Day 25

If you’ve been following me this month, you might have noticed I’ve been somewhat up and down in mood, at least if my mood is reflected by my writing. So tonight, let’s see if you can guess which one I am today. Here is my new women’s story: The Law.

THE LAW

 Autumn compared the ads in the paper with the ones on the screen; she decided to go with the paper. At least they can spell, she grumbled. She circled three that looked promising, but most of the men were too old, too young, or just…boring. Two of them had email addresses listed; she would start with those. She opened her email, typed messages, and hit send. She turned off the computer and joined her family for dinner.

Mom was in full voice tonight. She was giving her opinion on everything…the weather, the president, the women at the gym, the freshness of the fish at the store…like always, she had plenty to say. Autumn was glad. She preferred Mom give her opinion on external things, things none of them could control, rather than turning her tongue on her daughter.

Dinner was peaceful, at least by Autumn’s standards. It was loud, and Dad showed signs that the noise was giving him a headache, but everyone ignored Autumn. That was how she preferred it, especially lately. Things had been…well, about as weird as they could get, and that was saying something in this family. Ever since Mom got the idea she needed to be married, and started interviewing her friend’s sons for a suitable candidate. Autumn had no desire to get married, but once Mom got started, it was impossible to ignore her. And she knew if Mom wanted her married, she would end up married, no matter how much she tried to avoid it.

It would be better if Mom let her have some say in the man, but she stayed in charge, running through her lists with the determination of a monarch trying to set up a diplomatic union. Once she found the right young man, she announced, Dad would check him out. After all, it was officially Dad who would be the one to choose her husband.

Autumn lay on her bed with her hands behind her head. How did they get to this point? When she was born…only 20 years ago…women got to pick their own husbands. Some women didn’t get married at all. Mom picked her own husband…and Dad was pretty good to her, even though he ignored her most of the time. It was the easiest way to deal with Mom. But then, some jerk in Congress got the idea that marriage wasn’t valued enough, that too many women were opting out, and introduced a bill requiring women to marry if their parents said so. No one thought it would pass. When it did pass, no one thought the president would sign it.

She turned her back to the room and traced the patterns on the wallpaper with her fingers. If one of those personal ads came through, if she liked any of them, maybe she could convince Mom…or at least Dad…to let her have her choice. They sounded…okay…not the stuff dreams are made of, but her dreams weren’t made of men at all. She preferred reading, writing, and working to men. Men were trouble. They got in the way when women wanted to do things. She didn’t want one. Mom freaked out when Autumn told her that.

“You mean you want a woman?” Mom shrieked.

“No. I want no one. I want to live my life without someone else. But if I did like women, so what?”

“So what? So what?” Mom slapped her and stomped off. She didn’t bring the subject up again, perhaps afraid Autumn would change her mind and decide she did want a woman.

A ping told her she had an email. She checked; it was from one of the men. Adam. That’s how he signed the email, anyway. She read the message; it was banal, but not awful. She could meet him. She replied, and they set up a time and place.

Footsteps told her Mom was climbing the stairs. She passed Autumn’s room. There would be no altercation tonight. Mom was tired from her long day of opinionating and would be retiring early. Autumn relaxed and fell asleep.

Adam was waiting at the café when she arrived. He was older than she expected; he must be close to 20 years older than Autumn. She looked him over before she approached. He was okay. Tall, well built, obviously someone who worked out. He was tanned, and he dyed his hair. Oh, well, she could give it a try. She slipped into the seat opposite. “Hi. I’m Autumn.”

“Autumn? I’m Adam.” He held out his hand as he examined her face. “I’m surprised you’re so…young. I didn’t think women your age needed personal ads.”

“I just…I thought I’d give it a try.” Autumn was uncomfortable. What was she doing? She had no idea who this guy was, or even if his name was really Adam. He could be anybody.

Adam turned out to be a fun lunch partner. He had a lot of amusing stories of his family, his work, and his dog. He had a vocabulary that matched Autumn’s, and she found herself relaxing in his company. She could like him…but could she marry him just to avoid marrying that awful brat Mom trotted out for Dad’s inspection? So far Dad hadn’t given his approval, so Autumn was still free.

Before lunch was over, Autumn spilled the story of why she was answering a personal ad. It turned out Adam hated that law as much as she did. “I was a feminist…or maybe that’s a feminist ally…” he told her. “I guess I still am, but feminism is sort of dead now, isn’t it? Apathy…and backlash…and that damn law.” They made a date for the next evening.

Mom was waiting for her at home. She pulled her into the living room and sat her on the sofa. “I have news for you.” Mom was breathless with excitement. “You’re engaged.”

“No I’m not.” Autumn crossed her arms across her chest. “I didn’t say yes to anyone.”

“Smarty pants tonight, are you? Your father approved the match, and you’ll be getting married in two weeks. If I can get a wedding put together that fast.” Mom started to leave, probably to work on wedding plans, but turned back. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. His name is Justin. He’ll be here for dinner tonight.”

Justin showed up a half an hour late for dinner. Mom was fuming, but when he arrived she put on her best smile and introduced him around. She sat him at the head of the table in Dad’s chair. Dad scooted over to an empty chair without protest. Justin sat down and waited; he watched Autumn.

“Well?” Mom looked at her.

“What?”

“Go get Justin’s dinner. It’s on the stove.”

“What? No!” Autumn stayed in her chair. She didn’t like the look of the young man. He had a look that coupled arrogance with boredom, and he looked at her like he was examining an object he was thinking about buying.

