HAPPY ENDING...SHORT STORY

Posted--a day late!--in dVerse

ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL

This is one of a thousand fond memories

About five years ago I was playing (violin) a gig on the top floor of a newly-constructed-but-not-quite-finished luxury condominium.  Prospective wedding clients of mine--she and her fiance--drove there to audition me on penthouse balcony overlooking miles of sandy beach and sea.

I passed the test!  They hired me on the spot, and paid me half the fee in advance, to play the music for their wedding.  Two months later, the to-be bride called me.  Through tears she said the not-to-be groom had jilted her.   She asked if I'd return her deposit. I usually do not return deposit money, but she melted my heart--not a difficult task--grin!--and I sent her the check.

Two years later she asked me to play for her "for sure" wedding (another groom!) to be celebrated on the beach.  She recalled that I had returned her money.  I told her my fee had risen...by one dollar--she laughed.  As we were talking, I jokingly mentioned that she probably "...won't remember what I look like, but I'll be the fellow wearing a tuxedo, carrying a violin."

Her instant response, "Well, you won't remember me either, but I'll be the girl with the sweaty armpits!"

(She became a most happy-and-pretty bride on the beach at Naples' Lowdermilk Park that day, May 14, 2005...and nobody realized she was wet under her arms, except the violin player, me--steveroni)

<a certified reworked re-post--Steve E>