Rhythm
by
John Terry Moore
CHAPTER 18
Angelo and Lance’s forthcoming nuptials had caused a sensation at the university. It had spread like wildfire, thanks to the university newspaper and good old-fashioned gossip. Everyone wanted to know why. Yes, Adam and Patrick marrying later in the year was expected, because they were certainly the marrying kind, although like Angelo and Lance they were ultra young to be considering such a step. But obviously no one expected the two playboys of the university to have anything approaching a successful partnership, let alone take the final step of matrimony!
“It simply demonstrates how short people’s memories are,” said Darcy. He and Jacob were also inseparable; and they were Angelo and Lance’s greatest advocates.
“Everyone remarked how good you guys were together when you first moved in Ange,” he said. “Now they can’t believe their own ears. What you’ve done is simply confirm that this was no bloody flash in the pan, that you’re an item for life, not just another uni affair.”
“Just like us,” he grinned proudly, cuddling Jacob to him. Lance looked at Darcy, his former room-mate, with great affection. It had been Darcy and Jacob playing Cupid that had given them the push in the right direction. And then Darcy and Jacob had themselves had fallen in love, two straight boys with no gay history or inclination who just happened to adore each other. But of course it was Adam and Patrick initially, as sporting heroes and thoroughly nice people who had been the real motivators and attitude changers, adding impetus to a rapidly changing Australian society which now encouraged people to be themselves.
And the university itself was fast becoming like no other around the world.
Student enrolments had increased by nearly twenty per cent as like-minded undergraduates from quite diverse nations began showing real interest in what the university offered. The sporting connection alone through Adam and Patrick’s stellar performances, meant awareness, but rowing in itself was not a high profile or really popular sport. It was their partnership that fascinated potential undergraduates. This growing ‘alternative lifestyle’ market that previously only the West Coast of the United States had catered for, suddenly had a high profile competitor ‘down-under’ in Australia. The Dean was in her element. The University Board of Governors, always a socially conservative group, finally admitted that their Vice-Chancellor had a point and basically gave her what she wanted. Adam and Patrick were a meal ticket in their own right, but now half the Eight were in long term same-sex partnerships as well! And one of those couples was actually getting married on campus! She threw her influence behind the wedding arrangements with great gusto, but also with great respect.
*****
She first heard of the forthcoming nuptials through Gerry Hansen the RESLO and sure enough, the invitation for Viktor and herself arrived two days later. She rang Lance and Angelo and congratulated them, thanked them for choosing the university as the location for the ceremony and immediately offered all the available resources. The following day they met in her office. The Dean was effusive.
“You guys are inspirational,” she said. “Everything you’ve done as a couple has been brilliant. Including being so far ahead academically of everyone else in your Chemistry stream. No one could ask anything more. You represent all that is good in this crazy mixed-up modern world of ours, and as a by-product of your partnership, together with Adam and Patrick, and now of course with Darcy and Jacob, you have all put same-sex couples on the same level as Mother Theresa!” The boys grinned, enjoying the display.
“And of course the publicity the university will gain from your wedding day will be considerable, given the interest from potential future students and their families around the world. You should be aware that media networks will start to show interest at any time now.” Angelo and Lance looked at each other and their faces fell.
“To be honest, madam,” said Lance, “that’s the last complication we need. We just wanted a small ceremony with our family group and mates around us.”
“It could be quite lucrative for you, you know,” smiled the Dean. “You’re not exactly rock star status, but what you’re doing is newsworthy,” she said. “You are the first same-sex student couple to be married here, at the university! It is the perfect pipe opener to Adam and Patrick’s Olympic campaign which everyone is interested in. Just say you relented and allowed the media in, what would you spend the money on?”
Before they could answer, the Dean apologised. “Look,” she said, “I’m getting ahead of myself. As you’re probably aware, we are beginning to tap a lucrative market for future enrolments; the alternative lifestyle market and we desperately need publicity. I’m fully aware that the last thing I would want if I were in your shoes, would be television cameras shoved in my face at the most special moment of my life. But how about if you sit down with a selected print journalist we can trust, who won’t sensationalise your story and we allow them to take some stills, just like a normal wedding day? I think we could get you some useful pocket money for that exercise.” The expression on her guests’ faces hardly changed, which surprised her.
“Can we think about it madam?” Angelo asked.
“Of course,” the Dean purred. “Now,” she said, “what about catering?”
“Oh,” said Angelo, “again, we could only afford the basics, say finger food for about thirty close family and friends.”
Lance nodded in agreement. “The important thing must be the ceremony itself,” he said. “We both want that to be as perfect as possible. The food would be lovely, but if we can only feed thirty of our closest mates, what about the rest? They’ll all come along, but then we can’t offer them anything.”
