by Clare Revell
The strains of “Olympic Spirit” by John Williams could be heard as the three Air Force trumpeters began to play. Ailsa and Staci set off up the aisle, their lilac dresses complementing the red and yellow flowers in their hair and bouquets. Jim glanced at Lou and she nodded.
Bill looked at Mum. “Ready?” he asked.
“No,” Mum replied, smiling nervously. “I’m terrified.” She paused for a bit. “I’m ready.”
Bill took her arm and led her up the aisle to where Jack and Sergeant Peterson, in dress uniform, waited. As they got halfway there, Jack turned and smiled at her.
Behind them, Lou propped her crutches up against the doorpost and walked up the aisle unaided. Jim stayed close by her side as planned in case she fell. And also as moral support in case she panicked again.
The marriage itself took place. When the chaplain said, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Bill placed Mum’s hand into Jack’s. They had chosen the traditional vows with Mum promising to obey Jack. (She had told him she had the easy end of the bargain. He had to promise to love her as Christ loved the church, i.e., to die for her. All she had to do was obey him.)
Lou wondered idly if she’d get sixteen husbands too when she got married. Four better, four worse, four richer, four poorer. On reflection, she’d just have eight—the better, richer ones. You could keep the worse and poorer ones.
Mum’s voice shook slightly as she reached the till death do us part phrase, as memories of Robert flashed through her mind. Jack looked Mum straight in the eyes as he promised to love and to cherish her, in sickness and in health, keeping only unto her as long as they both shall live. The next hymn was one of Mum’s favorites—“I Vow to Thee, My Country.” She had chosen it deliberately, as through her marriage she had become an American citizen.
The sermon was next, with the chaplain preaching on 1 Corinthians 13. The last hymn was “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” which both Jack and Mum liked. Lou managed to stand and sit the whole way through the service unaided, which she was quite impressed by. It was only when they went through to sign the register that anyone noticed she didn’t have her crutches with her.
Mum’s eyes lit up. “Where are your crutches?” she asked.
“They’re here somewhere. Wanted to surprise you.”
The organ struck up and Mum and Jack walked back down the aisle. Sergeant Peterson offered Lou his arm and they followed, with Staci, Jim, and Ailsa behind them. The bride and groom exited the chapel into the sunshine under an archway of swords. After the photos Lou retrieved her crutches and went over to Dr. Andrews. “Can I come and see you?” she asked.
“Sure, any time.”
“Tomorrow? I’ll get Jim to drive me over.”
“OK, around 1100.”
“See you then.”
The reception was held in the base mess. The meal was a sit-down hot dinner. When it was time for the speeches, Sergeant Peterson stood up. “I would like to thank you all for coming today,” he said. “Jack and I go way back. We first met at the Academy. We have been a lot of places together. Fought together, saved each other’s lives several times. Been best man at each other’s weddings, twice now for Jack. You could say we’ve done it all. Jack has had a difficult few years but he has come through it all.”
He smiled. “Jack has a terrible sense of humor, no sense of timing. In fact, I don’t know what anyone sees in him. But he is a good mate and he’s the sort of guy you can rely on in a crisis. He knows what to say, how to say, and when to say it. And then there’s his lovely wife, Nicky. What can I say? Beautiful, attractive, good looking, beautiful...did I mention how pretty she is? She can cook…”
He broke off as everyone laughed. “If I wasn’t already married perfectly happily to Cathy, with a beautiful daughter of my own, I might just have to fight you for her, mate. I have been asked to thank all the people who did the catering and served us. It was a lovely meal, so please show your appreciation for it.”
Applause and cheering resounded round the room. Sergeant Peterson said, “But I promised I wouldn’t go on too long. So I will let Jack speak now.”
Jack got up. He took out a huge pad of paper from his pocket and began to read it. “My wife and I...” Rapturous applause drowned him out. “My wife and I,” he began, again stopped by cheers and stamping. “My...” he tried again, but once more he was drowned out. He turned to Mum and grinned. “I give up,” he said and sat down.
“Speech,” someone called.
“I tried,” Jack answered.
Sergeant Peterson tapped his glass. “Let the man speak. It may be his last chance to ever get the final word in.”
Jack stood again. “My wife and I,” he paused, but this time, there was silence. He grinned. “Thank you for coming today to share this occasion with us. My life changed abruptly on a June day last year, when I met a young girl in Cornwall. When I ran in to the same girl again on Grand Turk, I knew it was no coincidence, especially when the papers had just printed the story of three missing teens. I contacted her mother and formed a deep friendship with her. When we discovered traces of the missing children, she came over here and the rest, as they say, is history. Things change, usually when you least expect them to. Happiness lurks around the corner of the darkest tunnel.”