“Don’t you talk that way, young woman. He’ll think you’re badly brought up. You wouldn’t want him to think that, would you?” Mom had that threatening tone in her voice.

Autumn acquiesced. She didn’t need the scene with Mom after he left, so she gave in to save her sanity. She handed Justin his plate and sat as far away from him as she could, as far as Mom would let her. He smirked at her, but didn’t speak. He didn’t say a word all evening. She started to ask him if he could talk, but a look at Mom convinced her it would be a bad idea. She didn’t speak either, but no one noticed. Autumn rarely spoke at dinner. Between Mom and her two brothers, there was always enough noise.

It was a relief to have dinner with Adam the next night. He greeted her as a friend, and didn’t expect her to wait on him. He talked to her as though she could understand what he said, which she could, and he didn’t have...that…look when he looked at her. Autumn told him about Justin; she still didn’t know if the man could speak, since he never said a word, just…looked…at her.

“If I can help…” Adam said.

“Maybe.” Autumn didn’t want to commit to anything; it was early in their relationship. But it better get later soon, or she would end up married in two weeks to a man she couldn’t stand.

Two weeks flew by. Autumn ignored Mom and the wedding plans; she had no intention of marrying Justin. Every time he visited was uncomfortable. She focused on Dad; she could tell he didn’t like him, and maybe he would call it off before it was too late. She continued to see Adam, and they developed a very good friendship. She hadn’t expected much from a personal ad, but this actually worked. A week after they met, he told her to tell her mother she had met a man who wanted to marry her. “It doesn’t have to be anything more or less than what you want”, he said. “We could be the best of friends, and partners.”

Autumn approached Dad instead of Mom. She didn’t think she could face Mom. Dad was always more approachable. She told him she didn’t want to marry Justin, and there was someone else she wanted to marry. He stared at her without speaking for about a minute. Then he said he would talk to her mother. It would be up to her.

“Wait. I thought…it’s supposed to be your right.” Autumn knew he rarely opposed Mom, but this would be a good time.

“Yes, of course. And I will assert that right…as long as your mother is happy.” Dad went back to his paper.

Mom was not happy. Mom could not be appeased when she found Autumn was seeing someone she had not met and vetted. “He’s awfully old”, she said when Autumn told her about him. “And what did you say he does?”

“He’s a professor. At the college. He teaches Russian literature.”

“A Commie?” Mom shrieked.

“Not a Commie.” Autumn sighed. They’d had this exact same conversation when she was reading Tolstoy. “Just…Russian literature. Lots of it from the pre-Communist period. Some of it from the post-Communist period. Just Russian, not Communist.”

“I will not have you marrying a fellow traveler.” Mom sniffed and closed the subject. Autumn reopened it.

“I don’t want to marry Justin. Why does it matter to you, if I’m happy? I’ll be married, like you want.”

“You went behind my back and met someone.”

“I can’t talk to you.” Autumn tried to close the conversation. “What if I don’t show up to the wedding?”

“I’ll drag you there. You will show up.”

The battle dragged on for the final week, even as Mom prepared the wedding. An attorney came to speak to them; Mom wanted him to explain to Autumn that the new law meant she only had the freedom to choose someone her parents approved of. The attorney kept saying someone her father approved of, causing Mom to get that tight-lipped smile she had when she was trying not to blow her top. It didn’t matter, though, since Dad was going to go along with Mom no matter what.

The wedding happened as planned; Autumn stood stiff as a board, handcuffs on her wrists, a testament to her attempt to run away. The police found her and brought her back. Now she was being married to a man she disliked, maybe even hated. He didn’t look at her as he mumbled his vows; she didn’t look at him, and turned her head away when he tried to kiss her. It was done. She was stuck.

Adam kept in contact with her, checking on her regularly. He had grown fond of her, and hated to see her stuck in the awful marriage. One day, three months after the wedding, he called and there was no answer. He went by the house. He knocked on the window, but no one answered. He forced the door and found Autumn, barely in time to rush her to the hospital. Blood covered her from the wounds in her wrists; bruises covered the rest of her from the beatings Justin had given her. Her husband didn’t like her cooking, didn’t like it when she cleaned the house and picked up his things, and didn’t like the way she smelled. So he beat her.

Mom stormed into the room; Adam blocked the bed. “You’re not coming near her”, he said. “I’ve got someone coming, and they will remove you.”

“Who are you?” Mom stared at this man, strong and resolute. She admired him. He was good looking, and he looked like he was a real man. Not like that damned Justin, who turned out to be juvenile and worthless.

“I’m Adam. I wanted to marry your daughter. Now she is nearly dead because you made her marry that…that…” Adam stopped. He wasn’t in the habit of calling names. “Did you read the news?” He handed Mom the paper. The front page story reported that the Supreme Court had overthrown the marriage law. Women were once again free to marry…and divorce…as they pleased.

Autumn recovered, but it was a long time before she regained her former sparkle. Mom visited, but Autumn wouldn’t speak to her. Adam called on her every day, and made sure she had everything she needed…including a divorce attorney. He called the police on Justin, but nothing happened. “Just a dispute between a man and his wife”, the judge said and dismissed the charges.

As soon as Autumn was released, Adam was there to take her home…not to her mother’s house, but to a studio apartment he found for her. It was over. She was her own woman. “You don’t have to marry me”, he said. “That promise was…for your convenience. I think we’d be better as friends.”

Autumn agreed. She moved into her new home and her new life. She found a job, and enrolled in a Russian literature class at the college. Her divorce was granted, and she decided she would never marry again. She enjoyed her freedom. And every morning, she lit a candle to the Supreme Court and the new, more liberal judges.