Chapter 10: Eddie's Wedding

James Edward Oglethorpe

Savannah

Photo: Jack Miller



Chapter 10: Eddie's Wedding

Well past midnight Eddie ran through the parks centered along Bull Street. He wanted to scream. He did scream. Or did he? He wasn't sure. His brain screamed. Forsyth Park was his immediate goal.

"I'm celebrating," he said to himself through gasps for breath. "Cum Laude!" he yelled. Eddie had graduated from Armstrong College the day before. "Now, I can be a fucking real estate agent," Eddie shouted as he continued to run, until suddenly, General Oglethorpe blocked his way. Savannah 's founder grasped his sword and swung it at Eddie’s neck.

"You can't kill me. I'm going to join the Oglethorpe club." Eddie said to the general whose statue was chasing him down Bull Street . "This time I'll never come down," Eddie thought. "I'll lose my mind and Sharon will have to marry someone else. I'll go to New York with Susan."

Even on acid, Eddie knew this wasn't true. Tomorrow, sober, he would return to Moon River.
"My life is screwed," Eddie told himself as he saw Forsyth park ahead of him. Oglethorpe had vanished into Count Pulaski. The night was utterly quiet now. He slowed to a walk, entering the darkness before the fountain. The spotlights had gone off the fountain at midnight, but the spray of water drew Eddie in. He stared, trying to see the storks and the satyrs, Lady Liberty, or whoever she was, the water girl glimmered above him in light reflected from the gas lights along the walks. "I should strip and get in the fountain." Eddie unbuttoned his shirt, but then became afraid.

"I'm like some puppet," Eddie spoke to the fountain, "with many puppet masters, all pulling the strings in different directions. Who shall control Eddie's life now: David? Mother? Sharon ? Susan? My grandmother? All yanking and tearing me apart." Eddie laughed and cried at his self-pity. Lions, tigers and bears were encircling and staring at him, waiting for him in Forsyth's shadows, behind the vast, dark live oak trees. "Come on, then. Eat me alive." Eddie yelled.

The next day, as he sat alone in the side garden of Moon River, Eddie could not recall how he spent the night. The beasts had gobbled him up. When he awoke to a hot, bright morning, he was in Colonial Cemetery . He lifted his face from the grass and there was Button's grave. He had to think before recalling where the Karmen Ghia was: near Pinkie's. He bought a coffee to go at the Seven-Eleven on Drayton Street. He should have called Sharon , but didn't. He drove home.

Home. "I live with two fags on an island," Eddie thought out loud. The garden teemed with bees, bumble bees hovering over the flowers, and mocking birds in the pines. Eddie had it to himself, Landry at Armstrong and David working at Ola Wyeth. Eddie hugged his solitude in sheer joy. One more month of freedom, of bourbon, pot, acid, no responsibility, Eddie mused. Then the wedding. Then the job. Then the baby.

David will go to New Orleans and Landry to Mexico . Susan will be safe in New York . Charlotte will be in Atlanta . I alone will remain here in Savannah with my mother and wife. Eddie closed his eyes and let the hot sun draw multicolored patterns beneath his eyelids. Something furry rubbed his leg. Fergus.

At dinner Eddie listened as David and Don talked of Ginsberg's departure and a thank you note from San Francisco , from City Lights Bookstore. David went on about Jules moving there and his plan to visit the bay area himself. "Jules says San Francisco is his Grail Castle ." David said.

Eddie caught the flicker of annoyance on Landry's face. He wanted to say, " You don't like Jules; you think he's a phony, don't you? Me, too." Of course, Eddie remained silent. Quiet. Pensive.

"Are you OK?" David asked.

"Yea, sure. Just tired." Eddie answered.

"hard day?" Landry quipped.

Eddie smiled his best shit-eating grin as he bit the last bite of limp spaghetti Landry had heated up for dinner. He left the squash and zucchini untouched. The food scattered on his plate had unappetizing colors.

"Sharon and I are going to see 2001," Eddie said. He knew he had to speak.

"It's gotten great reviews," David replied.

"Kubrick's vision of the future-- Won't that be enlightening?" Landry said. "The next millennium will be wonderful, I'm sure." He grinned knowingly.

Eddie didn't wait for the coffee. He waved goodbye to David who was carefully measuring out the right amount for the coffee maker. He didn't want to be late, but not early either since that could involve a long discussion with Mr. Brennan, a talk about Eddie's future work, where he and Sharon would live, worrisome details. Fortunately, when he arrived at the Ardsley Park house, a mere four blocks from Battey House, Sharon was ready and waiting.

