The Sheltered Life of Betsy Parker

by E. David Hopkins

  Finally, the principal called, “Mark Turner.” Mark knew that this was his cue and it was time for him to walk the carpet, alone.

  Mark shuffled his feet down the bleachers where the rest of the boys were standing. It was almost impossible to walk. His legs felt like they were made of sticks, and his feet felt like they were made of rubber. Mark was trembling and sweating as well.

  “You okay Mark?” his former friend, Sebastian, asked him.

  “Yeah ...” Mark stuttered, “fine.”

  He climbed off the bleachers and walked robotically towards the edge of the carpet, looking at his feet the whole time. At long last, when he arrived at the carpet, he set a toe on the edge.

  Whispers echoed from all around.

  “Where's he going?” echoed some whispers.

  “He's nervous,” he heard others whispering.

  “He's not going to do it,” whispered some others.

  Mark began to take a few steps along the carpet, but he walked slowly and hesitantly, as though he were wading his way into icy water. As he walked, he began to shiver, and he reached out his hand to the Betsy who wasn't there.

  Suddenly, a loud voice startled Mark.

  “Hey Mark!” the principal called. “That's the exiting end of the carpet. You're walking the wrong way!”

  Mark's head jerked to glance the full length of the carpet, and he turned to face his surroundings. The principal was right. Mark had entered the carpet on the exiting end and was walking in the wrong direction. It was then that Mark noticed that the whispers around him had changed to puzzlement and surprise, in wonder of where the heck Mark was going.

  Mark's hurt turned to fury, and his eyes burned with tears. He turned and ran. He ran and ran until he was as far away as he could get himself from his graduation. He didn't even stop when he arrived back at the gate of Sunny Palms. He clambered over the gate, and, still in his tuxedo, ran across the grounds. He didn't stop until he came face to face, once more, with Betsy.

  “Mark!” Betsy cried. “What happened?”

  But Betsy already knew. She answered the question for him. “You couldn't stay, could you? You couldn't bear to walk that carpet without me.”

  “Yeah,” he replied. “It just wasn't graduation without you. I wouldn't miss being with you for the world.”

  “Well, you're here with me now,” Betsy soothed, “and that is all that matters.”

  “Betsy?” Mark stuttered. “I have been dying to ask you for some time. It's just that, things wouldn't be the same for us, as they are with most people who do this sort of thing, but...”

  Mark paused, mustering all the courage he had so that he could form the words on his lips.

  “Betsy, will you marry me?”

  Betsy's smile broke into a laugh of merriment to end the world.

  “Oh Mark!” she cried, “Yes, of course I will marry you!”

  “Yes?!” Mark cried, “Did I hear that correctly? Did you really say 'yes'?”

  “I did,” Betsy smiled. “We'll be happy together, I know it.”

  With a tender, gentle hand, Betsy wiped the tears off of Mark's cheeks with her fingers.

  “Betsy,” Mark smiled, as feelings of love, comfort and warmth bubbled inside him, “thank you for accepting my proposal. It's the best thing I have heard today, in my entire life actually.”

  20 A Joyous Celebration

  The first priority of Betsy's, after becoming engaged to Mark, was to make wedding invitations. She designed a card, featuring a picture of a bouquet of flowers and a pair of rings. She inscribed the message:

  We, Betsy Alicia Parker and Mark Edward Turner, will be celebrating our marriage at Sunny Palms naturist resort at 3:00 pm August 22. Reception to follow in the clubhouse.

  Mark took the many copies of the invitation that Betsy had made, and sent them to Betsy's parents, to Laura, to the few students who had come to visit her when she was in high school, to the Nelsons and to the Barnes's. All the guests and members of Sunny Palms were welcome to attend as well.

  Mark's task was to find a clergyman who was willing to perform the ceremony. He doubted it would be an easy task. He was aware of the Bible's story of Adam and Eve living naked in the Garden of Eden, but then God clothing them and expelling them from the garden after they ate the forbidden fruit. Mark knew that there would be many ministers who would adhere to God's clothing of Adam and Eve and view that as being more important than the fact that the couple had once been naked and unashamed, and therefore Betsy, as Mark's parents had tried to tell him, was a creature of the devil.

