Shelter Kid
By:
Jon Stewart
(© 2021 by the author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's
consent. Comments are appreciated at...
jstewart@tickiestories.us
Chapter 35
After graduation, Bobby continued school to become a physical therapist and joined his dad’s practice. Becky also helped in the practice. Jesse, Billy, and Jeff joined Jesse’s father’s company. Val continued on for a nursing degree. Josh wanted to go back for his master’s degree in sociology. He & Jenny worked part time at Luke’s homeless shelter. The Green Party had recruited him and all the Hopewell graduates. Josh was their real target. They asked him to run for state assembly from Hopewell. He accepted and won. Two years later with his degree in hand, he was convinced he could do more to help the homeless as a congressman. He took up the challenge and became the youngest congressman in history.
A year after they graduated, Josh asked Jenny to marry him. Her reaction was “what took you so long?” Josh told Bobby about the marriage and he said he and Becky had the same plans. “Did they want to do a double marriage together?” Josh and Jenny agreed. When Jesse heard of the plans, he asked Val and they wanted in, so a triple wedding was planned. Billy and Jeff so wanted to be a part of the day, with their best friends. If the church would let them, could they get married with them? Josh & Jenny, Bobby & Becky, Jesse & Val all had the same reaction “Why do you ask like that, of course we want you to get married and celebrate our love and your love together.”
Father Rick had been asked to perform the ceremonies at the parish church in New Jersey, Our Lady of Good Council. It was a very liberal parish. Billy and Jeff went to see Father Rick at St. Francis.
Father asked “What can I do for you fellows?”
“Well, Father you are going to think we are crazy.” Billy said.
“How’s that.”
“Well, you are going to marry our friends in Jersey and we would like you to marry us, too.”
“Wow, are you guys for real? Why are you mad at me? You know if I do this, they’ll want to drum me out of the priest’s union.”
The boys hung their heads. The idea that they could be treated just like any other couple who loved each other and wanted to get married was stupid.
Jeff looked at Father Rick directly in his eyes, “Sorry father, we don’t want to bring any trouble on you. We were just dreaming that it could happen, that you would look at us like any straight couple.”
Billy added, “We would do anything you asked of us, like with the new Pre-Cana classes. Thinking about it, I guess you wouldn’t want us there. I gotta ask a question, before we leave. Why is our love so wrong? I mean, God made us, too? We are the way he wanted us. He wouldn’t make a sin, would he?”
Now it was Father Rick, who hung his head. He looked up at the two young men who only wanted to declare their love and be blessed by God. He scratched his head, as he thought of a response to Billy’s question. “Billy, I wish I had an answer to your question. Your love isn’t wrong; it’s just not understood. I see that you love each other deeply and nothing so beautiful could be a sin. God bless me, I’ve been in trouble with the bishop before; why not one more time.”
“You mean it, Father, really, is this happening?” Both Billy and Jeff exclaimed.
Father Rick saw the jubilation and joy in their faces. He knew he was doing right. “I don’t know if you’ll be married in the eyes of the church; but it’ll be legal and I believe God will bless you, too.”
The young men couldn’t contain themselves and jumped up and both hugged Father Rick.
“Now listen, I am only one part; you are going to have to get the pastor of Our Lady of Good Council to agree as well.”
“OK, Father, but we are half way there. Which is way better than we thought we would be. Maybe God does love us, too. What about the classes?”
“Oh, I’m sure he loves you. I’ll handle the classes myself. I guess I won’t have to worry about the birth control issues.” They all chuckled at that. “You go see the pastor and let me know how it goes.”
Billy and Jeff thanked Father Rick again and literally floated out of the rectory.
The pastor at Our Lady of Good Council was Father Bill. He was a very cheerful man and a bit of a comedian always finding the humor in life. Billy and Jeff went to see him.
“What can I do for you, fellows?”
Jeff answered “Well a bunch of our friends are getting married here in August in a group ceremony.”
“Oh yes, very nice young people. They are asking a priest from the city to do it.”
Billy swallowed hard, then did it again, “Father Rick said he would mmmarry uuus at the same tttime if it’s ok to use your ccchurch.” Billy stuttered.
