Makarovia! Yes, I Know Where That is! Sophomore Year - 34. Chapter 34

The Wedding

Part One

As slow as it seemed time wise, we enjoyed being home. Our need for security was less of a concern in Makarovia than Boston. The people here knew us and would defend us from anyone doing us harm. That didn't negate the need for security. There were people here that came from other countries that could hurt us. It happened before. The Friday a week until the dinner we went to the Grotto. We insisted Yuri and Boris come with us. We took my car. We were followed by an SUV that contained the security detail.

On the way to the Grotto I said to Peter. “You know, this period of time is a lot like the Ukrainian Betrothal.” I grinned. “The time is usually less and not as involved as the Makarovia's Proposal. The other people don't do what we did, do they? Like committing to a whole country of people, for instance?”

Peter smiled. “No, but they do have the Betrothal. If they are a traditional family the Church is involved. The Makarovians like us do it, too. It's just done differently.”

I nodded. “There's no kidnapping, is there?”

Peter's eyes grew. “What? No.”

“They do it!” I defended. “It's really in Romania and Ukraine that I know of, but are there some cultural traditions in Makarovia? Neither you or I will be kidnapped to a bar where the other pays the ransom in whiskey to free the one kidnapped?”

Boris laughed, “They do the same thing in Russia.”

Peter grinned. “No, nothing like that.”

“No wedding towel I need to protect?”

Peter gave a reluctant nod. “Well...”

“Excuse me,” Yuri said. “Wedding towel?”

“That's right,” I tried to explain. “Many people here in East Europe are known for their elaborate embroidery.” I looked at Yuri in my rear view mirror. “There is a towel they make that has the elaborate and complicated patterns on them. It's a single piece of cloth. Its to protect the couple. Only positive happy emotions are to present when making it.”

“Ours is a little different. There is a towel,” Peter nodded. “Ours is passed down from generation to generation. It's over a hundred years old. It's used to show the matrimonial power and magic . We will be married on it.”

“It will protect us.” I added. “The patterns stand for the good intentions, hope and wishes for us as a family.”

“That's right. The colors and patterns tell what those hopes and wishes are.” Peter said. “Circles are always used to asked for never ending love. Squares are for the are for order and harmony. There are the lozenge or diamonds for fertility...”

“Okay,” Yuri laughed stopping Peter. “So, the shirts and whatever are more than just pretty.”

“Yes. It's a message written in the embroidery.” Peter explained. “The towel has a message. It's said to pass down wisdom of the past marriages held on the towel.” He grinned. “Mom and Dad, Olek's Mom and Dad...”

“Are there any other traditions in Makarovia like the Proposal or the possibility of rejection?” I asked.

“You're still worried about that?” Peter asked.

“Nah,” I replied waving it off. “I was more bothered than worried before.” I looked over at Peter. “What's important is we'll be married either way. I'll just be me and do the best I can.”

Peter smiled. “Good.”

“You have to understand my concern there could be,” I said simply. “You proposed in November after we met. But you said it had to be official. You really proposed last June in front of the entire world...on television. Then after the year, I find out I need the consent of those people I committed to last year.”

“Eric,” Boris began with tone that said how obvious it was, “You earned the respect of Makarovia. The King and Queen love and trust you.” He chuckled. “They are not stupid.”

Yuri leaned up to be heard. “Personally, I think you've brought good luck for Makarovia. With in a few weeks, Peter got rid of his acne. Things went up from there. God or fate ordained this.”

I smiled at Yuri in the rear view mirror. “Thanks.”

Getting to the Grotto's underground wasn't hard. It was warm outside and many people were here. We entered the Grotto and saw the many dancing people and others with drinks or just talking and laughing. They were alive and enjoying themselves. No longer were they held inside or having scurry underground because of the ice and snow, they were celebrating that!

