After the wedding reception of Clay and Bloberta Puppington and after Clay had been pulled over by the police and arrested for driving drunk, Bloberta found herself inconsolable, not that people were attempting to comfort her at all. Officer Papermouth drove Bloberta to her parent's home. Bloberta fumbled her keys from her purse and inserted her key in the door's lock...Strangely though the key would not go in correctly...
Bloberta thought to herself for a moment consulting her mind if indeed this was the right address she had the officer drive to all the houses in Moralton followed very similar designs. She hadn't been on the ball lately, she rubbed her forehead closing her eyes lost in thought and sadness. Unknown to her, opened the curtain peering out to observe who was at her door.
Inside the house Modella, Bloberta's oldest sister asked her mother.
"Who is it, mother?"
Mrs. Hymentact turned around to Modella
"I do believe it was the wind, dear."
But just then a soft knock was heard at the door.
"I don't think the wind can make that sound, Mother."
Mrs. Hymentact glared at Modella then at the door sighing, walked to the door and opened it. There she was...Bloberta, tears of black makeup running down her cheek, in her wedding dress, looking stunningly crazy for a woman who'd just been married.
"Mrs. Clay Puppington, to what do I owe the honor of your visit at the Hymentact residence?"
"Mom...I don't have anywhere to go tonight. "
Mrs. Hymentact raised her eyebrow and Modella had started to walk to the door to see what was going on.
"Does your husband not even have a house? You sure know how to pick them, Mrs. Puppington."
Bloberta having just about enough of being downtrodden especially in the face of her mother shot her head up wiping away her tears in a burst of anger.
"My name is Bloberta. My husband is busy at the moment and I can't stay at his place because of that right now! So I came here to my family's to stay the night!"
Bloberta invited herself in in a huff but before she could walk another step, Mrs. Hymentact placed her leg in front of Bloberta causing her to trip over face first into the floor. Modella took a step back in shock as Mrs. Hymentact glared even harder down at Bloberta.
"If you act this unladylike in the face of your husband, you may be stuck out on the street before he can even file for a divorce."
Bloberta barely hearing what her mother was saying gritted her teeth, and clenched her fists, she looked at the beautiful lovely diamond on her ring, her face reflected. Her face was red and black as her hair was falling out of place into her eyes. She truly believed she looked the most gorgeous she ever had just today and now she thought the exact opposite. Bloberta attempted to gain her composure back and slowly got to her knees.
"I am asking just this one night...Please help me. You are my family, you are supposed to help me."
Mrs. Hymentact sighed again and softened her face, it was time to cast this black sheep out of the flock, she'd hoped from this marriage she wouldn't have to do it so brazenly but Bloberta was forcing her hand.
"I took you in my household as one of my own allowing you to grow up. That's all I agreed to with your father. You are not my family, you never were."
Bloberta widened her eyes as Modella let out a gasp. Bloberta and Modella looked at each other with their mouths agape. Modella stood over her look of shock turned to a look of confusion trying to connect dots in her head. Bloberta thought she had quite a day already with the wedding, the reception, watching her new husband be arrested and the terrible ride home...but now it was becoming truly soul shattering. Bloberta turned her head to Mrs. Hymentact now.
"You mean...You aren't my mom?"
"I thought I made that quite clear, Mrs. Puppington. "
"Then who is my mom?"
"I hardly think that matters seeing as she was quicker to give you up. I let your fool of a father get away with that infidelity because I let Jesus help me turn the other cheek. But I will never forget what he did to MY family, MY household. You were nothing but a homewrecker, but out of the kindness in my heart I let you grow here. As I just told you that's all I agreed to. You are on your own now. Get out of my house and stay out of MY family's life."
Bloberta's tears had run dry she just stood there in a catatonic shock.
"Mother."
Modella chimed in softly and calmly. Mrs. Hymentact snapped her head to her true daughter.
"If I may say so myself...You and Father raised Bloberta as MY sister...She may not be yours, Mother. But in my opinion she is apart of MY family."