“And I think most of the university population will be there from all faculties,” replied the Dean. “So I think I have a solution. You’ll probably think of me as a terrible woman, but here goes. If you guys agree to go ahead with the print publicity as we discussed, the university would pay for your day. You pay the celebrant, we pay for the chapel, finger food for around 300 people and some bulk but drinkable wine. Other drinks on the guests.” Lance and Angelo looked at each and laughed.
“Madam, you are such a salesperson,” grinned Lance. “Look, Ange and I need to have a private discussion, could we reconvene in about ten minutes?”
“Of course dears,” she said, “in here at 11.30.”
*****
Margaret Reeve was pleased with the discussion, and wondered idly what she and Viktor would have done with a few thousand dollars on their wedding day. Lance began with a question. “Madam,” he said, “how many people from the university will go to the Olympics now we have our very own sporting heroes, in Adam and Patrick?”
“Oh,” said the Dean, “that’s another exercise altogether. Many will have to pay their own way, because the Governors and the public see that as a junket, if you know what I mean.”
“OK,” said Angelo. “What if we donated the media money towards the airfares for the Eight to go to the Olympics? And the university does its best through public subscription and fundraisers to match that figure. Then hopefully everyone from the Eight could fly over, watch the race and have a few nights’ accommodation in a safe and clean place. So that would be our honeymoon; Adam and Patrick deserve to have the people around them that are close to them so they don’t feel intimidated by the entire process. What do you think, madam?”
“I think you boys are amazing, that’s what I think. You’ve got yourselves a deal sweethearts, and thank you for being so unselfish. Adam, Patrick and you guys from the Eight, are all very close, aren’t you? In all my years in education, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I feel very humbled by the experience.” Her eyes sought out their own. “I’m writing a social thesis based on you all, you know. I don’t think any of you realise how unique you all are, and what an influence you are having on a whole generation.” She got up from her desk and walked around to them, kissing them both on the cheek. “Keep up the good work,” she smiled, “I meant it when I said you are an inspiration. See you in the chapel.”
They had spent the week with Lance’s family; but Grandma had insisted they sleep apart ‘just once’ and allocated them separate bedrooms for the last night. Before dinner and after a few sherries, she relented of course, because her best friend (Angelo Rossetti) told her it wouldn’t make any difference unless they actually locked them in! They had the obligatory buck’s party of course; what Australian wedding would be the same without one! This time there were two bridegrooms and an excuse to create mayhem. Angelo and Lance planned well in advance; the word went out that senior members of both families would be attending, and the party of the year died a sudden death! But there was a big attendance anyway; just out of curiosity. Two handsome male strippers, who left their jockstraps on; but still horny enough to stir the libidos of those who found them attractive. And as Frank Rossetti remarked, after looking around the gathering, females and males, “That was ninety per cent anyway!”
*****
The day dawned cold but clear; one of those beautiful still June days where there was not a cloud in the sky. The small chapel had been abandoned earlier in the week because indicated attendance was well in excess of its capacity. Instead they were now in the Grand Chapel, a much favoured place for ceremonial occasions for anything relating to same-sex partnerships. With a soaring roof supported by stout red gum beams, it still managed to be a formal place, despite a slightly rural feel.
The six boys arrived together. Adam’s Uncle Will had kindly offered his treasured old Mercedes Benz for the guests of honour. The two-hour trip had taken nearly four hours the day before, and Maurie, Will’s partner was not a happy camper.
“And what did I do last night?” he had said to the young ones who always hung on his every word. “Instead of relaxing back at the hotel sipping on a martini, I was gently massaging fucking paintwork, removing bitumen spots and generally doing to the car what I do in domestic duties in a week at home. All for you fucking lot of bitches!” Patrick and Angelo loved him of course. Maurie was a source of entertainment for them both as two gay boys, suddenly thrust back into a ‘straight’ environment because their new partners had never been part of gay society. And Maurie knew how they felt because they were simply following in his footsteps all those years ago when he took on a straight man in the Australian bush and lived to tell the tale! It was Maurie who stated the obvious one weekend when Adam and Patrick brought Lance, Angelo, Darcy and Jacob to visit.
“Well dears,” he said to Patrick and Angelo, “we’re sisters aren’t we? I mean, six of you young ones and the only royal family are you two! I mean we three were born queens and these other poor things have fallen in love with us and made promises of eternal love and pots of money and they’ve never seen the inside of a beat, a dance club or a sauna! And Darcy and Jacob simply don’t care dears! I mean they are amazing, don’t you think? Just can’t get enough of each other! Two boys who were as straight as a die and now they won’t be far away from the altar either!” Maurie gathered Angelo and Patrick to him. “Do you miss the gay life dears?” he said wistfully.