"Are we still on for 2001?" Eddie asked

"Whatever you like," Sharon replied. She was fine submitting to Eddie's choice. I feel maternal already, she thought. She wondered what life would be like-- hers and Eddie's-- and the baby's --almost  thirty years hence in 2001. It was not easy imagining a son or daughter older than herself.

The line at the Weiss Theater was long, but moved quickly. Sharon and Eddie took their seats a few rows back from Savannah 's widest screen. Strauss' "Zarathustra," opening the film, reminded Eddie of David's comments about Nietzsche. The evolution the film suggested made him smile, especially as the advanced ape pounded a bone, realizing in a flash its value as a killing weapon.

Then, as the bone, tossed by the killing ape into the air, became a spaceship the theater audience gasped.

Sharon resented the film. She squirmed, got up, went to the ladies' room, and wished Eddie would want to leave. But she submitted. His intense face showed her how absorbed he was in the film. Then, after the long, demented dismantling of Hal, came the mystical scenes with the fetus.

"I'm having flashbacks," Eddie whispered to himself. The image of the fetus filled the screen and his brain. This is my monolith, the thing that will change me forever. He looked at Sharon . She had terror on her face… or was it wonder? He didn't know. He took her hand and squeezed. The film ended.

"Let's go out to Moon River ," Eddie suggested.

Sharon hesitated. "Won't David and Dr. Landry be there?"

"I'm sure they won't; they always go out."

"O.K. But we can't stay all night. My father has been horrible lately. Until next month we need to keep the parents happy."

"Fine, I'll take you home now." Eddie said.

"Don't be so mean," Sharon pleaded.

"I'm not." Eddie drove the long drive to Burnside Island mostly in silence. Both were haunted by images from the film. As they neared the house, he asked, "Do you think there was some point to the film, some meaning?"

"No. I think it was just a negative view of space travel and how man is warlike and destructive."

"I disagree," Eddie said. "I think it was all about rebirth and discovery, the cycles of life and evolution. It was about the unknown and life's mysteries."

"But it was about violence and loneliness. It was like a bad acid trip." Sharon had no idea what an acid trip was like.

Eddie was glad Sharon had her own strong opinion. She's sharp, he thought. Maybe she was right about the film being negative, even nihilistic. "So I guess we are all just like those apes in the beginning," he said. He knew this wasn't  the agreement she wanted.

At Moon River , as he had thought, Eddie and Sharon had the house to themselves. Eddie led the way to the sun porch then turned to hold Sharon in his arms. He wanted to fuck. His penis was the new monolith.

"We should go up to your room." Sharon protested as Eddie undressed her. "What if they return?"

"They won't. Besides we'd hear the car coming in plenty of time."

They embraced naked on the sofa. They were hungry for the sex. Eddie pushed deep into her, pushing as hard as he could. His cock was the bone the ape had tossed in the air, and he wielded it with pleasure and assurance. Sharon felt that he wanted to hurt her, to kill her and the baby with his thrusts. She gave in to it, yielded to the stabs of ecstatic pain. She let herself scream as they both approached orgasm. For once it wasn't going to take her all night to come. She did it before him, as she saw behind her closed eyes Kubrick's fetus floating in space, like herself, floating and turned inside-out. She felt Eddie's cum spurting into her.

Eddie was kissing her. French kissing. First too hard, then more gently. How grateful he was. They lay there on the sofa in the dark forever, hugging, sweating. They felt each other's hearts beating heavily and both thought of that third heart inside.

"You do love me, don't you?" Sharon asked.

"More than ever." Eddie replied. He meant it.

_________

A month later, the wedding party assembled in St. John's church was a small one.  Eddie looked over the group as the service was about to begin. "This is my day, Sharon's and my day." He thought. "This ought to be the happiest moment of my life."

Eddie smiled. What a collection of people. Sharon's parents were somber. Eddie's mother was chatting away with his two sisters. Surely this was as much her day as his. Eddie's brother in law, looking dapper, had been the choice of the family for best man. "Whose wedding is this?' Eddie had yelled. "I can choose my own best man." Here he was, walking quickly up the aisle, beard trimmed, worn out sports coat. Where had he been anyway.

As Eddie looked at his friend's stocky body walking confidently up the aisle, he smiled again at the memory of last night. What would all these judgmental people say or do if they knew David and he had gotten drunk and jerked off together? Just a few hours ago. Quick and easy. Then David had kissed him, kissed his wet genitals, and slept beside him. Eddie had liked it, no denying it. He liked holding his friend close and knowing how much David loved him. Fuck 'em all.

"Are you nervous?" David asked, reaching the sanctuary.

"No. Should I be?" Eddie noticed how nervous David was. Strange.

