Bacon Scrapins – “The Wedding” – a fairy tale

Bacon Scrapins are the little bits of meat left in the greasy fry pan. They’re tasty, but the nutrition needs searching for. This tale is a bacon scrapin.

Once upon a time in a town far, far away there lived a young woman who was loved dearly by her family and held in high regard by all. For this young woman had risen from humble family beginnings to a point of respected integrity in her community.

Her early years had been hardscrabble. Her father was hard-working but not highly paid, and her mother was scrupulously frugal working for meagre pay. The family had a small but well-maintained home and the young woman had, as a growing child, helped with daily chores, participated with many friends in sports and theatrical activities both at school and in the community. She eventually held summer jobs as she worked her way successfully through college.

She had chosen her formal training well. She had excelled in fashion design, art history, economics, and business development. An unusual, but astute choice on her part. For upon graduation her academic achievements, and superb portfolio, had attracted financial support from a local farmer with “some savings” to invest in a likely prospect. It was he who provided the start-up loans for her business on the main street of town, and he who named her store, “Lady’s”. He believed it described both the proprietor and her customers.

‘Lady’ now operated a successful woman’s clothing and shoes store. She sold items of her own design, those made by local artisans, but also commercial items of limited production. Shoppers knew that they would not see the same styles and colours on several others in town.

“Lady’s” only local competition was another young woman, of her same age, who operated an online fashion catalogue business named after herself, “Willow’s Wardrobes”. She operated it from her house located in a deeply wooded area, across the bridge, and a few miles out of town. This young woman was often visible in town, involved in high-profile activities, thus attracting attention to herself and her catalogue of items. She was thought of as one who “tried too hard” to be noticed?

One day, a young man arrived in town. He, alongside an estate agent, was seen peering through gaps in the paper covering the windows of the empty store next to the “Lady’s” fashion store. It was noticed, by a known gossip passer-by, that he was darkly tanned and had deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes apparently from long days in high sun. The gossip noticed an impressive badge, pinned to the gentleman’s collar, of a military battalion. The two entered the store and only after several hours did they exit – both with pleased expressions.

Shortly, a SOLD sign appeared outside the storefront, and all was a subsequent hustle and bustle as workers entered and exited the new enterprise.  The young lady, who was of course curious about her neighbour’s store, was frequently seen casually chatting, gesturing to focal points outside both storefronts, or enthusiastically examining items as they were delivered.

Town gossip was rampant! Who was he? Where did he come from? Why did their “Lady!” spend so much time with this ex-military man?

Over the following weeks, exuberant friends of the military gentleman could be seen helping in the new store’s renovations. Overheard conversations confirmed that they were also recently returned veterans from his same battalion. In almost no time, the renovations were complete and now both stores were open. On one side, a “Lady’s” apparel store, and snuggled next to it, a “Gentleman’s” apparel store.

Of great excitement was the announcement 3 months later that their “Lady” and the “Gentleman” were to be married. To the enthusiastic joy of the entire town, it was announced that the wedding would be held in a local church, and all townspeople were invited to attend! The groom and his groomsmen would wear their formal military uniforms. All citizens would join together to celebrate a major event that November – “The Wedding”! They would be able to stand and sit at the direction of the pastor, place an offering gift at just the right time, join in singing the hymns, and repeating the incantations of the pastor.

Also invited, of course, was Willow, the young business competitor. She had let it be known that she worked harder than anyone else to achieve her success, and felt that locals should be more accepting, accommodating and respectful to her. She was pleased to be invited to the wedding ceremony, along with everyone in town, and recognized an opportunity.

Willow had an acquaintance, who lived outside the community, but who she thought would add to the significance of the wedding ceremony. Willow asked the pastor if her friend could participate in the singing of the hymns and presenting of gifts at the offertory. She was told that, as a courtesy, he could attend. She then asked if her guest could also sing a song of his own, perform a small-steps dance to display some clothing items from her catalogue. The pastor said that she and he could not. But she and he could perform after the formal ceremony – during the informal community reception afterwards.

Willow was not satisfied with that. She wanted herself and her friend to be more widely recognized, during the service, by everyone there – including by the local scribe. So, she went to the bride’s humble father and asked if her friend could perform during the family’s formal wedding ceremony service. She was told the same by the pastor. Not during, only afterwards.

She went to the head of the church’s organization, in the capital city, to get the church’s wedding ceremony protocols reinterpreted or changed. The chief administrator of the church told her “No”. Her friend could perform ONLY IF the pastor and family approved.

She next went to the grey-whiskered Prime Minister asking that authorization be granted for her friend to perform. The response was, “No! I, as well as the Governor-General and thus the enchanted Queen, all decree that you must comply with all social standards of appropriate public behaviour and demonstrate respect for the protocols of the church and the family members.”, stated in a definitive tone.

On the date and time of the wedding, the family and entire community had all gathered at the church. All were respectfully waiting for their turn to be called upon to participate in the formal wedding ceremony as appropriately planned and directed by the pastor.

The wedding ceremony commenced as planned. Everyone participated as conducted by the pastor. They listened to the pastor’s introduction. They listened to an organ recital that, familiar to them all, was emotionally stirring, and they hummed along to themselves.

When special guests were invited to approach the offertory and place gifts, in sequence as previously arranged, Willow’s friend took his announced turn. He placed his gift along with the rest and returned to his place in the pews.

Much to the surprise and consternation of the pastor and family, the guest’s friend soon moved forward again and interrupted the service with a chanted song, drum beating and small-steps dance that allowed all to see his distinctive clothing.  He had been instructed to perform by his friend, Willow, not knowing that she and he had been refused to the highest levels of authority. He became the focal point of the entire service and distracted from the formal proceedings that were intended only to recognize and celebrate the wedding couple. He had, unwittingly, ‘been used’!

The minds of the pastor and wedding family members were churning with disbelief. Why would someone, who had been given such special accommodations, ignore all protocol, social dignity, and directions from so many people and organizations and still go ahead to do such a selfish thing? The pastor did an emotional regroup, calmed himself, and proceeded with the rest of the formal wedding ceremony.

Apparently, few in the pews were any wiser. In fact, many attendees noticed that Willow had conducted interviews with the gathered scribes afterwards, highlighting his role – and her line of clothing.

The bride’s father, the pastor, and members of the church executive later met to discuss what had happened. The wedding had been ‘crashed’ by an interloper! Between the date of the wedding ceremony and the church executive meeting, the executive had heard from some of the public congregation. Very few comments were supportive that the pastor was open to changing the social norms of a wedding ceremony.

Almost all respondents were surprised, disappointed, aghast, and disgusted, that the formal ceremony to recognize only the family was usurped by a myopic, special interest. ‘Their’ wedding ceremony – had been ‘stolen’ by a defiant, petulant competitor with a personal agenda!

The church Executive had a dilemma. “How can you be sensitive to various points of view and still maintain the respect and integrity of the church, its mandate, principles, beliefs and established social protocols? How do you deal with a stubbornly myopic individual who will not accept appropriate direction and a reasonable alternative?”

Once upon a time, in a town far, far away they had so many options!

NOTE: Characters in the Bacon Scrapins tales are fictional.

 You may send appropriate email comments to the writer at thisiswilmot@gmail.com