Chapter 3

After sleeping through the night, and after a breakfast of oatmeal, Davud and Mina went grocery shopping. Then, it was home to put away the groceries and make a nice lunch. Their first night home was a salad, rib eye steaks on the BBQ and baked potatoes. Davud put a bib on Mina, cut the salad and steak into small pieces and gave her a spoon to eat the baked potato he’d cut up and put in a bowl. She did surprisingly well without too much of a mess, most of it on the fingers of her left hand that she had in the bowl to find it and check the food level.

The next morning, they went to the courthouse and applied for a marriage license. Davud and Sarah were surprised to learn that minors 15-years-old may obtain a marriage license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child, and with parental consent. There is a 48-hour waiting period, so they made an appointment to meet with the judge to be married three days hence at 10 am. He sent Mr. Weinberg an update:

Obtained marriage license. Forty-eight hour waiting period. Appointment to get married in two days by judge at 10am.

Davud Azizi

Davud said to Sarah as they were leaving the courthouse,” I’d like to get her a nice wedding dress, but I doubt there’s enough time. Besides, how do you buy a wedding dress for a girl who looks ten?”

“What’s that religious ceremony where little girls dress up in white gowns with veils?”

“I don’t know, but I think what you are talking about is a Catholic thing.”

“Well, when we get home, call a church and see. Maybe they would know.”

What are we doing? I think there is something going to happen soon, but I don’t know what. It must be important because we had to go there today, first thing...

When they arrived home, Davud called St. Francis of Assisi Church and spoke to a priest. He informed Davud that he was referring to a child’s first holy communion. Little girls wore white gowns as a symbol of marrying Jesus. Davud thanked the priest for the information. He went online and found a site called Special Apparel for Children. They had several pages of communion dresses that actually looked like wedding gowns. The sizing page asked for the measurements of the child’s chest, waist, and the length from the top of the shoulder to the ankle. According to their sizing chart, Mina would wear a girl’s size 14.

He and Sarah picked out a dress, a luxurious corded lace half sleeve full length A-line dress. The bodice had a sheer bateau neckline and was decorated with a cording trim on waist. The back of the bodice had a sheer design with a lace waterfall. The skirt had 3 layers of illusion and lined with soft satin. Sarah picked out a comb veil with flowers, pearls, and crystal. They had the dress and veil overnighted. Total cost: $218.00. Davud opted for the black suit and red tie.

Sarah was sitting at the breakfast bar as Davud made everyone sandwiches. She looked at Mina staring in Davud’s direction. She was always aware of where he was and followed him as if she could see him. She looked at her son and snickered. Daud looked up and asked “What? What’s so funny?”

She said, “I can just imagine the stares and comments you’re gonna get when you walk into and out of that courthouse with a little girl who looks about 10 in a wedding dress. I think you’d better be prepared for the worst. You pervert.”

This time, she laughed.

“Wise ass,” He replied.

Davud put some potato chips on Mina’s plate and set it before her. She felt around, felt the plate and the sandwich but when she felt the chips, she was puzzled. She picked one up and took a tiny nibble off the corner of the chip. She smiled and ate them all before touching the sandwich. Sarah remarked, “See? Just like a little child.” And laughed.

Davud kept his mouth shut and shook his head thinking She’s probably right.

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The morning of the wedding, everyone was up at 6:30. Davud fixed oatmeal, eggs, and toast. Daud gave Mina a bath and washed and dried her hair. He turned her over to his mom while he showered and shaved. Because Mina was fair skinned with strawberry blonde hair, Sarah put a little blue eye shadow on her, a medium pink lipstick, and some lip gloss.

Mina’s mind was whirling a mile a minute. What is going on? This must be a special day for me. He has been kissing me a lot this morning. By the length and feel of this dress, it must be very expensive for a special occasion. And the one like me put stuff on my eyes and mouth. Is my protector going to claim me as his today? I never want to see my papa ever again! I don’t know what is going on, but for some strange reason, I am not afraid...

Sarah wore a pink business suit with a skirt and jacket with a white blouse. Davud had on his black suit as they readied to leave and walked out the door at 9:15. By the time they got to the legal district in Towson and found a place to park, it was 9:40. Sarah was right, there were plenty of stares and murmurs as they walked into the courthouse. Since weddings must be performed during court hours, but not interfering with court business, Davud and Mina were married in a family court courtroom with people looking on.