Then Sharon entered the church. She stopped at the aisle, as Eddie gazed at her. She was radiant. her white dress made a blond angel of her. "My pregnant bride," Eddie thought. He grinned. He adored her. "I don't deserve such beauty and innocence. Poor Sharon, to have fallen for such a lush as myself."

The service was traditional and brief. Sharon marched up the aisle to Mendelssohn. She stood beside proud Eddie and her fat father squeezed in next to her to give her away. When Reverend Byrd asked  if anyone knew any reason these two should not be joined in matrimony, the pause was pregnant. Eddie wondered if everyone suspected some reason. Thank God there was no confessional in the Episcopal Church. Eddie imagined the Catholic priest saying, "Well, come on! One of you speak up about this man's sins before we go any further."

David looked straight ahead, afraid to look Eddie in the eye. He knew plenty of reasons, last night being one of the least of them. He almost sighed as the moment passed. David handed Eddie the much fingered gold ring. The music struck up and all headed over to the Meldrin-Green mansion, St. John's Parish house, for the reception.

"It was such a lovely wedding," Jane said to Betty Bagby. "Don't they make a charming couple?"

"Got me," Betty replied. "I just got here." Betty was among those invited only to the reception. Jane and Connor were as well, but hadn't read their invitations closely and had gone to the wedding service as well. Jane and Connor had sat toward the back of the church, holding hands, wondering why so few were there.

"When are you and Connor Lawrence going up the aisle?" Betty asked mischievously. She loved teasing Jane who took everything so seriously.

Jane patted her gray hair, giving Betty her crooked, pained smile. She would not play games. "Oh, excuse me, I have to say hello to someone." Off she went.

Betty laughed.

"Congratulations, Eddie," Andreas greeted the groom. "Your wife is beautiful."

Eddie took his hand. "Indeed she is."

"I hope to marry Eva next year; We are planning to spend our honeymoon in New Orleans and visit with David there."

Eddie imagined taking Sharon to New Orleans. "We are simply going over to Hilton Head for a few days alone together." He wondered how much this robust old friend of David knew of their relationship. " I start work at my new job next week and we need to settle into our new apartment." Why, Eddie wondered, did he have to explain himself.

"Sounds great." The ever positive Andreas said, aware that Eddie was anything but thrilled at the prospect of work and married life. David had told him of the eminent arrival of the baby.

"We are so excited about our new home on Jones Street,"  Sharon said to Esther. She looked down to her, then up to Carlos, towering over the two women. " Have you two decided on a house where you are going to live?"

"We are going to live on 52d Street a while with Esther's mother. Eventually, we shall buy our own home," Carlos explained.

"Eddie and I hope to buy our own home in a year; but renting works for now." Sharon's optimism made Esther smile.

"Are you still seeing Brian?"  Andreas asked David.

"Off and on. He's just too wild-- even for me," David said. "Besides, I'm too busy planning the move to the Big Easy. It's less than a month now 'til Don and I drive down there."

"Where is Dr. Landry?" Andreas looked around the room.

"In Tulsa, visiting his mother.She's flying down to Mexico later to meet him there and travel to Oaxaca before he begins teaching."

"He is amazing." Andreas exclaimed, truly impressed. "I can't imagine moving to Mexico and teaching classes in a foreign college. He speaks fluent Spanish?"

"Not really. The school is mostly Americans. He's teaching English Literature and drama."


"Oh." said Andreas, not really comprehending the idea of an English speaking college in Mexico, and changing the subject," Whatever happened to the girl Eddie used to like so much-- Susan?"

"She's moving to New York. She's very excited and glad to be leaving Savannah. It's always been too small for her." David did not want to explain to Andreas that Susan preferred women to men. "And Charlotte is moving to Atlanta to perform with the Academy Theater and sing in a jazz club there."

"You have the most interesting friends. I can't believe all the things they do. Are you going to miss her? Y'all were pretty close weren't you?"

Andreas could not understand being straight and gay at the same time. Not that it mattered to him. His love for Eva was so single-minded that the thought of wanting someone or something else was inconceivable. Nonetheless, he admired his friend's versatility.


"Yes, very close." David mused. "If I were a normal male heterosexual, she would have been perfect for me." David wasn't really sure  this was true.

 -----

Skip downed another glass of champagne. "Why does everyone think this is so good-- it's sour," he said to himself. Who are all of these people, I hardly know any of them. The groom, his brother David, his mother, that was it. Sharon's parents and friends huddled on one side of the reception hall. They look like everyone else is going to attack them, Skip thought. But Sharon is one hot chick. I'd love to spend a wedding night with her. How had Eddie scored such a bride, Skip wondered. He's such a troll, bending over her like some prisoner he's guarding. 