He turned to his wife. “Nicky, you have made me the happiest man alive. I thought that I was destined to stay on my own, but here I am now. With a beautiful wife and a daughter that any man would be proud to call his own. Even though the adoption papers haven’t come through yet, I can’t wait until I can officially call Lou my daughter. I guess I have Lou to thank the most. If it wasn’t for her messing up a simple shopping trip, as she put it, and rolling a whole load of tin cans down the hill at me, I wouldn‘t be here now. So would you please raise your glasses to the one person responsible for us being here today? Our daughter, Lou.”
“Lou,” came the response.
“She’s also asked to say a few words.”
Lou pushed slowly to her feet. “A few words…” She sat down again.
Jack groaned. “Is that it?”
She laughed and stood again. “Sorry, couldn’t resist that one. It’s usually the father of the bride next,” she said. “But hopefully you’ll settle for daughter of the bride and groom instead. Not sure I want to take the blame for the fact we are here today. OK, I messed up a simple shopping trip and dropped a whole bag of tinned stuff on Jack’s feet. If I hadn’t done that, we never would have met Jack and he wouldn’t have met my mother and we would all be somewhere else right now. Actually, we’d probably be dead…Or I would be at least.”
She paused. “Seriously. It began with Jim leaving to find his parents. Bill and Di were caught up in the Philippines tsunami and when the search for them was called off, Jim went looking for them. Staci and I stowed away and many things went wrong because of that. We learnt the hard way that running away doesn’t solve problems. It just creates bigger ones. However, our story has a happy ending. We found Ailsa and we brought together two people who would otherwise never have met. So let’s raise our glasses and drink a toast to the bride and groom.”
“The bride and groom,” came the response.
Lou looked at Jack. “And I just have one more thing to say to you…” She paused for effect, hoping he’d like his wedding present. “Dad…”
Jack’s eyes widened in delight and his smile turned into a full grin. “What’s that, daughter?”
“You better look after Mum or else.”
“Or else what?”
She winked. “I might run away again…”
Jack and Mum burst out laughing.
Lou grinned. “Oh, and Jim wanted the final word. As always.”
Jim got to his feet. “We know you said you didn’t want a honeymoon, but we decided you should. You need to start your marriage on your own, rather than here with us. We’re quite happy to lock ourselves in our rooms if you don’t trust us not to run away. Failing that, Mum a
nd Dad will stay until you get back.” He paused and reached into his jacket pocket. He handed Jack an envelope. “This is from all of us.”
Jack gave it to Mum. “Did you know about this, Nicky?”
“No.” She opened the envelope and took out airline tickets. She opened them. “Two-weeks, all-expenses-paid trip to La Palma,” she said. “Thank you, but you shouldn’t have.”
“Yes, we should,” Lou said.
Jack smiled. “Thank you. We’re not packed though,” he said.
Lou grinned. “Yes, you are,” she said. “Suitcases are in the car. Change of clothes is in the car as well. We are experts in secrets. Bill said he’ll drive you to the airport after the reception.”
Mum looked at Bill.
He grinned. “Don’t worry about the kids. They won’t even breathe without permission the whole two weeks.”
22
First officers’ log 30/09 point 23
This is the final entry. Mum and Jack, who shall be known henceforth as Dad, have left for their honeymoon. Bill and Di are staying here with us until they get back. It was either that or we promised to lock ourselves in our rooms and not move. Which wouldn’t be much fun. Even if it is safer than going outside.
I’m going to keep my promise and see Dr. Andrews or whatever counselor she wants. Not sure talking about stuff will help, but I said I’d try.
I said I’d put Staci’s poem in here and Jack’s, sorry, Dad’s, long list of verses that he and Jim read to me in the hospital. Both make a fitting end to our story. We’ve come a long way in the past year and a half.
Running away doesn’t solve anything. Nor does ignoring God. It’s no good telling God how big the storm is. Tell the storm how big your God is. ’Cause whatever your problem, God’s got an answer for it.
Here’s Staci’s poem. Left as she wrote it, with her comments, lack of punctuation, etc. She called it “Island in the Sun.”
There is a little island,
Right out in the sea,
400 miles from Guam,
Or so they’re telling me.
There also are three children
Staci, Jim, and Lou,
And we can’t forget the dog
That just wouldn’t do.
Jim and Staci’s parents
Got lost in a tsunami
Jim went to go and find them
The others stowed away.