“Peter!” A voice was heard, barely, over the pulsing beat of the music. The same man that greeted us a year ago, Danilo, came over with his husband Dimitri. Both looked the same as they did a year ago. Well, Dimitri was thinner now, but looked healthy. I didn't suspect anything like illness. He'd done it on his own to get in shape.

“Welcome back!” Dimitri greeted happily.

I took their hands. “Thank you, Dimitri, Dan.”

I saw Dan's smile brighten. Remembering their names may have been the cause of that. It told Danilo he was important enough to be remembered.

Peter greeted them, too. “There seems to be more people here than last year.”

“Because there is,” Danilo grinned and pointed to very happy people at one of the bars. “There are more and more every day from the United States and Great Britain. There are some from other countries, but the States and Great Britain have the most.” His eyes sparkled. “This is your last week as a free man.”

I chuckled. “Peter had me almost a year and a half ago.” I shrugged. “All we're doing is putting a label on it and making it legal with documented proof.”

We introduced Yuri and Boris. These four men had something in common. They were all Russian who left Russia because they loved a man. That's Russia's loss and Makarovia's gain.

Then I saw something that puzzled me. I saw a long...something. Numbers were across it. It was going backwards. A countdown? It was digital with numbers the could be seen that were rapidly going down in amount. I pointed toward it. “What's that?” It couldn't be what I suspected it was. Could it?

Danilo grinned. “That is how many hours, minutes and seconds you have left to be that free man.”

It was up high enough and could easily be seen by everyone.

I looked at Danilo. “Why?”

“Why!?” Dimitri balked. “Hell, there will be a huge crowd here to see the marriage and coronation on the big screen!” He waved at a huge screen that was big enough to be in a movie theater. It was displaying colors moving around to the tempo of the music now. The flashing strobes and dancing colored lights just added to the festive mood. He grinned. “Everyone would love to be at the wedding in person. This will allow the many people who want to see it. Two hundred and eighty centimeters (110 inches) allowing even people in the back to see it clearly. It will be a party when it reaches zero and we see the wedding and coronation. Peter gets a husband and we get a new prince! Then the party will really get going!”

They wanted to see Peter get married to me. They also wanted to see my coronation. They were looking forward to it. I knew a screen this size was very, very expensive.

“Everybody chipped in to get that screen,” Dimitri bounced. “We saw it would pay for itself.” He waved at the crowd. “It is!”

Peter chuckled as he said in my ear. “You are not running for an office. They've already gave you the job.”

Now I was more determined to do great job for these loving people. They trusted me with their very lives.

News crews were beginning to show up. Really only five so far. There wouldn't be room for all of them! The ballroom was big, allowing hundreds to stand in the room with their arms stretched out and not touch another person. Cameras in the back to see everyone on the podium. In the front, high and pointed down they could see Peter and me. They were small and worked by remote control from the rear of ballroom. I saw the BBC label, CBS and CNN on the cameras. The new elevator was checked and rechecked. Now the kitchen was cooking more to feed the new guests in the rooms below. There was a dining area for them down there. We had to hire more to serve, cook and clean. With anything new, there were problems that arose. The elevator lost power twice, they didn't get hot water for their shower or bath...and other problems, dealt with as they came. Most guests understood this was new and accepted the explanation.

Hotels and airlines had stories about unruly guests that when you read it, you knew insanity had to be involved. The woman that opened a plane's emergency door “to get some air.” Luckily they hadn't taken off yet. She would be getting a lot of air then. There was one guest that was high or drunk, maybe both, who demanded room service. He even punched the man that was explaining why that wasn't going to happen because it was all new and it was the middle of the night. Olek was having none of that! Olek called the network the man worked for telling them they needed to be sent another to do the job because the man they sent was being tossed out of Makarovia. Immediately. When the executive asked why, Olek said, because he was the king and he said so. I'll quote Mel Brooks. “It's good to be the king.”

