the processional.
My eyes turned toward the entrance. Where is my beautiful lady? I was dying to see her again.
Just as my nervousness was about to overwhelm me, she appeared. My heart leapt with joy. She is stunning!
My gorgeous bride’s smile was as wide and bright as I had ever seen. Her earrings sparkled in the lights, and she looked perfect, as she strolled toward me while clutching her father’s arm. Ornate lace adorned the sleeves of her magnificent wedding dress and continued up across the top of her bosom to the bottom of a thicker area of lace that accented her neck.
I could tell she was carrying a cluster of flowers, but my stare remained fixed on her glistening eyes. All at once, the tension that had churned in my gut all morning poured out from my soul, as my eyes watered.
Not only was she the most beautiful woman I had ever known, but this beaming lady before me was my Bonnie -- my Love. I will never let her go!
As the priest began the ceremony, the cozy church was brimming with wonderful family and friends, many who I had never met before. Our girls were decked out and sitting in the front pew with a couple of their friends who were also cutely dressed for the occasion.
Mass was moving along nicely when the young children decided the whole ordeal was proceeding a bit too slowly for them. Doing what bored kids often do, they began giggling at the same time Shannon began to taunt her younger sister.
Bonnie grew a bit antsy as they seemed to put aside her subtle gestures to settle down and behave. Her glare became more pronounced, when the children further ignored her and continued their merriment, while the priest proceeded with his sermon.
Suddenly, the holy man stopped mid-sentence, and everybody grew silent. He slowly turned toward Bonnie and smiled. “Calm down Mom, what they are doing doesn’t matter. This is your special day.”
At that very moment, her muscles seemed to relax, and she smiled once again. When I glanced at the girls, they were frozen as statues, staring straight ahead. They knew they had interrupted the proceedings and better wise up quick.
From that point on, the youngsters behaved themselves, and I did as the priest commanded. With my heart filled with joy, I kissed that bride of mine good, and she returned the favor. I don’t know how long we lip-locked, but I could hear the girls giggling in the background.
Following the wedding, Bonnie, her family, and I had dinner during the afternoon. After chatting for quite some time, we relaxed a bit and then proceeded to the reception at the club house of the condo complex, where Bonnie’s parents lived. It was a quaint little building with a large room and kitchen.
Bonnie’s sisters had prepared buffet style food and brought drinks galore for the guests. When we arrived, we played music and mingled with our friends and family as they ate. In the meantime, a few of our guests danced, while the others continued eating and chatting.
When everybody seemed content, I kept trying to get Bonnie to change into the red evening dress we had picked out and purchased together for the reception. Finally, she and her dad walked across the lawn to the condo so Bonnie could change.
I promptly readied my surprise during her time away. After a little wait, the doorknob at the entrance to the club house turned.
As Bonnie walked through the door, I hit the play button of the boom box I had brought for the occasion. The music of “Lady in Red” filled the air, and everybody hushed.
A few “awwws” complemented Chris de Burgh’s masterpiece, as I gallantly strolled up to my new bride and asked her to dance. Fortunately for me, she obliged with a spectacular smile.
The more we danced, the more the ooohs and awwws continued. The sight of Bonnie brought tears to my eyes. How did I deserve all of this? When the song ended, we kissed like never before or maybe like we always did -- long and hard, until we ran out of breath.
The whole room exploded with applause. Many of the guests walked up to us and showered more love. As our family and friends returned to their seats, I walked my gorgeous bride back to a chair I had set up-front.
I could see from her expression she was suspicious of my intentions, so I soothed her. “Please be patient for a second longer. I have something for you.”
She cocked her head with a grin that told me she would wait, but not too long. I reached underneath the tablecloth, draped over a table beside her, where I had hidden my present.
The black leather case with wine-colored felt lining was already open. Retrieving her new instrument, I lifted it for her to examine, while I slowly handed it to her. “I hope you like it.”
Tears filled Bonnie’s eyes as they grew large. “Oh, how beautiful.”
She peered closer at the painted inscriptions, special for the occasion. Toward the bottom, near one of the large curves of the acoustic guitar, was our wedding date, painted in a baby blue.
Higher and across from that, near the neck and the upper curve, was a ring of flowers, painted around her name, “Bonnie Jo.” By now her tears were flowing like a swelling river. Not just hers, but of the women around her. They were all crying with joy.
My lips parted with glee while my soul couldn’t have been happier. There I stood, with my Lady in Red, as she admired her gift with the loveliest smile I ever witnessed.