It was Angelo who responded first. “Sometimes,” he said. “It was a period of my life where I just didn’t care; the future looked pretty dreary so I just lived for the moment. But it was exciting! All night dance parties, high on E, even the straight clubs had a room where guys would have their pants around their ankles, getting fucked by anyone who came along. E just made you so indiscriminate; those guys would let anyone fuck ’em no condoms, nothing.”
Patrick agreed. “I did everything too, Ange, except the drugs. And you’re right about anything goes; I had a ball but then I got dragged into the dinner queen circuit, with all its bitchiness and a bloody boyfriend who couldn’t keep his cock in his pants under any circumstances. But, of course along came Adam, and my life couldn’t be better or more different. Yes, I do miss the wit and bitchy conversation; don’t know what I’d do without our Auntie here.”
Maurie grinned evilly. “Oh yes, there’s no shortage of bitchiness with my little niece here,” he said. “I feel quite at home when she opens her mouth to put something in it, even if it’s both her big feet.” Angelo looked on, amused and delighted, knowing there was a line there somewhere.
Patrick’s eyebrows curved upward, making two perfect crescents. “Well Auntie dear, as you have often said, ‘Better to be looked over than to be overlooked’ ----- and one thing’s for certain, you’ve certainly never had time to be a wallflower because you’ve spent so long on your knees.”
“Oh what a fuckin' bitch you are,” Maurie laughed.
“Gotta be good at something dear,” said Patrick, with his arm around Maurie while Angelo looked on laughing.
‘No,’ thought Angelo to himself. ‘I don’t miss the old life. I’ve got the world’s best partner and friend, and if I need a laugh, these guys are only two hours away!
Bring on married life, I’m bloody ready!’
*****
All six boys were dressed in identical charcoal suits with a navy stripe. Lance and Angelo, however wore dark navy-blue shirts with matching bow ties and a white carnation in each button hole. Adam, Patrick, Darcy and Jacob all wore white shirts and conventional ties, and each had a red carnation on their lapel. They arrived in the doorway together and the effect was electrifying. The Trumpet Voluntary rang out clearly, and the celebrant asked all attending to stand.
The visual treat was spectacular. Somehow the difference in height between Angelo and Lance had evaporated; as they quietly made their way down the aisle, broad smiles on their faces, with Darcy and Jacob just behind them; and Adam and Patrick bringing up the rear.
Six young, fresh faces, obviously happy to be there but also very serious about the ceremony about to take place. The celebrant stood in the middle of the stage as the procession wound its way towards him. Darcy and Adam stood on Lance’s side of the stage, and the celebrant then directed Jacob and Patrick to take their positions on Angelo’s side. The final bars of music were playing as the celebrant left his position, walked to the head of the steps, doffed his mortar board and bowed deeply to Angelo and Lance who were waiting patiently!
Dressed in his academic robes with a scarlet stole as Honorary Doctor of Letters, he replaced his hat and motioned them to follow him as he resumed his place, and the guests of honour turned to face each other in front of him. The procedure had clearly been well rehearsed, and its effect wasn’t wasted. This was clearly no parody of a hetero marriage ceremony ----- this promised to be something quite unique, showcasing the two young men joining their lives together seriously and irrevocably into the future. As the celebrant asked everyone to be seated, spontaneous applause rang out for Angelo and Lance; continuing for nearly two minutes! The celebrant was old David Canning, one of the original board members of the International Centre for Human Partnerships.
Under the mortar board he was as bald as a badger, with a white beard, and in his late seventies. He was a little stooped, but there was still a fire in his belly as his strong voice rang out through the Grand Chapel. He welcomed everyone
“Who were attending to watch history take its rightful place at the university. That since 2015 when same-sex couples finally won the right to marry, the landscape of Australian society changed forever.” He stuck to the facts; that same-sex couples matured with amazing speed and were marrying, on average, about eight years younger than hetero couples. That in excess of ninety per cent of same-sex couples under 30 were now were committed parents.
That whilst some Australian families clung to the old traditions, there was increasing evidence that young people were actually returning to more natural values and attitudes, simply placing more emphasis on loving each other, rather than conforming to societal ‘standards’ that had failed them in the past.
“Loving another human being brings with it a responsibility and a consequent maturity that young people such as Lance and Angelo have amply demonstrated.” There was more thunderous applause.
“There will always be the critics that will say they are too young, but the people who have made the decision to go forward into marriage at this time are naturally Lance and Angelo themselves.” (More applause.) “They have already completed the first and most critical part of their journey together, and they not only knew they were ready for the next and most binding step, they knew in their hearts it was the only place they wanted to be.”
The introduction section completed, David Canning presented a reading chosen specifically by Lance and Angelo because it spoke of friendship as its basic theme, and they could ‘see’ themselves in every line.
Then the celebrant introduced, as he said, probably the most important part of the ceremony for Angelo and Lance; ----- the Family Transition Ceremony.