  Mark had been to church. His parents had taken him and Roger every week when Mark was a little boy, but Mark was never interested in the minister, Bob Jones's, sermons. Mark had always found them dry, tedious and quite preachy. Additionally, being a “Turner approved” minister, Mark knew that Bob would rather die than perform Betsy and Mark's wedding. Mark decided to turn to Betsy to consult with her.

  “Betsy?” he asked, “do you know of anyone who might be willing to marry us?”

  Betsy sighed and looked thoughtful. “I wasn't born like this,” she explained.

  Mark looked at her, stunned. “Betsy, what are you talking about? Everybody is born naked. Don't try to tell me that you already had clothes on when you came out of the womb. Now that really would be something.”

  By the way Betsy looked at Mark, he knew he had hurt her, and he felt terrible about what he had just said.

  “I'm sorry Betsy. That was such a thoughtless thing to say. I promise you, I will never ever make another remark like that again, but what do you mean by not being born like this?”

  “I wasn't born with the kind of reaction I have to this day,” she explained. “I lived my first few months as a normal baby, able to wear a diaper, clothes and be a normal baby girl. I was far too young to remember any of it. I only know because my parents told me. They had me baptized and Christened when I was a week old, when I could still wear clothes, when my parents had no clue of what was coming up for me. My minister who did that baptism and Christening came to our house once, only once, when I was about four years old, so that he could see me, and he was so happy, so open to me. His name was Reverend Ben Herb. He would be willing to perform our wedding ceremony. I just know it.”

  Mark and Betsy looked up Reverend Ben Herb on the internet. He was an elderly-looking man, with a plump build, squarish face, and a white beard. He lived near Meriton, where Betsy had lived as a little girl.

  “He lives near your former area,” Mark explained, “but I'll message him and ask him if he can come down here to perform our wedding.”

  Mark did so, and, only a few hours later, received a reply.

  Dear Mark Turner,

  I am blown away. What's this I hear about Betsy Parker getting married? That charming little baby I baptized all those years ago? Since learning about her never being able to wear clothes, I feared she would never be successful or loved, and I spent many sleepless nights praying for her. But here she is, an artist, with a gentleman who loves her, and is taking her as his wife. Perhaps this is a sign from God that the Garden of Eden is returning. Mark, don't you worry about a thing. I will marry you and her. I would do anything to do this. May your and her years together be long on this planet. You couldn't have made a better choice for a wife. You are blessed.

  Rev. Ben Herb

  “Yes!” cried Mark when he finished reading the email. “Betsy! We did it! We are getting married!”

  “It's going to be wonderful,” Betsy wept. “I'll be counting down the days.”

  Mark paused, in thought, for another moment, “You know, Betsy. I know I have severed all ties with my family, but I think I'll go and see Roger. I won't ask him to come to the wedding, but I would just like him to know that I'm getting married to you.”

  “But Mark,” Betsy gasped, in surprise. “You said, yourself, that you rejoiced at never having to see Roger again.”

  “I did,” Mark paused, “I do, but he is
still my brother, and maybe deep down inside he's inspired enough by how we feel about each other that he will at least give his blessing.”

  Mark knew these words were complete baloney, but he was determined, all the same, to at least try to rebuild a bond with his brother, since his parents were out of the question.

  “And you have inspired me to love people unconditionally,” Mark added.

  Betsy smiled, “Really? That's wonderful Mark. You're right. He is your brother, and I am proud of you for choosing to see him again. I wish you luck.”

  “I'll need it,” Mark smiled. He got dressed, walked across the grounds, and departed out the gate.

  Roger lived a half-hour drive from Mark's house. Mark decided that he would walk home, get his car, and drive to Roger's house. Mark didn't count on the car being at his home anymore, as his parents had said they would burn everything that was his. They wouldn't be able to burn the car, but they could always sell it.

  Alas, when he arrived at what was formerly his house, his fear was confirmed. His car was gone, and nowhere to be seen. Mark did the only thing he could think of doing, and awaited the Hele-On Bus. He walked to the end of the street, as he didn't want to be anywhere near that house anyway, and his parents wouldn't want to see him in front of their yard.