********
That's it for now! Thank you for your amazing support!
Andy Skrzynski
ANDY'S LESSONS FROM LIFE
My 23rd Short Story
I hope you enjoy more of Andy's life experiences and the lessons that come with them.
"My Lady in Red"
“Sometimes, the thing we search for has been staring us in the face for years.”
--Andy Skrzynski
After our trip Up North, our lives grew hectic as Bonnie and I prepared for our union. What seemed like plenty of time, when we kicked off our marriage plans, came and went in a flash.
Bonnie was stuck with much of the particulars since the wedding was in Michigan. I had plenty to do in preparing to rid my house of its current contents. No way on God’s green earth was my dear friend of more than 15 years going to put up with a couch and loveseat, lavishly adorned with huge, bright marigolds.
I knew I didn’t possess the best taste when it came to picking out fashions, but my new bride-to-be didn’t have to be so pointed about it. There was no need to call it “ugly.” A little subtlety could have gone a long way, if one would simply have tried.
Basically, I had one weekend to unload all unwanted furnishings. Of course, “unwanted” meant ALL of my furniture, except my stereo system.
Bonnie loved the sound from the speakers that stood waist high, especially if I played her favorite kind of music -- Motown. Nothing sounded better to her than the songs she and her older sister, Karen, used to dance to in their basement, back in the 1960’s.
To satisfy my beloved fiance’s desires, I dutifully placed an ad in the newspaper detailing all the prime goodies that would be available for the picking, during the weekend ahead. That Saturday morning, I awoke before sunrise, slurped down my coffee, and loaded my poster boards in the back of my shiny, cherry-red Camaro, with a T-top to boot.
I headed out of the neighborhood and strategically positioned at least 30 unique yard-sale signs, starting ¼ mile away along six different paths, leading all the way up to my house. May I say, those signs were some of the most creative designs I had ever seen in my life? They better have been. It took me forever to make them!
When I returned home, I parked my car out at the curb and opened up the garage door -- ready for action. Being of sound mind, I had placed all of the furnishings and other sale items in my garage and tagged them the night before. Since it was still an hour away from the start of the proceedings, I had plenty of time to settle down and get comfortable -- so I thought.
It couldn’t have been more than two minutes after I plopped my rear in a folding chair, when a slender, middle-aged man pulled into the driveway. His pickup truck appeared to have escaped a washing for many years. My first customer hopped out like he had been awake for hours and was ready for action.
He must not have owned a watch, because he was way too early. Without so much as a hello, he whisked along and glanced at each of the bigger items and took a little more time examining a few of the smaller things.
He paused for a second as if thinking, then turned toward me. "Is this everything you’ve got for sale today?"
Kind of shocked by the questions, I stuttered a moment then nodded. “Yyyep, this is it. Is there anything you’d like?”
He waved his arm over the entire area. “What would you take for everything?”
My eyes almost popped out of their sockets before shifting back and forth, as I tried to decipher what I just heard. Did he really mean everything?
Thinking I must have been dreaming, I tried to shake the cobwebs out of my head before drawing a deep breath. “Everything?”
He chewed on his lip a moment, then nodded. “Yep, I’ve got a son going to school in Mexico. He could use every bit of what you’ve got here. How much do you want for it all?”
Fortunately, math was one of my better subjects, so I quickly added it up in my noggin. Then I knocked off a tad for good measure, since I wouldn’t have to mess with it all day, and gingerly replied, “Six hundred even. It’s less than I priced it, but if you want it all, you can have it for six hundred bucks.”
Having done a couple of garage sales before, I expected him to quickly counter my offer. To my surprise, he blurted. “Great, I’ll be back in 10 minutes with another truck and some friends. We’ll take it off your hands in no time at all.” He hopped back in his truck and sped off.
As he disappeared down the road, I didn’t know whether to believe what just happened or chalk it up to some prank my friends were playing on me. I kept looking up and down the road to see if I could spot one of my goofball buddies, videotaping the whole ordeal to be shown at one of our next parties. This was one of those perfect kind of tricks we so enjoyed playing on each other.
I never did see any of the usual pranksters, and in less than 10 minutes, up pulled the same guy with another beat-up pickup and his friends. While he peeled off a bunch of crisp $20 bills, his friends began loading the goods in the truck beds.