We had to post more armed guards and police personnel for the palace. Now two were at the bottom of the front stairs and two at the back stairs and two at the two elevator doors that brought people to the upper palace floor. Makarovian security were posted at different parts of the palace. That had never been needed before. The number of unknown people going through the palace before. They wouldn't have gotten up here before.

Military police that were here already were used. It was why they were here. To keep us safe while the uranium was being extracted. There were specialists like Helga were not military. They needed protection, too.

I loved that I saw grandmother everyday. Usually that meant lunch and dinner times. She still danced a few hours every day. Queen Alla, when asked where grandmother could go for that, Mom had a seldom used office space she had cleaned out and told her it would be grandmother's private dance studio while grandmother was here.

Don't get me wrong. There were threats out there. One we knew of, the Consortium, spies and zealots from around the world who were threats because of the marriage or uranium. The uranium was wanted so they could get the money, not Makarovia. We also knew some would even try to kill us to stop the “abomination” happening as those three tried that came from England last year. Whether they were Muslim, Christian, Jewish or any other possible faiths, the threats were there. All these groups all had one thing in common. Ignorance. That was was the reason for my concern about Tel Aviv. There were countries in the Middle East that would kill us on sight. Syria, Iran and Irak would kill us. Jordan, Israel's closest neighbor to Israel's East and Lebanon to their North, didn't prosecute people that were gay or lesbian. They did make their lives difficult who were. In Lebanon the could arrest you if you kissed in public for contradicting the laws of nature. More than half of their population believed homosexuality should not be allowed. Against nature!? We were everywhere! As Olek and Mom said at the White House, with the President at the table, you have to consider the hundreds of millions of us in the world and rethink that opinion. You had to realize, based on empirical evidence, it was perfectly natural. It happened in the animal kingdom, too. The argument was that the evidence shown were “unnatural situations.” I saw on the internet that two male King Penguins adopted an abandoned egg! Yes! They were in a zoo in Berlin and Sydney. Gay male penguins in the wild often tried to steal chicks from straight parents! Penguins are killed from predator attacks and don't come back. The chick would die because of that. Two males that took one of those chicks succeeded in raising the chick together! Hell, yeah! It was natural. We were NORMAL! (I'll get down from my soapbox now.)

I would wager we will get those people from those countries that didn't let their natural selves the freedom to be themselves. This world will need more time for Humans to evolve. Take any Human, strip them down and see that they have the same things on every person of that gender. (I know. Getting off the soapbox. I swear.)

Makarovia was a melting pot of cultures from all around Eastern and Western Europe. Really. There would be cultural portions from all of them in Makarovia. I knew of traditions that broke a crystal goblet. The napkin wrapped crystal glass we would break together, the many shards told how many years we'd be together. It was not just one faith. The wedding toast and shout “Hirkyy.” That means bitter. That I knew was Russian. Remember, a lot of the population in Makarovia were Russian. Russians shouted “Gorko!” That was bitter in Russian. Peter and I would kiss right after we broke the goblet. The bitterness of the drinks were to be enhanced by the kiss and make their drinks taste sweeter. David, who admitted he understand gays and the other guests would count aloud the seconds of that kiss. The length of the kiss told everybody the strength of our love. They will be counting a long time. The guests had to drink their own drink immediately before they counted the length of time.

Yes, there were a lot of superstitions in this part of the world. Those superstitions became traditions. You have them! Something borrowed, something blue? The cutting of the wedding cake? I know you've heard of them and many have done it. There are symbols for many things in the world.

Wednesday at the beginning of the afternoon Peter and I stood looking above the door and watched the numbers telling us where the elevator was.