  The bus arrived, and a stout-looking man was sitting behind the wheel.

  When the bus stopped in front of Roger's house, Mark stepped out, and walked, with hesitation, down Roger's driveway. Then, with trembling knuckles, Mark knocked on Roger's door.

  When the door opened, a snarly-faced, black-haired young man was standing on the other side. It was Roger.

  “Hey you!” Roger snarled, when he saw Mark, “What brings filth like yourself to my house?”

  “Betsy and I are getting married,” Mark replied.

  “Look you,” grunted Roger in a menacing manner, and staring straight into Mark's eyes, “If you think you are asking me to that naked so-and-so's wedding, you've got another think coming.”

  “I'm not asking you to come to the wedding,” Mark insisted, “I only want your blessing. You are my brother after all.”

  “You hit my dad!” Roger snapped.

  “Look,” Mark admitted, “even I feel bad about doing that, but-”

  “And you're not my brother either,” Roger hissed. “You're disowned, remember. You chose to live with that Betsy weirdo. Make up your mind who you want to live with, and stop bothering me.”

  By now, Mark knew it was no good. He had tried to convince his parents of the loving, peaceful, nature of Betsy, but it had failed dismally. He was not going to be able to do the same thing to Roger, no matter what Mark said or did, or how hard he tried.

  “Well, bye then,” said Mark. “I will stop bothering you. I didn't really want to come here in the first place, but the least I wanted was to let you know.”

  “I would rather be tortured to death in the Chamber of Horrors than come within a hundred-yard radius of Betsy!” Roger hollered, blowing a raspberry out of the 'B' in 'Betsy.'

  Roger slammed the door, and Mark walked away.

  “Well, I guess that's that,” Mark sighed to himself, as the bus driver drove him back to Sunny Palms, “It was a predictable response, but at least I tried.”

  ***

  Back at Sunny Palms, Betsy and Mark prepared for the wedding. They looked through a catalogue of wedding cakes and picked out a vanilla cake with three layers, icing flowers on each layer, and a bride and groom on the top. Betsy and Mark agreed to ask the bakery to create an unclothed bride and groom on top of the cake.

  They picked out wedding rings. Both were golden, and Mark's had a diamond, while Betsy's had an emerald. Then, they sent out a registry of what they wanted for wedding gifts.

  ***

  At last, the day of the wedding arrived. Reverend Ben stood in front of the lake, between Betsy and Mark, and the guests began arriving.

  Seated around the lake, as guests, were Betsy's parents, Catherine, Douglas, Mr. And Mrs. Nelson, the Barnes's with their two now-grown-up children, and various other friends Betsy had made when they came over to see her when she was in high school.

  However, there was still no Laura.

  Betsy sighed, and shook her head, but put her smile back on her face. She was getting married and she knew this was going to be a fabulous day.

  As Mark, Betsy and the minister stood beside the lake, Mark looked Betsy in the eyes, and began to speak.

  “I met this wonderful girl in a coffee shop,” he began, turning his face between Betsy and the guests, “She had made a very brave decision, of coming out of the closet, of fighting the law, to live a single day to be who she is. We spoke that morning of love, compassion, and what it truly means to be human. To me, Betsy is not naked. She is clothed, but her clothing is a kind of clothing that cannot be seen with the human eye. To see Betsy's clothing, everyone, I ask you all to close your eyes. Only then, with your heart and your spirit, will you see them. Betsy's clothing is compassion, courage, happiness and unconditional love, for myself, her family, my family and for so many others. That kind of clothing of hers drew me to her, drew us closer together, day by day, every day, until here we are, at this wonderful resort, on this sunny afternoon, and I am getting married to this wonderful, young lady.”

  Betsy wiped a tear from her eye and spoke next, “My life has always been difficult,” she wept, “my life has always been confusing. I know I am not popular with everyone in the world, but that does not stop me from loving everything and everyone, even those who do not necessarily love me. I have so much to be thankful for; my mother, my father, my sister Laura, and everyone who has dared to come forward to me, to be my friend, and that includes this wonderful man, Mark, right here. I have moved from a life shut inside my home, to a life in my back yard, to a life here with my friends, to a life here as a successful artist and bride. I thank Mark for taking me on, for seeing my true self, for accepting me as I am. His will to be my companion in life is so strong, that he has forsaken so much of what he holds dear in order to be so, and, for this, I am very thankful. For this, I gratefully take him as my husband.”