As new as those green sheets of paper looked, I half-wondered if he plucked a few from a clothesline hung in a basement somewhere. Before I could ponder the thought any further, he quipped, “Goodbye,” as he stepped into his vehicle, and drove off again.
I barely wrapped my mind around what had just happened, while turning toward the garage to sit down and think about what I would do next. Off in the distance, a woman’s voice startled me. “Sir, is this where the garage sale is supposed to be? I see a sign in your yard, but where is all the furniture and other stuff you claimed to have in your newspaper ad?”
I gulped. Crap! How am I going to explain this? What about everybody else that shows up?
I sucked in a deep breath. “You’re not going to believe this, but a man came by earlier with two trucks and bought me out. He just took off!”
She smiled. That’s where those pickups came from. I just passed them on the way here.”
Man, am I lucky she saw them. I grinned. “Yep, that was them, alright. He wanted everything for one of his kids down in Mexico -- going to college or something like that.”
The friendly lady smiled again while she shook her head. “I was hoping to buy some furniture. I can’t believe you sold everything before the sale was even supposed to start.”
“Believe me; I can’t either. He just showed up and boom, bam, he was gone in a heartbeat! I never heard of anything like it, but my fiance is going to be a happy camper that I got rid of it all”
“She will?”
“Yep. I’m getting married soon and Bonnie's tastes are way different than mine.”
She grinned. “Don’t take it too personal. It happens to the best of them. By the way, I’ve never seen so many garage-sale signs in my life. I had to come to see who spent that much time putting all those signs out.”
Suddenly, my heart jerked. I’ve got to take those signs down, FAST!
I really didn’t want to be rude, but I had no choice. I shot her my worried look. “That reminds me. I’ve got to get rid of all those signs you mentioned. I’m really glad you stopped by, and I’m sorry everything was gone, but I better deal with those signs, if you don’t mind!”
Fortunately, she was sweet and smiled. “I understand. I’ve got to find some furniture somewhere else, anyway. Take care and good luck with your marriage, young man.”
*** The Next Day ***
After dispensing with the most urgent task at hand for the weekend, I moved on to the next important item on my list of things to do. While preparing for our wedding, I wanted this event to feature something extra special for the lady who owned my heart -- something she’d never forget -- but what? I was quickly running out of time before I had to fly up to Michigan in five days.
Come on, Andy! Think! My mind churned and churned until my head hurt. Finally, after way too long, it dawned on me. Perfect!
During one of our many conversations, my gorgeous partner mentioned some of the musical instruments she had enjoyed playing when younger. I instantly ruled out the bulky monstrosity used to liven up Polka’s at weddings. The accordion just didn’t possess any romantic appeal in my book, but alas, one of the other instruments she mentioned was just what the doctor ordered.
While out to lunch the next day, I visited a local music shop. Mind you, as I browsed the owner’s offerings, I didn’t want to settle for some plain old instrument. No sirree! I wanted something new -- something unique.
After picking out a fine specimen, I asked the owner to paint a loving memory on the face of it that would withstand the test of time and always be present, whenever she strummed its taut strings. I explained in detail what I had in mind.
A present is fine, but the delivery of such a gift would require a bit of creativity, if it was going to capture her heart -- right? I pondered how I could best surprise her in such a way she would NEVER FORGET the moment.
From my past experiences as a kid, I knew I had to be careful. Some of my most memorable experiences turned into horrors I’d prefer to bury for eternity. I simply could not let that happen to my precious lady.
After I finished all of my preparations and picked up the present from the music store, I looked to Heaven. “Lord, please help me make this one of Bonnie’s best moments ever!”
As our special union was closing fast, I flew up to Michigan. The next day, two of my best Texas friends flew up to join me.
Ted was going to be my Best Man and Tom came as my Groom’s Man. I was so grateful to have a couple of buddies to stand near me, during what was hopefully one of my finest hours.
That fateful morning, while standing near the altar of Bonnie’s Catholic church in Canton, Michigan, I glanced down the center aisle as the organ continued playing. Shannon and Colleen looked adorable with the biggest grins ever as they walked along the red carpet.
They appeared to be enjoying the moment every bit as I, except without the nervousness. In fact, they appeared to be in one of their playful moods.
After two prior weddings, you’d think I would be cool as a cucumber, but no; sweat was already streaming down my sideburns, and it wasn’t even that warm in the chapel. After everybody got settled into their pews, the organist began playing the processional.
My eyes turned toward the entrance. Where is my beautiful lady? I was dying to see her again.
