“Mary no fair your older than me!” I just kept running and jumping in graceful leaps in the vast openness in our backyard. My sister Cynthia and I live on a farm house in Biloxi, Mississippi. It’s the year 1919 I'm finally 18 years old and just graduated from Biloxi High School. My sister Cynthia is only 10 years old but I have a great relationship with her.
I looked back at my sisters flashing smile. Her long straight black hair blowing away from her face. Her green eyes glistening with excitement as she watched me twirl and spin when I jumped. She admired me more than anything and I never really understood why she did. I stopped and let her catch up with me under one of our weeping willow near the edge of the swamp by our house. As I waited I watched as the different swans and ducks passes me by with their little chicks following in a perfect line behind the mother. I wonder if I would ever have a big family like that. I pictured me looking at my husband, always looking up at him of course since EVERYONE is taller than me! Him looking at me in amazement with a glaze in his eyes that only could be love and I doing the same…
“MARY!” Cynthia shouted “You never can hear me, your always dreaming in the middle of the day like that!”
“I’m sorry sissy it just happens sometimes.” “I told you stop calling me Mary, call me by my middle name Alice.” I said disgruntled
I never could stand my name Mary, it reminded me of a old lady with no sense of matching clothing. Always wearing 3 different layered color of clothing and bad hair that looked like a nest for birds!
“Well Alice…” She put emphasis on Alice to show of her attitude.
“Why did you want to come all the way out here?”
“Well sis I just wanted to talk about how mother and father are trying to arrange me in marriage with that ghastly boy William.”
William Middleton, I just could not stand him! He was just so perfect! He always was admiring his shiny blond greased hair, his perfectly heart shaped face, and his brilliant white smile. He was so into him self it made me sick. If there was a mirror in the house Will would find it. His family, the Middletons are the wealthiest in Biloxi. This is why my parents want me to marry him. Were not the wealthiest people but we survive and live comfortable. I did’t want to get married, I’m only 18! I want to travel and see the world. I want to see the Eiffel tower in Paris, the leaning tower in Pisa, Italy, and the vast amounts of people in Japan. I know whats going to happen I can see it in my head. William working all day expecting food on the table every night. Screaming at me because I was’t at the door greeting him when he got home from work. Expecting me to want to make love with him every night because in his words “You could never do better than me Mary, you must be the luckiest girl in the world!” Its very particular, this whole seeing what my future is going to be like. I can see all this in my head, it feels more real than a dream its like I KNOW this will happen. I can’t really tell anyone that though everyone would think I’m crazy.
“I wanted to know what you think of him sissy.” I said hesitantly
“Well, he’s very very handsome Alice!” She said will a giddiness.
“Sissy he knows that, that’s what’s so appalling about him!” I said with a force
“Imagine it though Alice, you in his big house and all the dresses and clothing you can buy!” As she moved her hands to explain it.
That did sound good don’t get me wrong I thought about that already. Me in a big closet with the most beautiful dresses in Mississippi. Wearing a different dress everyday. I could get use to that!
“You would have gorgeous babies with William.” She said with wonder.
“He can make sure you are safe and, you would never have to worry about money or working!” She said with a never ending breath.
“Okay sis, I get it you want to see me comfortable in life, and you think he is the best man for the job.”
“Yes, that’s all I want is you safe and being happy!” She said with a half smile.
“I can be your maid of honor, right?”
"Even though I'm only 10, you won't make me the flower girl right?!"
Her words drifted off as I stopped hearing her clearly. This was all too much, but me planning my wedding this could be fun?! I cannot believe I might submit to this, me in a form fitting white dress with diamonds dripping from my ears and neck. Walking down the isle and then...seeing that hideous William with his cocky smile nothing but narcissism swimming in his dark brown eyes at the end waiting for me….Something is not adding up in this equation. Me… Mrs.Middleton?