“Oh my ... my, my … my, my, my … why that New York rebel is trying to get me excommunicated. That’s it. Isn’t it?”
“No, Father, I don’t think so.”
“What is my bishop going to say; my gosh. He’ll probably tell the cardinal.”
Jeff reached out and held Billy’s hand. They were both on the edge of their seats.”
“He’s going to marry you, is he?”
“Yes sir, but he said we needed your permission as well.”
“This isn’t a joke of some sort, is it? Or a test; it’s a test, isn’t it?”
“No Sir, Father.” Jeff the calmer one now said. ”Father Rick said and I wrote down his exact words because I wanted to save them. Billy asked, “Why is our love so wrong? I mean God made us, too. We are the way he wanted us to be. He wouldn’t make a sin, would he?”
Father Rick answered, “Your love isn’t wrong; it’s just not understood. I see that you love each other deeply and nothing so beautiful could be a sin. God bless me, I’ve been in trouble with the bishop before; why not one more time.”
“That’s what he said, did he?”
“Yes Father.”
“Well by golly, I think he is right!!!, and Billy you asked a most correct question. I hear there is a new saying now “LOVE IS LOVE”. Seeing you two, I believe it. And God does NOT MAKE ANY SINS!! Someone always has to be first, to right a wrong, so in this case it’s going to be Our Lady of Good Council. I guess me and Father Rick are going to be in trouble together.”
“Thank you, Father, thank you so much; this is the best church in the whole world.”
“Well, be prepared to find two old priests a job after this goes down. And don’t forget your weekly offering. Go on now, go tell Father Rick, you sweet-talked me with your handsome faces and beautiful love.”
Billy and Jeff were elated. They held hands, and skipped out to the parking lot to their car. They did it. They were going to get married in a Catholic Church. They would be the first to do it. Billy turned to Jeff and kissed him. They went home and told everyone. Pops said “Time for pizza and wine. All come over to my house.” Annie was beaming. She was so afraid that the church would not accept her sons. Nat was jumping for joy as well. Jack and Karen Harvey came to celebrate. Mr. & Mrs. Acker, Mr. Martin, Mrs. O’Mara, Jesse and Val, Bobby and Becky, and Josh and Jenny. It was a fine group, wine was poured late into the night, three pizza deliveries had to be made.
The day dawned bright and warm. The sun shone through in its glorious majesty. Eight people were declaring their love. Eight families and all their friends were there. The church was filled to over flowing. Father Bill had anticipated the many, many well-wishers and had chairs and speakers placed outside the church. The press had gotten wind of it as well.
The 3 traditional grooms and best men were waiting up on the altar. The throng hushed as the familiar strains of here comes the bride were heard. Each bride in turn walked up the aisle. Then trumpets sounded, like in Roman times, followed so softly by a guitar and a piano. Billy and Josh hand in hand, walked the walk to the altar. Then as if from the Almighty Himself, an angel sang the chorus of God is Love.
“Cause only love can end the madness,
Only Love can heal the pain
Only Love can light the darkness
And Only Love can Free us from hate
So, fill my soul with the grace from above
Cause GOD is LOVE
Lord fill my soul with your grace from above
Cause GOD IS LOVE, GOD IS LOVE”
The chorus was on a song sheet in every pew. Billy and Jeff encouraged everyone to sing as they walked. The second time, it was sung it was as if the heavens opened up on all; the angel could no longer be heard above the throng.
Father Rick started the ceremony with
“WOW, I do believe, all of heaven was embraced with that entrance song. I see we will have full participation at this wedding mass, Alleluia, Alleluia.” The congregation answered “Alleluia, Alleluia.” He went on in the usual manner. However, at end he said, “I know, you all have been married according to the tenants of the State of New Jersey. I am confident you are ALL married in the eyes of God for I believe LOVE is LOVE and GOD is LOVE. I also hope you all are married according to the church. It is my hope and I think of all here assembled that the love you displayed here today stays with you all the days of your lives. You may kiss your partners.” With that church bells rang out and the 4 couples walked out to form the receiving line. When Pops went through the line, he of course kissed the girls, but added Josh and Billy. Jeff kissed him as well, so Bobby and Jesse did the same.
To be continued...
Posted: 03/11/2022