Visions & Revisions: An anthology of new writing by Junior Cycle Teachers [selected extracts]

Katie McDermott
loved them. That was all that should matter. It was fast becoming
apparent though, that Beth and her family were a package deal.
Maura felt like she was marrying every single one of them, and
so far, they had as much say in her own wedding as she did.
Maura made her decision on the August bank holiday weekend.
Beth’s cousins were home from Australia, home for the wedding
ostensibly, but that wasn’t for another two months. Still plenty
of time to cancel the whole affair. Today’s party was to celebrate
their arrival, but it had also become a very late engagement
party for Maura and Beth. If there was one thing Maura hated,
it was fuss. A wedding was bad enough, why did there have to
be so many ancillary events clustered around its feet like kittens?
Maura had the passenger window down, to let the breeze in. She
preferred it to the air conditioner – difference number 78.
‘What time are they expecting us?’ Maura asked.
‘About seven. Same as last time you asked me.’
‘Right. Will Anne be there?’
‘I don’t think so, she has to bring the kids to a party or a
circus or some such event.’
‘Oh. What about the other Anne? Who makes the
cheesecake?’ ‘Yeah, she’ll be there.’
‘Will the cheesecake?’
‘I don’t know.’ There was a pause. ‘You know—’ Beth
started. ‘What?’
‘You know they’re going to be asking a lot about the
ceremony.’
‘I know. But it’s our ceremony, not theirs.’
‘But they’re my family, it’s important to me.’
Maura didn’t reply. There was a whole subcategory of
differences, all led under difference number 1: the Wedding. 1.1
– Maura wanted a small ceremony, just two witnesses and their
celebrant, Beth wanted everyone there; 1.2 – Maura balked at
the thoughts of spending all that money on a party, Beth said
it would be worth it; 1.3 – Maura hated people staring at her,
hated being the centre of attention, Beth seemed to thrive on it;
1.4 Maura didn’t want a seating plan, Beth not only insisted on
HOW TO CANCEL A WEDDING
it, she made Maura help. That was what the latest fight had been
about. Maura didn’t see why Beth was inviting all these people if
they couldn’t be civil to each other for one day.
‘The celebrant needs to know what we want soon,’ Beth
ventured again.
‘I’ve already told you what I want.’ Maura was frustrated
with herself now, she felt too much like a sulky child. She didn’t
like what this wedding was doing to her. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to
snap.’
Beth indicated to turn right at a crossroads.
‘I’m just stressed about today,’ Maura continued. ‘You know
how I hate small talk and people staring at me. And your family
is kind of ...’
‘Kind of what?’
‘Overwhelming,’ Maura finished, thinking it was best to
leave it at that. She’d make it through today and tell Beth tonight.
The wedding just wasn’t going to work.
‘But I like showing you off,’ Beth looked at her and smiled.
‘You look gorgeous today.’
‘Don’t I look gorgeous always?’
They both laughed and Maura felt relief at having shelved
the wedding talk for now. Forever, really. She’d made her decision,
but a new knot of anxiety was settling into her abdomen at the
thoughts of the conversation they’d have to have tonight.
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