  The minister handed Mark and Betsy the two rings they had chosen for themselves.

  Mark held the ring for Betsy, and looked Betsy in the eye, “With this ring, I take you as my wife, my loving companion, to walk with me on this Earth, for all days to come.”

  Mark slid the ring on Betsy's finger.

  Betsy held the ring for Mark, and looked Mark in the eye, “With this ring, I take you as my husband, my loving companion, to walk with me on this Earth, for all days to come.”

  Betsy slid the ring on Mark's finger.

  The minister spoke up.

  “Do you, Mark Turner, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, take Betsy Parker to be your lawfully wedded wife, till death do you part?”

  Mark smiled, looked Betsy in the eyes, and said, “I do.”

  “Do you, Betsy Parker, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, take Mark Turner to be your lawfully wedded husband, till death do you part?”

  Betsy smiled, looked Mark in the eyes, and said, “I do.”

  “Then,” smiled Reverend Ben Herb, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

  Mark and Betsy kissed. Then, together, they cheered. Every one of the guests rose from their seats and applauded.

  To finalize everything, Mark and Betsy signed the certificate, and all was said and done.

  A joyous reception followed that afternoon. There was food of the choicest sorts, consisting of salmon, salad, potatoes roasted in garlic, and whole-grain buns with butter. Then, the cake was cut, and presents were given.

  Betsy and Mark received so many gifts that day. There was a dainty china set, a candle holder with a set of pearly white candles, a set of handmade origami swans, doves, and many other kinds of birds, and a picture of the painting of Monet's Lilly Pads.

  At the end of the day, everyone was tired
and well-fed, but they were all very very happy.

  21 One Last Decision

  Betsy was successful as an artist, surrounded by many friendly members and visitors of Sunny Palms, and married to the man she loved dearly. Betsy and Mark talked, played, worked, laughed, and enjoyed a fun, peaceful, happy life.

  During Betsy and Mark's married life, many people who knew Betsy or had heard her story, were continuing the campaign for Betsy's rights. These people (family, friends, community, customers of her work, and even complete strangers) believed that Betsy should be allowed to live her life in the open, and not have to live, constantly, at Sunny Palms. Many were campaigning to police, courts, judges and magistrates on Betsy's behalf, showing their support for Betsy, and their concern that Betsy still had to live a hidden life for a condition she couldn't help.

  Petitions were blooming all over the media, and polls were circulating to determine what percentage of the general public believed that Betsy should be allowed to live all the rest of her life with the rest of the world. One nationwide poll came up with a 52% “yes” response among citizens of Hilo, a 38% “yes” response from the entire state of Hawaii, and a 32% “yes” response from the USA as a whole.

  When Betsy and Mark read the comments from these statistics, one particularly positive response from an Albert Duncan read, “I don't get it. We live in a day and age of equality, freedom of expression, and acceptance of differences. Despite all that, the natural human form is still regarded as taboo and needs to be hidden. People display nude works of art in public galleries all the time, with nobody objecting, but it's still a crime for an actual person to be nude in public. Betsy has never done any wrong, she has hurt no one, and she has helped so many people. I am saddened to see that this taboo has extended to the point where society doesn't even permit Betsy Parker to live a normal life. If we're going to accept differences, the least we can do is to accept Betsy Parker's condition as just another difference, nothing more than an abnormality, not unlike autism, Down's Syndrome, or being in a wheelchair. We don't hide those people away, so why should we hide Betsy away? To all who are against Betsy, put yourself in her shoes. Can you imagine living every instant of your waking life shut out from the rest of the world, never seeing anything except your house in your childhood and your resort in your adult life? Can you imagine that this is all you ever see, 24-7, cradle to grave? I don't care how well Betsy is accepted at Sunny Palms. If that place is all she ever sees, and the people there, the only people she ever meets, then Betsy lives in a prison, and I honestly cannot see how society prefers making Betsy live like this to letting Betsy live openly as a member of society.”