Bloberta for the first time in a long time felt love coming from Modella. In their earlier years they were more sisterly but as age came, the two drifted apart into their own paths in life, thereby severing that connection for some time...But here Modella was, expressing care towards her.
"Modella! What has gotten into you today?!"
"I...I mean she's only asking to stay the night, and besides she hasn't even cleaned her room out to move her stuff to her husbands...I think she should stay the night to pack...I mean that makes sense right...?"
Mrs. Hymentact frowned and thought about it for a moment...Modella was right.
"You can stay the night, I expect your room spotless by tomorrow morning, you can pick up your things with your husband later."
Bloberta fully stood up and walked away from them to her room.
The night had been one of the worst Bloberta ever had...But Clay would be out of jail tomorrow in the morning and perhaps then they could begin their marriage a little more...correctly. Bloberta was still processing the truth that her "Mother" told her. She did not want to talk to her father about this, something told her that bringing it up would only cause more trouble in his future. She didn't want to be a home wrecker anymore. She loved her father and only wanted the best for him...So this was for the best.
At the very least she had this beautiful diamond ring on her finger...Despite his awful behavior today he managed to get her this ring at the drop of a hat. That was honorable of him...At the very least.
Her room was filthy she thought to herself, her attention from her horrible day so far quickly laser focused on the incredible mess she managed to live in for so long.
It was time to clean her room and it was time to start a new life as, Mrs. Bloberta Puppington.
Clay exited the police department and spat on the ground cursing every police officer especially the Officer Papermouth. Clay looked down at his spit proud of the saliva on the ground but his guilt dawned on him remembering Bloberta...
"I gotta say sorry to her...That was some reception I can barely remember it..." He said to himself.
"Its fine."
A somewhat annoyed voice said from in front of him.
"Yeah I know- woah hey there!"
It was Bloberta crossing her arms and looking well...upset.
"How was your night?"
Clay asked smiling like nothing happened.
"Lets just say I don't have a family anymore. I have to pick up my things from the Hymentact house later. I'd like some help with that..."
Clay squinted and looked somewhat confused, not exactly sure how to respond.
"Um yeah...of course, lets uh go do that then..."
Clay entered Clay's car, the cans from their wedding still adorned the rear of the vehicle. Bloberta looking through the window suggested that they remove the "just married" sign and cans, they were only a bitter reminder of that horrible wedding. She was hoping that it wasn't going to be her entire marriage...Clay hadn't even thought about removing them he simply forgot. Bloberta threw the things in a nearby trash and she also got in the car and they drove off.
"Um where is your house, Clay?" Bloberta asked
"Uh...shouldn't I be asking you that? heh." Clay chuckled a little, he didn't even know where this woman lived and he married her...That was not apart of his life plan...Maybe God had something in store for him with this he pondered.
"Oh, The Hymentact's house is 667 North Abstinent Way."
"Got it."
"But um, where is your house, Clay?"
"Aha...Uh well I don't live in a house...I live in the Aloneford, the apartment for Bachelors." Clay answered somewhat embarrassed.
"Ah...I guess I expected an unmarried young man that bought me a diamond ring moments notice like you to be...a bit more successful."
"Ahaha...Well you were wrong, sweetie." Clay retorted. Bloberta smirked, somewhat amused by his use of the pet name.
"We'll have to move on up in the world if we're going to start a family."
Clay made a hard brake as the words left her mouth.
"W-What? Whats wrong?" Bloberta stammered.
"Uh...start a family?"
"Isn't that what Christ loving family's do?"
Clay's mind was blank for a moment but a flood of memories invaded his mind...His mother and father, their countless tries at starting a family. Pictures of his dejected parents becoming more and more distant...Then the real tragedy, his life. His mother dying, being blamed for her death by his very own father. Being in a family was nothing but torment...
"I mean we can't be a married couple without children! People would start talking...Haven't you ever dreamed about having a son one day?" Bloberta asked as Clay was still lost in his mind.
