Dance of the Betrothed
The bus left at 4pm for dinner at the village and a tribal celebration. Everybody was excited and curious.
Paul was driving again and had found out that apart from Donna and Eric that Jackie and Hyde and Brooke and Kelso were also engaged. He is talking about the tribal marriage customs and how that nights celebrations sealed the betrothed together before their wedding.
In the middle of the bus Red was looking at a huge antelope buck and was itching for his rifle, as it was at least as big as the stag he had shot on his last hunting trip with Eric.
Eric said they were on a game reserve and that no hunting was allowed.
At the back of the bus the girls were all sitting together chattering and looking at the sights outside the bus including at the lake a small herd of elephants bathing.
Donna was pointing out some hyenas that were feeding on an n antelope carcass saying that they had better table manners than some of the boys back in the high school.
Brooke says I'm OK with you saying Kelso or should I say tatternuts?"
As the bus approached the village they could see some tents set up with a huge antelope turning on a spit over an even bigger barbeque pit.
"I thought you said no hunting."
"The tribe is allowed to hunt on occasions like this but only with traditional weapons such as that six foot spear that propped up on the fence."
The bus stopped outside the tents and Paul introduced them to the safari staff that would be preparing the dinner. They were already opening bottles of Tuskers beer for everybody.
Dinner was served as a buffet and was enjoyed by everyone.
As dinner was finishing Donna, Jackie, Laurie and, after Betsy was handed over to Kitty, Brooke together with the other female students getting married soon were led off talking to some of the girls while Eric, Hyde, Kelso and Fez together with Brian and the other students getting married soon were led off by some of Eric's pupils to see something that they would want to see.
The girls were led into a large building where all the girls in the village were preparing for the dance donning red colored, with some in blue, sarong style dresses that wound twice around them then tucked in over their breasts. They were also applying red ochre to their hair.
The girls all gathered round Donna, Jackie, Brooke and Laurie saying that they should also change into the traditional blue dresses of the betrothed, as they were all betrothed. After some discussion between themselves and the Abbess who had known what was coming they decided to co-operate and change though when they discovered that they would be naked under their dresses no one was waving their arms around. Red ochre was being applied to all the girls' hair except Donnas' hair, which was already red.
Eric and his friends were similarly naked and dressed in blue with red ochre in their hair after a similar discussion with the Dean and Pastor Dave who had been told by the Dean what was coming.
They were practicing the dance steps to the music already beating outside. (Think Ginger Baker's Lagos Sessions and you'll get some idea of the driving beat from the drums).
All of a sudden the doors opened and everybody was dancing their way out to the beat of the drums into a large circle light by large flaming torches.
"Eric tell someone to keep an eye on Kelso." says Hyde. But Pastor Dave was ahead of them and there were two hearty boys that Eric recognized from his kung fu classes as advanced students keeping time with Kelso' every step.
"He's covered Hyde."
When the Boys had formed a complete circle and kept going clockwise the girls appeared and as planned every betrothed pair met as the girl passed through to form a complete circle on the inside then whenever they were opposite each other they would change direction as the beat of the drums speeded up till suddenly when Eric was opposite Eric the girl by Donnas' side took hold of her hand while the girl on the opposite side grabbed Eric's hand and pulled him into the inner circle beside Donna while the remaining men closed ranks and changed direction.
At the end of this circle the inner circle began to spiral towards the centre of the circle breaking into smaller circles with a blue robed pair in the centre of each circle while the outer circle continued on its way. Eric noticed that his and Donnas' circled contained only pupils from classes he taught and he was about to say something to Donna when one girl danced into the centre of the circle and pulled off their robes so that both were naked to each other but the spinning circle of girls slowly turned outwards and Donna noticed that the outer circle had turned to face outwards as well. The girl with their robes said dance in a circle around each other and change direction when we do.
"Aren't you glad you learned to dance otherwise this could have been embarrassing." said a vividly blushing Donna.
Eric who could see glimpses of pink skin correctly assumed that the same thing had happened to all the other engaged couples. "Wow they were right I seeing something I like to see' a beautiful naked dancing Donna" and with that thought blood starting rushing and Eric started blushing as well.
Two of the now giggling girls broke off to help them put their robes on again congratulating Eric on the shapeliness of Donna and telling Donna that Eric's manliness would give her great joy and many children.
The dance broke up gradually with all the engaged couples returning to their family and friends but told to sit together while the tribal chief gave a speech on the comeliness of all the betrothed couples. The Dean interpreted the speech and told them that under tribal law they were now married but that he would see them in church for the final ceremonies.
The dancing continued on into the night with much beer being drunk.
Finally everybody was dressed and back aboard the bus where Donna and Eric arranged to meet with their parents for morning coffee.
The next morning Eric met Donna for their morning run and as they talked they finally decided what to do about the Deans offer.
After breakfast they met up with their friends to show them the already built facilities and models of the remaining buildings being built by Asean.
At 10.30 they met their parents in the students lounge and found a table facing out across the lake where they had arranged for coffee to be served.
"What do you think of the college and its people?" said Donna.
Red answered, "that they certainly knew how to throw a party and the beer was good."
Erik started to talk about the college and its aims before saying" The Dean has offered us full scholarships here as part of the expansion into a fully accredited college issuing degrees recognized worldwide under department heads from some of the most famous university and colleges."
Donna took over smoothly saying, "we have decided to accept his offer and stay here for at least two years.
Erik then said "the new term starts two weeks after we get married so we're not going to be able get home to till the end of the college year."
Donna went on" we were going to phone you this evening to tell you but you surprised us by flying in for our wedding."
Kitty and Bob started crying because their babies were leaving the nest to strike out on their own.
Red and Midge calmed the respective spouses.
Midge asked what would happen if Donna got pregnant.
Donna told them about the colleges arrangements for larger accommodation and the provision of homehelp and a nanny to allow Donna to continue her studies while the maternity unit at the hospital was one of the most modern and best in Africa. The nuns and doctors and nurses from Taiwan staffed it.
Pastor Dave came in with WB and Angela to take Red, Kitty, Midge and Bob together with everyone else on a short safari through the nature reserve.
"I don't know how to thank WB for arranging that Rolling Stones jet. But how about Bob paying the costs of it."
"Now do you believe me that Bobs comfortably rich. He stayed in Point Place because of you and me being together and because of Red and Kitty being such good friends. Now lets get some lunch and get back to preparations for your last lesson of the year tomorrow."
After dinner they were all gathered around a table drinking beer when Kelso asked what time the wedding rehearsal was and everyone was suddenly silent remembering the last time they went to one of these for Donna and Eric.
"Donna leaned over and kissed Eric fully and then whispered in his ear. "Don't worry I trust you but I bet you twenty dollars that these three idiots will get you to the cathedral early for the wedding."
Eric said, "Your on and loudly said don't worry this time I'm going to be there."
Kitty laughs and everyone relaxes.