Asdahlia, page 12
“What should I do with you?” Charlie is confused.
She stands up so abruptly that Charlie rushes to hold her. Charlie realized that she may not have understood what he just said.
“Stop, don’t go! I’m just thinking ahhh… you need decent clothes.” He motioned to her t-shirt.
Charlie touches his shirt to emphasize what he meant.
“Dress for you… alright?”
He runs his hand through his hair again and lets out an audible exhale. He turns around and removing a t-shirt from his bag and gives it to her. Her eyes are steady but she does not move, so Charlie comes over and puts on the shirt on her.
“Here, that’s better.”
He holds her shoulders like a little girl in front of him and pulls her up to him.
“I don’t like men looking at you in a certain way. It makes me jealous.”
He says it aloud confident that she does not understand that much anyway then he brushes her nose with his fingers, kisses her lightly and sits her down.
There is a big thud as the captain maneuvers the ship into the pier. The anchors have dropped and the purser opens the gangplank for the people to disembark. Ted pulls aside one of his men and sends him down with the crowd. The rest stay and waits for Charlie while they get ready with their backpacks and guns as well. After few minutes the soldier comes back and he hands Ted a small bag. Ted knocks on Charlie’s cabin which opens promptly and gives him the bag.
When finally they emerged from their cabin the soldiers look surprised at the girl wearing a sarong behind Charlie yet they don’t say a word. They simply follow them down to the dock and into the waiting calezas.
As soon as all of them are in the three carriages, the drivers prompt the horses to go. They move on and trotted to the asphalted road and finally on to the municipal building not far ahead.
He has been advised that his office is just opposite Erwin Bernaz’s and he is there to welcome him again.
“Charlie!”
He extends a hearty handshake to Charlie while expressing his delight loudly as he usually does. His eyes travel to the girl by Charlie’s side but did not say anything. Instead, he raises one hand to grab the pipe from his mouth.
“I’ll be in my office if you need anything at all.”
The soldiers remain outside while Ted and two of his men carrying the luggage followed Charlie to his new office.
“Ted will you please stay with her while I talk to Erwin?”
“Sure, go ahead.” Ted happily agrees.
Charlie walks over to Erwin but before he can say anything Erwin speaks.
“Did the girl come here with you?”
“Yes. This is why I need to talk to you.”
“Charlie, a girl living with a man without the blessing of marriage will be subject to public humiliation even around here. Both of you might even be executed in public simply because she is forbidden to marry outside her religion.”
“Then we will get married.”
“The girl looks very young. Does she have family?”
“No, and she will be killed if she goes back to her own people.”
“Are you sure about this idea of marrying? You can’t marry her in church if she has not been baptized.”
“That is exactly why you will marry us.”
Erwin does not say anything but inhales his cigar batting his eyelashes in deep thought. He walks back and forth behind his desk. Charlie cannot wait any longer and starts to explain.
“I am responsible for her now and since it is immoral for us to live together without first getting married, let us do it here now.”
Erwin clears his throat and considers Charlie’s face.
“Does she know this?”
“Let me go and ask her.”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, are you serious?” “Go ahead and ask her then.”
Charlie comes back to his office and finds Asdahlia and Ted having fun and he feels uncomfortable. He grabs her hand from him.
“Ted will you and your men come with us please.”
They all walk over to Erwin’s office and Charlie asks Asdahlia in front of all of them. He faces her squarely and holds her both hands. His voice deep with urgency he speaks.
“Let us get married. I want to marry you now.”
Asdahlia looks at Charlie questioningly. It has taken time for her to fully understand that this is a marriage proposal until Ted helps with signs and gestures. The rest of the men are watching interestedly.
Asdahlia becomes pensive for a moment and she looks at the expectant faces of the men as they wait for her to give an answer. She knows that her decision to go with Charlie has been the result of not wanting to live alone on Skeleton Island. Thoughts comes flashing back to her. She is still mourning the loss of her parents and there seems nothing else for her to go back to. She thinks how she had wanted to go with her father to Mecca and sail around the world. She wants to see how it is to live away from the shackles of rigid custom and religious beliefs she does not share. Two beads of tears roll down her cheeks but she nods vigorously.
“Yes.”
She responds with certainty. Her voice seems to have matured instantly as she makes that final decision. She looks at the man whom she will be spending her life with and she prays that he will be a good man.
Hearing her say “yes” is such a great relief. Charlie takes her hands in his assuredly. The men present are so touched that they can only stare. Neither of them moved nor said a word.
“I promise we will do it properly when the time is right”.
And they all turn to face Erwin.
“This is extraordinary, and if not for you I wouldn’t do it. However, considering the circumstances let’s have some witnesses.”
The civil ceremony does not take more than three minutes while the clerk types the contract that they are waiting to sign. After Charlie signs his name he gives the pen to Asdahlia. Seeing the desperation in her eyes, he smiles at her as in approval then she rolls the pen between her fingers and scribbles what looks like a signature over her typewritten name.
Asdahlia wishes she can read the paper that she is signing, but for now she has to trust this man to do the right thing. Legalities have been taken care of and they pour some drinks for a toast. The soldiers then drive Charlie and Asdahlia to their apartment.
After the soldiers left, Charlie notices that she is very silent and she looks worried. She has been staring at him and looks away when he looks at her.
“Charlie” she starts with worried expression.
“Yes, what is it?”
Asdahlia pointing to him said.
“You… teach…me… English.”
“Yes if you,” pointing to her, “promise never to use magic ever again.”
“English”
Asdahlia sounding frustrated, realizes that her knowledge of English language is inadequate and she makes it clear to Charlie that she intends to correct that as soon as possible now that she is married to him. She has just made the biggest decision in her life and she does not even know what exactly is written on the paper that she signed, nor the things they were saying in front of the man Erwin.
“Yes, but no more magic, it scares me.”
“Write?”
“And read too.”
“Good.”
She nods but her eyes never leave his face as if she is seeing him for the first time. Charlie sits beside her and does not let go of her hands. Tears roll down her cheeks, but she remains silent. She knows that this man holding her hands also holds her future and she is determined to make it work. After all, she has always wanted a life away from Skeleton Isle. Then she hears his voice almost in a whisper.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you.”
“I love you.”
Charlie hugs her comfortingly then Asdahlia leans forward and melts to his embrace.
THE END
Nancy B. Stanton, Asdahlia
