by Suzy Kline
Mary, Song Lee, Ida, Sidney, Dexter, and ZuZu came down in a flash.
Mary curtsied as soon as she saw the bride with her father.
Song Lee and Ida oohed and ahhed when they saw the crown of daisies in Miss Mackle’s hair.
“Please go in, kids,” she said. “I want you all to be a part of this too now!”
As we hurried down the aisle, Harry made a point of sitting right behind Mrs. Birnbotham.
When she turned around, she was scowling. “Were you the rascal who flew that airplane?”
Harry shook his head. “No, ma’am. I don’t have a pilot’s license.”
When I started giggling, Mrs. Birn-botham made a face. She didn’t stop glaring at us until the organist began playing the wedding march.
Everyone stood up and faced the back of the church.
I elbowed Harry to look upstairs at the balcony. My mother was peeking around the door!
“Awesome! Your mom’s a spy, too,” Harry said.
Finally, Miss Mackle made her way down the aisle on the arm of her father. We couldn’t help but hum along:
Dum, dum, dah dummm,
Dum, dum, dah dummm,
Dum, dum, dah, dum, dum,
Dah dum, dum, dah dum.
“I love her dress!” Song Lee said.
“I love her wedding bouquet!” Ida added.
“Those are white stargazers!” Mary said. “They smell divine!”
The groom waited at the altar in a dark suit with a daisy in his buttonhole.
A vase of yellow and white flowers sat at the altar next to the American flag.
All four rows of people had their eyes on the bride. Some were crying.
When Miss Mackle passed us and got to the first row, she paused for a moment, while Major Mackle hugged his wife. Miss Mackle’s mom was crying. She seemed surprised to see Major Mackle, too.
As the minister greeted them at the altar, Major Mackle stepped back and stood with his wife in the first row. The groom took his place next to our teacher. The minister began speaking. “Who gives this bride to be married today?”
Major Mackle stepped forward. “Her mother and I.”
The reverend asked the couple to repeat a lot of words, then he said to the groom, “Now you may kiss your bride.”
Mary and Ida and Song Lee leaned forward to get a better view.
ZuZu and I exchanged a look. The kiss took too long.
Mary giggled. “We’re watching the best part!” she said, clasping her hands together.
Harry and Dexter seemed to agree with Mary. “That kiss seals the deal,” Harry said.
“It’s important,” Dexter added.
“Shhhh!” Mrs. Birnbotham replied, this time glaring at us over her glasses.
Miss Mackle and her new husband turned around and walked back up the aisle, arm in arm. When they got closer, she looked over and waved. “Thank you, Harry!” she whispered.
Harry beamed.
As soon as she passed us, Mary tapped Harry on his shoulder. “I’m sorry about asking Doug to lock you in the belfry,” she said. “That was a horrible thing to do, especially when you’re afraid of heights. I just didn’t want you spoiling our teacher’s wedding!”
Harry shrugged. “I didn’t even know you said that, Mare. I was busy spying with that wooden owl. He was the one who really helped me get through my heebie-jeebies. I figured if he could spend ten months in that belfry, I could at least spend a few more minutes.”
“Well, you did a good thing, Harry,” she said. “You got Miss Mackle’s father to the wedding just in time!”
“Thanks to my friend in the belfry,” Harry replied. “Owl sure miss him.”
Mary sighed. “Oh, puhleese, Harry!”
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