Just as my nervousness was about to overwhelm me, she appeared. My heart leapt with joy. She is stunning!
My gorgeous bride’s smile was as wide and bright as I had ever seen. Her earrings sparkled in the lights, and she looked perfect, as she strolled toward me while clutching her father’s arm. Ornate lace adorned the sleeves of her magnificent wedding dress and continued up across the top of her bosom to the bottom of a thicker area of lace that accented her neck.
I could tell she was carrying a cluster of flowers, but my stare remained fixed on her glistening eyes. All at once, the tension that had churned in my gut all morning poured out from my soul, as my eyes watered.
Not only was she the most beautiful woman I had ever known, but this beaming lady before me was my Bonnie -- my Love. I will never let her go!
As the priest began the ceremony, the cozy church was brimming with wonderful family and friends, many who I had never met before. Our girls were decked out and sitting in the front pew with a couple of their friends who were also cutely dressed for the occasion.
Mass was moving along nicely when the young children decided the whole ordeal was proceeding a bit too slowly for them. Doing what bored kids often do, they began giggling at the same time Shannon began to taunt her younger sister.
Bonnie grew a bit antsy as they seemed to put aside her subtle gestures to settle down and behave. Her glare became more pronounced, when the children further ignored her and continued their merriment, while the priest proceeded with his sermon.
Suddenly, the holy man stopped mid-sentence, and everybody grew silent. He slowly turned toward Bonnie and smiled. “Calm down Mom, what they are doing doesn’t matter. This is your special day.”
At that very moment, her muscles seemed to relax, and she smiled once again. When I glanced at the girls, they were frozen as statues, staring straight ahead. They knew they had interrupted the proceedings and better wise up quick.
From that point on, the youngsters behaved themselves, and I did as the priest commanded. With my heart filled with joy, I kissed that bride of mine good, and she returned the favor. I don’t know how long we lip-locked, but I could hear the girls giggling in the background.
Following the wedding, Bonnie, her family, and I had dinner during the afternoon. After chatting for quite some time, we relaxed a bit and then proceeded to the reception at the club house of the condo complex, where Bonnie’s parents lived. It was a quaint little building with a large room and kitchen.
Bonnie’s sisters had prepared buffet style food and brought drinks galore for the guests. When we arrived, we played music and mingled with our friends and family as they ate. In the meantime, a few of our guests danced, while the others continued eating and chatting.
When everybody seemed content, I kept trying to get Bonnie to change into the red evening dress we had picked out and purchased together for the reception. Finally, she and her dad walked across the lawn to the condo so Bonnie could change.
I promptly readied my surprise during her time away. After a little wait, the doorknob at the entrance to the club house turned.
As Bonnie walked through the door, I hit the play button of the boom box I had brought for the occasion. The music of “Lady in Red” filled the air, and everybody hushed.
A few “awwws” complemented Chris de Burgh’s masterpiece, as I gallantly strolled up to my new bride and asked her to dance. Fortunately for me, she obliged with a spectacular smile.
The more we danced, the more the ooohs and awwws continued. The sight of Bonnie brought tears to my eyes. How did I deserve all of this? When the song ended, we kissed like never before or maybe like we always did -- long and hard, until we ran out of breath.
The whole room exploded with applause. Many of the guests walked up to us and showered more love. As our family and friends returned to their seats, I walked my gorgeous bride back to a chair I had set up-front.
I could see from her expression she was suspicious of my intentions, so I soothed her. “Please be patient for a second longer. I have something for you.”
She cocked her head with a grin that told me she would wait, but not too long. I reached underneath the tablecloth, draped over a table beside her, where I had hidden my present.
The black leather case with wine-colored felt lining was already open. Retrieving her new instrument, I lifted it for her to examine, while I slowly handed it to her. “I hope you like it.”
Tears filled Bonnie’s eyes as they grew large. “Oh, how beautiful.”
She peered closer at the painted inscriptions, special for the occasion. Toward the bottom, near one of the large curves of the acoustic guitar, was our wedding date, painted in a baby blue.
Higher and across from that, near the neck and the upper curve, was a ring of flowers, painted around her name, “Bonnie Jo.” By now her tears were flowing like a swelling river. Not just hers, but of the women around her. They were all crying with joy.
My lips parted with glee while my soul couldn’t have been happier. There I stood, with my Lady in Red, as she admired her gift with the loveliest smile I ever witnessed.
********
That's it for now! Thank you for your amazing support!
Andy Skrzynski