I should be used to it by now. I didn't even try to get either of the armed to speak. They just stared with blank expressions. This time they wore dress uniforms. They both had the black coats and white pants that said they were United States Marines. They even wore the sword at their left sides for quick withdraw and use if the gun on their waists wasn't enough. It looked great and I knew it was more ceremonial now. And one more thing. They both were African-American. I didn't care about the race. Like I said, strip them down, they were men! One of them I wouldn't mind seeing him stripped down. He was nice looking. I was attracted to Denzel Washington, Blair Underwood, Boris Kodjoe....I could keep going, but you get my point. Some of the people in Makarovia never left the country and had never seen them. On TV maybe, but in Makarovia? Any man was allowed in without question if there were any to allow!

There was the familiar “ding” as the elevator got to us. We were one floor level above gallery where everyone gathered to do something at the palace. The doors opened and “...but four palace levels!” Drew said to Wayne as he pointed at the panel of buttons. “Five for...” He looked up smiling instantly when he saw us. “Peter! Eric!” He said throwing his arms out coming to hug Peter and me at the same time.

Wayne shook his head, but knew that was just Drew. He lifted a garment bag. That was when I saw one of the guards move. He stepped in the elevator and got the suitcases out to the corridor.

“Thank you.” Wayne said to the man.

“No problem.” The Marine spoke! Aaannd he was back to the blank stare forward again.

“I was going to help,” Drew told his husband.

Wayne nodded. “I'm sure, but the weddings on Saturday. I wanted my clothes to put on before that time.”

Drew wasn't bothered a bit. He watched the elevator doors close and head it go down somewhere. “Wow.” Drew commented. “It's a whole new world here.”

“Sure.” Peter nodded. “Fortunately, people just brought their personal luggage. The bigger crates and that sort of thing needed was brought to the main floor by the other elevator. No more bringing it all up to take down to get there.” He pointed at the elevator. “It's big enough.”

My eyes widened, “That means they brought all that up and manually took all that equipment down a floor? Using the stairs!?”

Peter nodded. “Just one floor, but it was better than going up twenty levels. The people of Makarovia had to haul many things up. It would take a few men to raise the platform up by pulling on chains using a giant lever.” He shrugged. “It was the Soviets who wanted it mechanized.” He chuckled. “I don't believed they felt safe having to be brought up by a pulley and chain manually.”

“Maybe they knew how people really saw them?” Wayne said.

Drew nodded, “They knew.” He shook his head. “The Russians, the Nazis, Cubans, North Koreans...cruel people are put in positions of power and become bullies.”

Peter reached down to pick up a suitcase. “Let's get you to your room.” He looked at the two Marines and smiled. “I think we've entertained them enough for today.”

“Sure,” I nodded.

We got them to the room they had before.

“How was the flight?” Peter asked.

“Fine,” Drew said not really convincingly.

Wayne smiled. “It was another RAF military plane.” He explained putting his arm around Drew. “You got a whole jar of those sweet and salty nuts.”

“Which we brought to do that!” Drew shot back. “I'm not getting any miles on these flights!”

I was laughing with Peter. “Because you didn't pay for the flight.”

“You could have flown commercially on any airline that flies to this part of the world.” Peter pointing that out. “They have flights to Bucharest. That's the nearest city with an international airport. I think.”

Wayne grinned. “Don't listen to any of it. He's just being a Drama Queen.”

“And we love him,” I said. “There's an airport in Kosice, Slovakia. It is more of domestic status. That maybe closer.”

Peter nodded. “Of course, you'd have change planes...”

“We got here.” Drew said but his face told us it was all in fun.

“I think they opening the airport in Skoal to commercial traffic.” I said. “The news crews came that way. Although it was a smaller plane and only a few people coming here.”

“It won't be long,” Peter nodded. “The added business with mining and industries, it will happen.”

“Peter expressed regret about the Makarovians losing their innocence.” I shrugged. “They will have to grow up to take their place in the modern world. I love the quiet pace here. I hope they don't lose it. They will have to adjust. We just need to fine some compromise.” I held my hand out to stop what I knew was coming. “Hear me out. I'm glad the people of Makarovia suffered for so long.”

Peter looked startled. “What!?”

