The Confused Clergyman

AtoZ Challenge...Letter C's 'fiction from forgotten fotos'

"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the holy matrimony of three sisters and three brothers." As the witness/guests gasp and snickered in unison, the clergyman realized how his introduction of the 'Triple Wedding' participants sounded and quickly cleared his throat and said, "What I meant to say was these three Sister Brides and their three Brother Grooms".

This time, the guests broke into gales of knee slapping laughter, the mother of the brides fainted and the father of the grooms nervously pulled at his overly tight bowtie. By now the Sister Brides were rolling their eyes and the Brother Grooms were jabbing each other's sides.  The clergyman, aware that his first wedding ceremony was not going according to the 'Good Book's Plan', decided to simply start over.  He raised his hand, and as the crowd once again grew quiet, he stammered out the opening lines...

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of  these Three Sisters and Daughters of...a nod and open hand gesture to the parents on the left...and these Three Brothers and Sons of...a nod and open hand gesture to the parents on the right.  The now recovered mother of the brides was whiter than her three daughters virginal wedding dresses, and the father of the grooms was as red as the Rose Boutonniere on his lapel.

The Clergyman, now feeling in control found his place in the 'Good Book' and continued with, "Please join hands and repeat after me Sister Constance and Brother Clyde".  Constance and Clyde repeated their vows, said their I Do's, kissed and stepped back.  Constance took both of her twin sisters bouquets and stood behind them to serve as their maid of honor.  Clyde in turn stood behind his brothers to serve as their Best Man.

The Clergyman motioned for the two couples to move together and join hands, and began the recitation of the vows.  As was traditional and stated during Constance and Clyde's vows, the question of "can any man show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined" went unanswered.  Relieved beyond belief, the Clergyman smiled at the Twin Sister Brides and their Brother Grooms, "I now pronounce you....."

At that moment before the final words were declared, the Mother of the Brides rushed to the podium and between sobs said...

"They cannot marry.  They ARE Sisters and Brothers".

 

The Confused Clergyman snapped shut 'The Good Book' and threw up his hands!
 

The Mother of the Grooms...slapped the Rose Red Faced Father of the Brides and Grooms!
 

Constance handed her shocked sisters their Rose Bouquets, hugged her new brothers-in-law and...

...marched down the isle with her new husband waving the Marriage Certificate signed by

The Confused Clergyman...

who was scratching his head trying to remember if he ever got to say...

I now pronounce you man and wife!