Aunt Edna - long version

The young bride and groom radiated love and enthusiasm as they posed for pictures while cutting the cake. The clinking of forks on glasses signaled it was time to kiss. They embraced passionately, trying not to smear wedding cake on each other.

“Hold that pose.” Shouted Uncle Albert as he took a series of pictures with his digital camera. “Great shots.”

“Hey, make sure you use the Kodak’s too.” Simon, the groom, kept reminding guests to use the disposable cameras set on the tables. They would collect them after the reception and pick some of the best pictures for their album.

Simon kept the smile pasted on his face as he whispered to his bride, Debbie, “There’s Aunt Edna. I’m sure she is going to want to give us some goofy gift from her travels.”

“That sounds nice.” Debbie replied. “Where does she travel?”

“She’s nuts, actually. She always tells of travelling to other times. I think she spends too much time in her house watching old movies. I try to avoid her. ” Simon relayed some of Aunt Edna’s fantasies to his new bride. “She used to tell me how she travelled to see Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, and how she went to see my mom’s funeral. Gosh, mom is still alive and kicking, she’s only fifty-five. And my brother’s graduation, which won’t happen for another four years. I don’t want to hear anymore of Aunt Edna’s nonsense. We can talk about this later.” He concluded. “Much later. We have some partying to do.”

“Hello Simon.” Aunt Edna approached the young couple. She held one of the disposable Kodak cameras in her hand. “Congratulations you two. I’ve brought you a wedding gift.”

“How thoughtful, Auntie. This is my new wife, Debbie. Debbie, Aunt Edna.” Simon feigned politeness.

“How do you like it?” Edna presented them with a framed 8” by 11” color photograph of the newlyweds cutting the cake minutes ago.

“It’s wonderful” Debbie gazed in amazement at the fresh portrait. “How did you get this printed and framed so quickly? This only happened five minutes ago.”

“Oh, I had this done years ago. I was just waiting for the proper time to give it to you.” Aunt Edna replied.

“Thank you , Auntie. We will treasure it and always think of you when we look at it.” Simon gave Auntie the brush off and pulled Debbie away to talk with the other guests.

…

“See, I told you she was nuts.” Simon told Debbie as they poured over the mounds of snapshots taken by the guests at the wedding. There must be five hundred pictures to choose from.

“But I don’t understand how she got that picture done so fast.” Debbie replied.

“Never mind, Debbie, forget it. Look, here is one of your cousin catching the bouquet. I guess she’s next.”

“Oh, and here is your mom and dad dancing. Let’s use that one. And your little brother – he looks drunk.”

“Who’s this? Is this a relative of yours? He looks a lot like you, only older.” Debbie quizzed Simon.

“I don’t know who it is. The lady looks like an older version of you. I thought it was your relative.” Simon responded as he furrowed his brow and squinted at the photo.

“Look at the background. This picture wasn’t even taken at the wedding. It’s out in a park, near a river. And who are the kids with them.”

The photograph was of a middle aged couple with two children, a boy and a girl about ten to twelve years old.

“Debbie,” Simon’s voice was somber. “That’s you and me. This picture came from Aunt Edna’s camera.”

(609 words)