“Didn't I just ask you to hear me out?” I said in a near growl. “These people can more readily empathize with people's suffering.” I turned to face Peter. “If they didn't suffer, they would probably just be another country in East Europe. People came here after facing some gruesome things and horror. Makavorians knew their pain and was going to stop that pain and did what no other country could. Makarovians showed mercy.”

Peter nodded now. “You're right. I worry about the young being born to this will become less appreciative and selfish.”

I smiled as I nodded. “Parents and teachers will have to show them the history. I'd say that monument will be a reminder every day.”

We invited them to go with us underground. We were given four guards that would follow us.

It had become a ritual. We couldn't come down here without going to The Makarovian Gourmet Coffee Shoppe. Only this time it was a girl with the apron on I didn't know in her early twenties. She was pretty because she was young. And blond.

“Oh, thank god,” she said clearly in English. The accent put her clearly from the Midwestern part of the United States.

“Not that I mind,” I chuckled, “but what made you say that?”

She sighed. “I worked at a Starbucks for like...five years. My last two years of high school and when Joey, that's my husband, enlisted.” She shook her head, “I had to do something or go insane. Joey gets an allotment for housing with the Air Force. Not enough if we wanted to go out to eat, go to a movie and buy groceries.” She held up a laminated sheet of paper. “This is all the coffees up there,” she pointed to the menu that was lit with the drinks available, “is here.” She waved the laminated sheet at us. “Thank god, all the people that came here spoke enough English for me to get what they wanted.” She smiled. “Coffee and Kava are pretty much alike, I can understand. Latte is the same. I'm good.”

I liked her. I liked the other two that had been here, but this one had that good-natured all American spunk.

“What will it be?” She asked.

Security would remain alert to the surroundings and not ordering anything. They could come later. If they wanted to and if The Makarovian Gourmet Coffee was still open.

Drew and Wayne were impressedas they were looking around.

“I'll have to do another presentation.” Wayne said. “They've made some real changes.”

“They even have a restaurant here.” I said. “I know England is two hours difference, its earlier there. Do you want a snack or something? It's almost Tea Time. That should hold you until dinner.”

Wayne bumped Drew slightly. “This man can eat at the drop of a hat. Then has room for the hat!”

We took them to Novi Pochynannya (New Beginnings) I knew what they were doing down here. All of them. They were going to show all the people visiting what Makarovians could do. They were going to impress them. I hate to quote anything like platitudes, but one is so true. A good first impression only happens once. You don't get a second chance.

It seems as though all we do was eat and drink. That night I saw my grandmother again. She had her own schedule. It was at the dinner table that night when we saw her again. She was looking particularly happy.

“Okay,” I began looking at her. “What is this all about?” I waved at her.

Grandmother smiled. “I have something to do for the Summer.”

“Okay.”

“Starting next week I will begin ballet classes in Skoal.” Grandmother said holding her hand up. “I'm doing it on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Only those two days of the week.”

“That's great!” I told her. “Why just Skoal?”

“The children of Makarovia haven't had the exposure to the world or ballet.” Grandmother began. “I'll take any child that wants to learn. The military dependent children in Skoal have.” She smiled over at Mom. “Alla and I were talking about it and it would be something good for the children to do for the Summer. Many of them took dance before on the bases their parents served.”

My smile grew. “I knew you would never just give it up.”

“No,” She chuckled. “I began ballet at four years old. But it will be a reduced schedule. Just two hours on those days.”

“I think that's wonderful,” I said.

It was terrific there were all these people at the table. I feared there would just be grandmother and me. I would lose her and be alone. Now I knew I wouldn't be. Olek at the head of the table. Helga next to him on his left. Peter to his right. I was next to Peter and the my grandmother. Boris, Yuri, Wayne and Drew. They were family.

“Mario is coming, right?” Peter asked Mom.

Mom nodded. “He arrives tomorrow.”