Ole' Gunny...He promised that little pistol his father "gifted" him that he'd keep the tradition. The tradition that he never got to experience. The Puppington Father and Son hunting trip.
Clay grabbed the back of his neck and answered Bloberta.
"Well..I guess..I guess I did one day want a son..."
Bloberta lit up somewhat.
"There! I've always wanted a son too! Someone we can call our very own! Love and raise our own family we can support together, helping each other!"
Clay smiled weakly.
"You are a really traditional woman aren't you?"
"Non-traditional women are a bane to real women like me."
Clay laughed a little, he saw a little bit of his mom in her, a traditional christian woman. Sure this Bloberta was a little off, but he had to admit she certainly had qualities he could admire.
The two arrived at the Hymentact house. Bloberta stayed in the car as Clay left.
"Aren't you coming with...to uh help?"
Bloberta looked over to Clay simply said.
"I don't want anything more to do with those people."
Clay stared for a second and came to a conclusion something happened...maybe not unlike the something that happened with his father. Bloberta did say she didn't have a family anymore. Clay could sympathize and so he decided he wouldn't push the issue.
Clay walked up the the house slowly and looked back to Bloberta in the car...he was kind of afraid he was realizing. Bloberta just smiled awkwardly back and mouthed the words "GO, GO."
Clay knocked on the door and was answered almost immediately by Mrs. Hymentact, behind her was Mr. Hymentact.
"You must be Clay Puppington." Mrs. Hymentact said.
"Yes, I'm here to get...Bloberta's things."
"Of course. I'll show you to what was her room."
Clay walked inside and couldn't help but notice Bloberta's father and his sad expression but furthermore he happened to be holding a glass of brown liquid. Sweet alcohol...
Clay walked with the Hymentacts down the hall to a room filled with a few boxes. Clay was itching to get out of this situation as soon as possible but he actually really wanted to see if Bloberta's father had another glass...for him.
Clay hatched a plot in his head as he ran the boxes outside to the trunk of the car, he came up with an excuse.
"Um Bloberta...Do you mind if I have a talk with your dad about you know...being a husband and all?"
Bloberta frowned.
"Oh...I guess that's okay...Would you tell him something for me?"
"Oh sure, what is it?"
"Just tell him I love him."
"Will do, dollface."
Clay finger gunned Bloberta and winked. Clay went back to the door and knocked. It took a few moments but Mrs. Hymentact answered.
"You have all her things, what do you want Mr. Puppington?"
"I just wanted to talk to Mr. Hymentact. Ask for some advice about being a husband to your fine daughter."
"Trust me, Mr. Puppington, My husband has no good advice regarding being a husband."
Clay looked past her to Mr. Hymentact behind her, eyeballing his glass of liquor.
"Well I think perhaps he may have what I'm looking for Mrs. Hymentact." Clay entered the house towards Mr. Hymentact. Mrs. Hymentact scoffed in rage.
"Fine ask your questions but please be on your way soon." Mrs. Hymentact said simply.
"I think I'm gonna need a little privacy from you, this is a discussion only a man can understand."
Mrs. Hymentact looked at Clay with disbelief, no one ever dared disrespect her like this, and in her own home no less.
"Say pops do you have a study?"
Finally Raymond Hymentact said something, being given the permission to speak by this question directed towards him.
"Yes. Would you like to see it?"
"I'd love to."
Clay paid no mind to the angry Mrs. Hymentact, but Raymond sure did.
Raymond Hymentact's study was not unlike Clay's own father. Clay welcomed himself to sit on a chair and Raymond did the same as he swirled the glass in his hands.
"So what did you want to ask me, Mr. Puppington?"
"Oh lots of things...First things first though, do you have a glass for the rest of the class?"
"Oh um of course here let me go get one. "
Raymond walked to a nearby drawer and brought out a glass covered in dust. Clearly the man had been using only one glass at a time for quite a long time. He blew the dust off and poured some whiskey in it, and handed it to Clay.