When they were called up, the Master, who was authorized to hear trials and perform the duties of a presiding judge. His Honor Harold Renneck performed the ceremony. He had read the clerk’s comments about the bride being blind and unable to hear or speak.

Right before the ceremony, Davud took Mina’s ring off her finger. Davud and Mina were called up and Davud handed the judge the marriage license. The ceremony began with the introduction.by his Honor: “Ladies and gentlemen, we gathered here will witness the marriage of Davud Azizi and Mina Assad-Azizi. They have previously had a legal ceremony in Tehran, Iran. They are here today to legalize their marriage in the United States. Ms. Assad, if blind, cannot speak or hear, but she is loved and cared for by her husband. Let us begin.

“Davud Azizi, do you take Mina Assad-Azizi as your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor and cherish, through sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, in hardship and joy ‘til death do you part?”

“I do.”

Judge Renneck asked, “Can you get her to make some sort of acknowledgement of her vows?”

“Yes, your Honor, I think so.”

He nodded and proceeded. “Mina Assad-Azizi, do you take Davud Azizi as your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor and cherish, through sickness and health, for richer or poorer, in hardship and joy ‘til death do you part?”

Davud brushed the side of her face with the back of his hand, and she smiled and made a loud, happy peep. The crowd clapped.

The judge nodded and Davud took her ring and placed it on her ring finger and slipped it on and said, “With this ring I thee wed.”

He took his ring and placed it on the tip of his ring finger and put her hand on the ring. I guess I slid the ring on like he did mine. She slid the ring on and looked at him for approval and he again stoked her cheek. She smiled and stoked his cheek in return.

The judge said, “By the power vested in me by the state of Maryland, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

He bent and kissed her, and she put her arms around his neck and kissed him fully.

People clapped as they broke the kiss and turned to leave the courtroom. Leaving the courthouse was another matter. Several people remarked calling him a letch and a pervert. “You should be ashamed of yourself for making a little girl like that pregnant.”

Sarah just snickered and said under her breath, “Told you so.”

When they got home, Davud emailed Mr. Weinstein:

Got married this morning at 10am. Need to wait six days to get a certified copy of my marriage license to mail it to you.

Davud Azizi

That evening, they went out to dinner at the Steak and Ale where they had a salad, French onion soup and a prime rib steak.

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After leaving the courthouse, all afternoon and evening, Mina replayed the events of the morning back in her head...

Today, something happened that is special, I do not know how I know, but I know. I wore special clothes, and the one like me put something on my eyes and lips and cheeks. He touched me a lot at this place, and he took my ring off and put it back on and had me put a ring on his finger. We are somehow joined together now. I belong to him. I am now his and I think that by me putting the ring on his finger, the ring on his finger means he belongs to me. He is mine, my protector and no one else’s. I cannot explain it, but I felt such love for him. I still feel it. It doesn’t subside...

All afternoon, Mina was very affectionate, clinging to Davud’s arm when they were out. When they arrived home after the wedding, Davud helped her undress and he put the gown in a garment bag and hung it up while Mina put on the clothes he’d laid out for her. Davud would lay her clothes out face down so that she would pick them up and put them on as they laid, that way, they were on correctly.

As they sat at the breakfast bar, Davud was fixing her plate, Sarah commented. “She knows, Davud.”

“She knows what, Mom?”

“She knows something has changed between you two. Look at her. She has a look of peace and deep affection for you. It’s as plain as the nose on your face. She’s in love with you. I mean really in love with you.”

“Of course, Mom. I show her my love every day.”

“No, this is different. She knows you two are now joined together somehow. I can sense it just by looking at her eyes. Maybe she can’t visually see, but she’s looking at you with the eyes of her heart. I can’t explain it any better than that.”

While Sarah and Davud watched TV later that evening, Mina was, at 4’ 10”, small enough to sit comfortably on his lap on the sofa with her head on his shoulder as he watched TV. She just wanted to snuggle and feel the closeness of being cuddled, loved and safe.

That night, their bedroom routine didn’t change. They undressed and Mina laid her clothes in a chair in the corner of the room. She was the first to use the bathroom, go pee and brush her teeth. She would then get in bed and wait for Davud to finish in the bathroom and then Davud would get into bed next to her, turn out the light, snuggle, and then they would go to sleep.