They all set sail on board Jim’s boat
A little one called Avon
And so far away they sailed
Towards their final destination.
Before they’d even left the docks
A police boat exploded.
Lou jumped in and saved three lives
Despite Jim trying to stop her.
They had to stop in Cornwall
More food they had to buy
There Lou met Jack, an American chap
And a very good-looking guy.
(Just don’t tell Jack, his head is big enough as it is)
They went to La Palma
Lou’s birthday on the way
With party games and chocolate cake
It was a lovely day.
Once they left disaster struck
Staci fell off a chair
She gave a shout, knocked herself out
And got tied to the bed for days.
Meanwhile a hurricane blew up
Erika by name
Mean and nasty, big and strong
She tossed the boat with wind and wave
Broke mast and windows and the deck
Plunged Avon ’neath the waters deep
Till crew unconscious, boat adrift
An angel did them save.
(And I know that’s too many words but tough.)
On Grand Turk, repairs were done
And they saw Jack again –
The American chap and very good-looking guy
By the time the boat was fit to sail
Another month had gone.
Through the Panama Canal
Quite an experience
Pulling ropes to guide the boat
Through locks to the Pacific.
(I know that doesn’t rhyme, but I couldn’t find one.)
Jim and Lou went fishing
One hot summer’s day
Lou got attacked by a shark
And I don’t know what to say.
Jim jumped to her rescue
And saved her from the shark
The dog was worried and alarmed
So it began to bark.
Lou was ill for many weeks
And then she changed the course
From the Philippines to Kiribati
She insisted that they go.
Then once again fate stepped in
Lou changed their course again
Jim fell asleep, the autopilot off so
They hit the rocks off Agrihan
Things would never be the same again.
Avon was sinking
Down, down, down
Down to see the fishes
Down below the sea
Down to see King Neptune
Away from you and me.
Goodbye, goodbye to Avon
A final fond farewell
But we shan’t forget you
Others we shall tell
Of how you brought us safely
Through wind and wave and storm
Our finest friend the Avon
For almost six months our home.
They made the shore and set up camp
The first night they did spend
Beneath the stars, the dog on guard
As they slept upon the sand.
They found a temple and camped in there
That was a big mistake
The natives took exception to them
Staying there and locked them up.
(And that doesn’t really work either but I defy anyone to do it better.)
They made a friend, a village girl
She said her name was Ailsa
She set them free, showed them to where
Staying would be safer.
They journeyed on all five of them,
As Ailsa joined them too
In search of the American base
Where help they hoped to find.
(Don’t say it—I know.)
The tremors grew in strength and then
The volcano blew its top.
For several days the lava fell
It turned the sky blood-red.
Jim said that we should call it Lou,
She said it was more like him.
But we didn’t do either, the jokes wore thin
And we headed back onto the base.
At Christmastime, a forest fire
Put paid to all their plans
They helped a village in the path
Of flames and saved the day.
They stayed there for a week or so
While Lou’s leg had a chance to heal
Learnt the language, taught theirs in return
A fair and honest deal.
Then they journeyed on
But dark times did strike
As Deefer Lou’s best friend
Gave his life in place of hers.
Deefer, how we miss you
The way you wag your tail and bark
The way you made us as wet as you
Whenever you had a bath
Not that that was often
Unless Jim threw you overboard
We left you above the beach where
You guided us safe to
Our journey’s end, the Air Force base
Just below your final resting place.
They called for help
And help did come, an unexpected form
For it was Jack, the American chap
And very good-looking guy.
We were met by our parents
All of them, alive and well
YAY (big smiley face here)
Who grounded us for the rest of our lives
Not yay (big sad face here)
They spent a few days on the base
At Guam, Lou spent six weeks
Things turned out well in the end
As Jack married Lou’s mum
And they now live on Guam
In a house big enough for us all
When Mum and Dad are away.
So this is the end of my poem
See, running away doesn’t pay
The price is paid by the other folk
You leave behind that day.
We learnt a lot the hard way
But we learnt the lesson well
We shan’t be doing that again
No matter what life may bring.
There is a little island
Right out in the sea
400 miles from Guam
Or so they’re telling me.
Anyway, on to Jack, Dad’s, list of Bible verses.
Romans 5:8—But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:10—This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Lamentations 3:22–23—Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:32–33—Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.
Isaiah 38:17—Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In Your love You kept me from the pit of destruction; You have put all my sins behind Your back.
Matthew 11:28—Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Acts 2:21—Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
1 Peter 5:7—Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Ephesians 2:4–5—But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
1 Timothy 1:15—Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
Romans 3:23—For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23—For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