He talked about the importance of family structure as the foundation of society and the ongoing need for families to acknowledge and affirm their same-sex children and their partnerships to, “keep the healing process going and to blow away the last vestiges of homophobia.” David Canning spoke of the joy in both family groups as a direct result of Angelo and Lance’s partnership; how together the boys had healed old family misunderstandings and brought them all together into a viable, cohesive group. He used glasses of wine to demonstrate what he said, “words could not sufficiently explain.”
Adam and Patrick held the tray on which stood three glasses; one representing Angelo and the Rossetti family and another for Lance and the Hasan/Smithson family. David instructed first Lance and then Angelo to each pour their wine into the large glass to signify their individual contribution to the partnership. With a steady hand and a broad smile the old man held the large glass up and roared out, “From two lives and two families, there is now one life and one home. Lance, drink to your future together, Angelo drink to your future together,” as he passed the glass between them. Then it was time for the legals as the celebrant led them through firstly the requirements under law for marriage and then the Vows. David Canning smiled as first Lance and then Angelo promised to continue to love each other for the remainder of their lives together. He was aware that utter silence had descended on the chapel as the boys were speaking.
Then they exchanged rings, with Darcy presenting Lance’s ring and Jacob offered Angelo’s ring. Then the old celebrant, dabbing his eyes with a huge handkerchief, declared them to be partners for life and instructed Lance and Angelo to seal the covenant with a kiss. It wasn’t just the kiss, but certainly the eye contact beforehand; because what passed between Lance and Angelo was so obviously the oldest known evidence of human regard between two people. They lit up the room with that lingering glance and the crowd responded with thunderous applause as they made their way to a small table to sign the official documents. Darcy and Jacob were their witnesses; and as the signing was taking place, Patrick sidled over to Adam.
“I’d love something similar,” he said. Adam nodded, his feelings under control for once.
“Thank heavens we’ve booked the old guy as well,” he said. “I agree, he’s amazing; he’s picked out what makes Lance and Angelo a great couple, and managed to fit it all into a historical context which is so important to same-sex couples. The old bugger has put the homophobes on notice once again, yet his language has actually added to Lance and Angelo’s day! Incidentally, we should see our first draft any time now.” Patrick looked at Adam. He was glowing with excitement, the pair of them had only a few weeks before they left for the Games and their training had reached a critical phase where Michael believed they would have difficulty improving their fitness, endurance and skill much further. So they were at a plateau in their training into which they needed to inject some freshness.
He saw Lance and Angelo’s wedding as a great chance for them to relax and even enjoy their favourite tipple in moderation; ----- a glass or two of red wine! “Come ’ere,” Adam whispered hoarsely to Patrick, taking his hand and drawing him into a dark corner of the stage and kissing him passionately. Just then they were given ‘the sign’ by the celebrant, so they disentangled themselves discreetly and joined Darcy and Jacob at the head of the stairs. They walked slowly down the aisle to the great curved arch of the doorway, each taking a paddle to make up the archway just outside. Symbolically, Adam took Lance’s blade and Patrick had Angelo’s.
Maurie was there and whispered, “Whores with Oars,” to Adam and Patrick, who tried unsuccessfully to keep a straight face. Inside, the celebrant asked for silence, presented the Certificate of Marriage and wished Lance and Angelo well in their life together. As the cheering subsided, fifty members of the University Choral Society swept into the chapel, twenty five from either side of the stage, singing, ‘Every Time I Look at You’ an old melody made popular by the operatic group Il Divo some fifteen years prior, but which had retained its relevance, particularly on this occasion. The guests were on their feet immediately, as the guests of honour made their way towards the doorway, followed by family members, the Dean and Viktor, the Board of Governors and their partners, and Gerry, Wayne and Bronwyn.
Outside the crowd had actually built up further as those who couldn’t get into the Grand Chapel had gathered outside. The Dean was ecstatic; there was obvious blanket approval from the student body and that was a great story for the press. Outside, it was public property and therefore, not strictly part of the university grounds. There were television cameras filming Lance and Angelo but obviously looking for the looking for ‘The Olympic Couple,’ and they weren’t disappointed. They found Adam and Patrick, along with the other members of the Eight, but they politely but firmly declined interviews. The reception wasn’t lavish, but it was tasteful. There was beautiful finger food, and the drinks flowed liberally. The Dean didn’t need drunken behaviour to spoil the day, so she drove the waiting and kitchen staff like something possessed to serve the food quickly, so the effects of the alcohol were limited somewhat. It worked. Everyone stayed sober and well behaved, and the function drew to its natural conclusion, because Lance and Angelo had prearranged their departure time with the Dean! The old red Mercedes Benz drew away; rice was being thrown everywhere, and the Dean breathed a sigh of relief. She reached into her hand bag and fortified herself with a nip of Scotch; far better quality than the half-glass of Chateau cardboard she had left inside!