"Are you excited about joining the Air Force." Esther asked, appearing suddenly at Skip's side. She startled him.

"You know I just joined to stay out of 'Nam," Skip said. "I'm doing boot camp in Biloxi; so I'll be able to party with David in New Orleans."

"Skip Jackson!" Esther shouted. "I thought you were joining up to fight for our country. We need good soldiers."

"Then we need someone like your Carlos-- big and strong-- to do that." 

"Carlos is going to take care of me," said Esther. "Thank God he got a high lottery number. So how's David staying out of the Army?"

"Student exemption, for now," Skip replied. "But he's been to a shrink who has confirmed he's queer. Totally unfit for duty. Besides that, he's 1-Y because of his glasses."

"One son in the military is one son too many," Betty Bagby proclaimed as she walked up to Skip and Esther. "They need to give that whole stinking country to Ho Chi Minh and get the fuck out."

Betty's language always shocked Esther, who considered herself a free thinking debutante, but one who remained polite and not foul mouthed. 


"Get out, or bomb them back to the stone age."


"Betty, that is horrible," Esther shrieked in her raspy voice. "You think that would make America safe for democracy? You should be ashamed."


Betty imagined wringing Esther's scrawny neck. 


"Then let them put tricky Dick and Ho in a nude wrestling match. How would that meet your approval?"


Esther liked that suggestion and gave out a shrill laugh. 


Across the hall Eddie pleaded with Sharon, "Don't you think we can leave now. We've done our social duty."


"Eddie!"  Sharon's soft face turned red. "This is our wedding reception. We have to dance for everyone and for each other.."


Frank Sinatra gave out his suave notes from the eight track player, but was drowned out by the loud, echoing chatter throughout the hall. In the center of the room the cake, dutifully cut in countless pieces by David had become crushed, a vast white heap. Most of the champagne, the Spanish stuff served to the guests, was gone. Eddie knew there were a few hidden bottles of Moet squirreled away, a few with which they might escape.


Sharon and Eddie danced. The few others on the dance floor stood aside and clapped. They posed for the professional photographer and for David and for Eddie's sister. They smiled so much Eddie felt a cramp in his right cheek.


Then, as if in one of his acid hallucinations, there they were, leaving the hall. Their friends and family tossed handfuls of rice on them. They fled the steps of the Parrish House and the small garden for the yellow Karmann Ghia, decked out in "Just Married" signs and cans tied to the bumper. David stood holding the door to the car open. "Was he going with them?" Eddie's brief confusion stopped as Sharon hugged him and thanked him for all the wonderful things he had done as Eddie's best man. Sharon kissed his bearded mouth. Eddie thought of doing the same thing, shocking all the families. He gave David a bear hug, holding him just a minute too long. He knew David would like that.


An hour later, having dragged their cans across the Talmadge Bridge, and rattled along the pine bordered and moss draped narrow roads to Hilton Head Island, they arrived at the Hilton Head Hilton. Neither bride nor groom talked for much of the drive, Sharon resting her head awkwardly on her new husband's shoulder. The Karmann Ghia was intimate but the bucket seats made it hard, if not impossible, to snuggle. They both thought silently about the next event, the baby. 


"A spectacular wedding ceremony and reception,"  Eddie managed to say as they neared the hotel. Sharon was unsure if he was being sarcastic.


"Yes, it was."  No conviction. She stared at the huge trees lining the drive to the hotel. They crossed a swampy creek. Sharon was fatigued, ready for the luxury room.


The room was a large suite, king-sized bed, a side sitting room with t.v., and a balcony from which they could catch a glimpse of the ocean beyond the garden and grounds and pool of the hotel. Eddie rolled back the sliding glass door, but the breeze was hot. He closed it again. They would hear not the sea, but the roar of the air conditioning.

"I forgot to get a bottle of the champagne," he said. 

"Do you want to get a drink from the bar?'


They stared at each other and shook their heads no.  Sharon began to undo her dress, and Eddie helped. He put his gold cuff links on the dresser and removed his new tuxedo. They lay next to each other on the huge bed, kissing gently. Sharon sighed and lay her head on the pillow. Eddie had no idea what she wanted to do-- fuck? Sleep? Just rest a while?

Neither felt any desire or excitement at all, only the urge to shut their eyes. Sharon remained limp and so did Eddie's penis. When Eddie shut his eyes, he saw all of those faces from the reception. He imagined them all staring, gathered around his and Sharon's big bed like the witches from Rosemary's Baby. He imagined them all chanting.


"But the baby is already here!" he wanted to tell them.

Instead, he whispered to Sharon, "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered back.