Netroshee’ Moody, GPC Student
I can always expect to hear the same ancient wedding stories every year when my family gathers together for the Walker family reunion. All of my aunts and their daughters gather around in a huge circle and share their most embarrassing or most memorable moments on those special days. The story that I enjoy hearing over and over again is about my mother Carolyn’s wedding.
The story that’s far from a fairy tale takes placed on a misty fall afternoon in Lithonia, Ga. Carolyn and two younger sisters, Sharron and Krischelle all shared the same room in their parents’ extra small, cramped house that was surrounded by dirt roads and miles away from everything. Carolyn was only seventeen years old when her family discovered a shocking secret she was trying to hide. Carolyn and Krischelle were both in their room taking a nap. Carolyn was lying across the room from Krischelle when she was awaken by the jabbing sensation of a ruler. Krischelle had noticed that Carolyn’s stomach was unusually round and hard. Carolyn quickly jumped up out of her sleep and out of nowhere she slapped Krischelle. Krischelle screamed for help and in a matter of seconds their father Aldine and their step-mother Dorothy stormed into their bedroom. “Girl, get up off dat flo, what’s wrong wit you?” their tall, broad shoulder father shouted. “She hit me!” exclaimed Krischelle. “Well, what you do dat for?” asked their short, round step-mother Dorothy. “Cause she was hitting me with that ruler” explained Carolyn. “Well if she hit you first, then you got the right to hit her back!” exclaimed their father. “But daddy, her stomach is round and hard. Something is wrong with her!” shouted Krischelle. At that moment, Aldine and Dorothy had discovered that their precious little girl was going to be a mother.
The next day Dorothy took Carolyn to the doctor’s office where he confirmed that she was indeed six months pregnant. Carolyn could sense the tension between herself and Dorothy, so she didn’t say a word the whole way home. Dorothy on the other hand, kept making comments such as “What am I going to tell that man?” When they finally arrived at home and entered the house, Aldine and all twelve of Carolyn’s siblings were sitting at the dinner table eating. That’s when Dorothy broke the news to the family. Carolyn just stood there with her hands behind her back and her head held down. She was very ashamed to look at anyone.
Later on that night, Aldine thought he would take matters into his own hands. He decided to give Carolyn’s twenty year old boyfriend, Randy a call to let him know the disappointing news. Randy and Aldine argued back and forth for about an hour and a half. Aldine demanded that Randy get his rear end over there as soon as possible or he would come and get him if that’s what it took. Aldine paced the floor for about thirty-five minutes before he heard a car pull up. Carolyn and her two sisters, Sharron and Krischelle were in their room peeking out the window. “I wonder who that it is?” replied Sharron. “Oh, that’s Randy!” shouted Carolyn. Randy and Aldine talked things over for about an hour before Carolyn heard a knock at her door. “Come in”. Carolyn said with a smile on her face. At that moment Randy did not waste any time. As soon as he walked into the bedroom, he dropped down on one knee and said, “Carolyn, will you be my wife?” Carolyn was very excited. She couldn’t believe her ears. “Yes, yes Randy I will be your wife!” she yelled while jumping up and down.
That wasn’t the end of it. The following morning Aldine shocked the rest of the family with the news that Carolyn and Randy would be getting married in three days! Even Carolyn was surprised by the news. She knew they were getting married, but she did not think it would be that soon. Three days daddy? What about my dress? What about my friends? What about my bride’s maids? Asked Carolyn. “Well, Dorothy will make your dress, Tommie, Bettie, and Rudine are your bride’s maids, and your friends do not have to come,” said Aldine. Carolyn could not believe what she was hearing. Her older sisters were going to be her bride’s maids and her step-mother was going to make her dress. She thought that was going to be the worst wedding ever.
Well, it was now the big day. It was Saturday, September 25, 1977. The sun was shining and it was just a down right beautiful day. Randy’s parents, Ida Belle and Jonny Moody had just arrived. Aldine and Dorothy were standing on the left of their daughter who was wearing a beautiful, form fitting, cream satin dress, that had pastel pink beads along the sleeves and down the train. Dorothy was very tired since she had been up for two whole days making that beautiful dress. Randy, whose parent’s were standing to the right of him was extremely excited. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a cream vest and bow tie. Even though he was very handsome, he was still very nervous. He kept picking at his afro throughout the entire ceremony. It was finally time to say their “I do’s”. That’s when Aldine told the pastor to hold on. About five minutes later, he stormed back into the church with a sawed off shot-gun! “Aldine Walker, what on earth are you doing with that thing?” asked Dorothy. “I’m making sure this boy takes this marriage seriously!” exclaimed Aldine. “Daddy, will you put that thing away? PLEASE!” yelled Carolyn. Randy walked right up to Aldine and said, “Sir, I love your daughter, and I plan on taking this marriage very seriously”. Aldine signed and put the gun on the floor. He then instructed the pastor to continue.
Even though my mother shocked the family with her pregnancy, then she was shocked with the shot-gun wedding, I think was meant to be. It’s been twenty-five years and eight kids later and they’re still hanging in there. As for Sharron and Krischelle, they always joke about the whole situation, from my mother slapping Krischelle to my grandfather bursting into the church with a shot-gun. This will always be an all time favorite of mine.