The Wedding Gift

It was the perfect day for a wedding. The sun was bright and warm, but there was a nice breeze to keep things from getting too warm. The ceremony had been held in a field on the farm owned by the bride’s parents, and now the hundred or so family and friends of the newlywed couple had migrated to large, red barn just behind the house. The farm equipment had been cleared out, and tables been set up, with a dance floor off in the back where the combine was usually parked. Wildflowers from around farm decorated the building, all handpicked by the bridesmaids early in the morning. The groom’s parents owned the most popular restaurant in town, and the barn was filled with smells of meatloaf and chicken and fresh buttered corn. Nothing fancy, but everyone said it was perfect, just perfect.

For all the beauty of the day, nothing could compete with the bride and groom. Peter and Cassie had grown up in town, where Peter had been the pitcher of the baseball team, and Cassie was the starting catcher on softball. Most of the guests were quite positive that with parents like these, any future children would have a good shot at playing in the majors. The best man had even joked during his toast, that Peter had finally found a catcher who’s signals he wouldn’t argue with. Cassie had looked radiant in a strapless, lace gown, and the newlyweds at the head table had eyes only for each other this evening. Even a stranger could tell they were perfect for each other, and everyone agreed that it had been the perfect wedding so far. But weddings in this town were a little different from weddings elsewhere.

As the food plates were being cleared out, the bride’s father stood up and tapped his glass. “Ladies and gentleman”, he announced. “Thank you once again for joining us this day to celebrate the union of Peter and Cassie. As the father of the bride, it is my honor to officially announce the Giving of the gifts.”

The assembled guests began cheering and clapping, and Cassie let out a squeal of delight. Little girls growing up in town dreamed of their future Givings almost as much as they dreamed of their future grooms. Seven-year-old Abby, the bride’s niece and flower girl, was the first to offer her gift. She walked up to the head table and presented the bride and groom with a hand-drawn picture of the three of them out in the field.

One by one, the guests walked forward to present their gifts. Most of the gifts offered were traditional wedding presents, but there were some exceptions. Mr. Fletcher, the town electrician, had rigged up a chandelier with all the lights shaped like baseballs, and the Givings had to be paused so that it could hung up from the rafters and hooked into the generator outside. One of the groomsmen, a talented artist, had created a painting of the two in a somewhat risqué position, earning several cheers and hollers from some of the male guests.

But it was the final gift that everyone was waiting for, the gift without which some in the town wouldn’t even consider it a real marriage. Every eye in the audience was fixed on the large door in the back of the barn. “I hope they get a decent gift this year”, whispered Mrs. Murray to her husband. “Remember the Henderson wedding? What a disappointment.” “I just hope it goes quickly this year”, her husband replied. “I’m ready for some cake afterwards.”

As the door swung open, the fathers of the bride and groom walked in. Between them, they dragged a young girl, maybe in her early twenties. A pair of handcuffs held the girl’s hands behind her back, and another pair was around her ankles. There was a gag in her mouth, and a blindfold over the eyes; otherwise, she was completely naked. The guests watched in anticipation as the two men dragged her forward and lifted her onto the head table.

“Alright”, announced the bride’s father. “Peter, Cassie, this is our gift to you. We love you both, and wish you all the joy and happiness in the world.” He reached down and removed the blindfold and gag from the girl’s face. The girl, finally seeing her situation, began screaming and pleading.

“Let me go! Please, please, I won’t tell anyone, just let me leave, I don’t even know what’s happening, let me go, let me go…”

“Well, looks like they found a loud one this year”, Mr. Fletcher yelled, and all the guests laughed.

The bride’s father chuckled too. “Alright, lovebirds. You know what comes next.”

Peter and Cassie both smiled at each other, and took their places on opposite sides of the now-sobbing girl. Cassie’s dad wrapped her up in a giant hug. Peter’s dad gave his son a firm handshake, and then pulled out two long knives from his bag, handing the first to his son, and the second to his new daughter in law. The pastor who’d officiated the ceremony was already standing beside them, and his voice boomed throughout the barn, mixing in with the pleas from the girl.

“Oh God, we ask your blessing on the union…”

“Please, let me go…”

“Of Peter and Cassie. We pray that this sacrifice…”

“Somebody help me! Please, please…”

“Is pleasing in your eyes, and that you will favor…”

“Oh God!”

“This holy union today and forever more. Amen.”

“Amen”, answered the newlyweds. Peter and Cassie lifted their knives, and plunged them in unison into the girl’s chest. Her screams reached a crescendo, then quickly faded as the knives were dragged down her through her abdomen and stomach all the way down to our navel. The assembled guests clapped and cheered again, and Peter and Cassie exchanged a kiss, their bodies leaning into each other over the corpse.

As the servers moved in to remove the body, and bring in the cake, little Abby looked over at her mother and said, “What a beautiful gift! I hope I get one like that when I get married.”