C: A young cat for your new home
The near weaned kittens of the house watch you leave with wide eyes and pricked ears. One tabby kitten with wide, yellow eyes chirrups at you and follows. She starts batting at your skirt for attention with her oversized paws. Clumsy and awkward, she tumbles over her own feet and into your ankle. You pick her up and put her on your shoulder. No one stops you. Cat seems happy there. The good height from your shoulder lets her see more. She settles herself down.
Cat’s claws dig into your clothes as you descend the front steps out of the house and into the square. A wedding banner strung between two poles has been hastily constructed. You had given little thought to your own wedding. Garlands or banners. No wishes for colours or flowers. They chose for you, your aunts and cousins. Masses of giant daisies cover the poles, tied there with nettle green banners.
Your parents were clearly not part of it. They’re standing between the poles, still grey faced as when your future husband arrived in town for the first time. He loomed over them then and he still looms now. You can make out the outline of him as you walk closer. The feathery shape of him comes into sharp relief as you stand beneath the banner.
A dusty, almost papery smell drifts over to you as your future husband turns to look at you. His head moves first. What you first thought was a beak is clearly a mask, but there could very well still be a beak beneath. It looks solid. Painted and varnished with dark glittering eyes in almond shaped holes.
They watch you expectantly.
- A: Ask him to take off his mask
- B: Bow to your husband
- C: Tell your husband that you hope there will be no lamb at the feast
- D: Tell him to take off his mask