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Chapter 10

The chairs were filled with relatives. Many I knew, others I did not. Row upon row they faced my mother’s trellis that marked the beginning to the trail that let through the woods. I turned away from the rows of people’s backs and to Rebecca. She had planned everything out in her own way, and I was sure that despite what it appeared to be right now this was not going to be a normal deal.
She stood next to the barn in a very modest dress. She had insisted that we pay for everything ourselves, much to the frustration of my mother, who was relentless until Bark put her in charge of food and decorations. It meant things were pleasant, but simple.
I didn’t complain- I didn’t care for big fancy celebrations myself, and if Rebecca had something up her sleeve it would be best to mess around if it was coming out of our own pocket.
She caught my eye and winked, making my stomach do a number of it’s own. I was starting to get scared of whatever she had cooked up. She had also not let me buy a ring for her, or plan a honeymoon or anything. I have no clue where she found the pastor at, but he wasn’t from around here, nor from anywhere she had lived. She had said we were not the usual marry now divorce-in-five-years couple, so we were not going to have a usual ceremony.
As far as I could get out of everyone else though, they were clueless that she had anything up her sleeve.

The music started, my sister playing on the old upright we moved out for the occasion, and I began the long trek to the front. I would have sworn some of the humps I did in boot camp were shorter.
At last I reached the trellis and turned to see her following me, carrying a rough wooden box the size of a large text book. From there we went on, everything seemed to be your standard back yard wedding. Even to the end. It was technically over, in fact.

We had just finished saying our vows, when the pastor turned to the audience.

“And now is where things get different. You may have noticed the absence of a ring in this ceremony, and this requires a bit of an explanation.”

He cleared his throat, then continued,

“You see, a ring symbolizes unity. It is a never ending loop, going around and around for eternity. Steve cannot wear a ring at work, because of the danger it poses should it get caught or fall into the engine or parts of an aircraft. I think his wife had a brilliant idea to over come that.
You see, marriage isn’t about loving each other, liking the other person, or looking for a companion. It’s about survival. You should never think about what you can get out of the relation, rather what you can put into it.”

He opened the box. Inside where a pair of plain leather dog collars. He pick them up for people to see.

“One of our best examples of unwavering loyalty, honesty, integrity, dedication and service is the dog. One will never leave your side, even if you beat it and starve it it will still love you and refuse to leave. An almost perfect example of what Christ taught us to be, You’ll notice there is no D ring on these where a leash would go, this isn’t a relation of master and subordinate, top and bottom, it’s not what these represent. They, like a ring, stand for unwavering loyalty and devotion to the other. As long as that is there, you can overcome anything life throws at you.”

I was handed one of the collars, and Rebecca the other. She bowed her head forward slightly, allowing me to undo the battered strap that encircled her. As it fell away she instantly started to change, and didn’t appear to fight it.
In fact, it looked like she embraced it, rising back up and holding her head high as her dress tore to hang off her like a rag. Her amber eyes gazed into mine, and I stooped down, allowing her to undo the chain I wore.
The moment I was free the change began, and like streching after a long run it felt good, extremely good. I could feel my tail grow down, my legs changing shape, tearing my pants. I ripped of my shirt as it began to constrict my shoulders. Smells and sounds flooded back as my improved nose and ears came online.
Then it was over. Across from me Bark’s golden fur practically glowed in the sunlight, her dress having fallen to the ground. Our relatives in the audience stirred uneasily. A little girl in front I didn’t know cried out,

“Doggy!”

It made a few people chuckle. My mother’s eyeballs look as if they were about to fall out and onto the ground, while my dad had a knowing smile on his face. It makes you wonder what your parents lives were really like before you were born.

In front of me Bark nodded her head slightly forward, and I slipped the new leather around her neck, unsure of what was about to happen. We might end up naked in front of everyone.

I was surprised she let me do it as easily as she did, and when it came my turn I was startled to find I had no objection. This was a symbol of our commitment, the bond that held our newly formed pack together. Not the control I hated. She fastened the buckled, and I waited for the burning and the change.

They never came. We stood there for a moment, then Rebecca took my hand.

“I give you,” said the pastor, “husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

I gave her a lick on her muzzle and a hug.
“Now” she whispered in my ear, “We can go on that trip.”

It was eerily silent walking back down the isl. People whispered as we walked past, and I could feel a sense of fear from them. I didn’t care, I was happy beyond my dreams, and I knew we could work out anything that rose up between us. Years later I still have the same trust and confidence in her, if not more, than I did that day. We’ve had our share of arguments, but no matter how bad it got we were a pack, and giving up and going our own way is something a pack just doesn’t do.