Clay immediately began drinking the from the glass as he let out a exasperated noise from the back of his throat for the burning sensation of the whiskey. Clay now began his questioning.
"What happened to her?"
"To her..?"
"Yes why is she so desperate to get out of this house and marry some guy she just met a couple days ago?"
Raymond tugged at his collar and sipped his own drink.
"Uh well you see...this isn't exactly her home anymore..."
"Why's that?"
Clay took another drink.
"Her mother and I decided its time she move on to bigger and better things."
"So she goes and marries the first guy she sees?"
"w-What do you want from me?"
Raymond began to stutter.
"You are dumping your own daughter on me because you're sick of her, I deserve to know why for God's sake."
"Look I love Bloberta as much as you do I just-"
"Ha! Love? Look Mr. Hymentact, your daughter is a nice girl but I wouldn't say I love her just yet, we just met two days ago and now she has no where to go and I'm supposed to fill that role in my apartment for bachelors."
"She isn't treated well here! And I don't have what it takes to be her father anymore!"
"You are the worst of the scum on God's green Earth Mr. Hymentact. You give up and don't take any responsibility for your own flesh and blood."
"I did what I could!"
"And you failed her! So now I have to be the daddy for this desperate poor crazy girl! You remind me a lot of my own father, except he at the very least had the testosterone to stand up for himself. That's why I am your daughter's hero! And that's why she hates you! She hates you because you have never, not once stood up for her in her entire life, haven't you?"
Raymond just looked into his glass of whiskey and shed a tear he had no come back. He was defeated and had no fight left in him over this.
"I'm outta here. Thanks for the bottle, dad." Clay picked up the bottle of whiskey and exited the house. Clay inwardly laughed at the weakness of Bloberta's father, surely he would be getting a scolding tonight, and clearly Mrs. Hymentact was the real man in the relationship.
Clay tossed the bottle of whiskey in the trunk and got in his car and almost forgot Bloberta was there.
"How did it go?"
"I can see why you hate them."
"I don't hate them...I just, they aren't really family."
"Yeah alright..."
Bloberta could smell the liquor on his breath, and said
"I can drive for you if your too drunk, Clay."
"Yeah that's probably for the best..."
The two swapped spots as Bloberta drove to the Alonefords. Apartments for Bachelors/Spinsters.
"Here we are!"
Clay proudly presented his place to his new wife.
It was quaint, not necessarily a pigsty but definitely could use some picking up.
"Well I'll start cleaning up then."
"Huh?"
"Its a mess in here! For only one person to be living in this hovel you'd think they wouldn't have much to pickup."
"Hey honey if I wanted someone to insult my living space I'll hire a living space critic."
Clay retreated to his bed pretty beat from the drinking. He couldn't keep his head up. Bloberta busied herself cleaning the apartment, rearranging things, and placing her things accordingly. She did this for several hours until finally feeling tired. She walked over to Clay's single bed, there really wasn't much room...But dammit she wanted to try this married life out for real.
She attempted to squirm herself into bed it was a tight fit and Clay smelled of whiskey like her father. She'd try to enjoy this as much as she could. But Something didn't feel right...
Clay was laying in a bed...his mother beside him, she nuzzled him in his chest, a strangely odd and exciting dream...Clay felt loved, empowered, confident. Clay hadn't dreamt of his mother in a long time...he opened his eyes and let out a gasp seeing Bloberta laying next to him. His first reaction was to jolt up and yell being surprised someone was in his bed with him for the first time in a long, long time.
Bloberta awoke startled.
"What...What's going on what were you doing?!" Clay yelled
"I was sleeping. Weren't you doing the same?" Bloberta said
"I'm use to sleeping alone in bed, I think I was having a nightmare.."
"About what?"
"My mom..."
"Your dead mom?"
"Yeah my dead mom, she was hugging me on the bed and and...I don't know."
"That doesn't sound like much of a nightmare."
"I hate remembering her."
"Oh."
Bloberta was taken aback a little and decided to ask the question.
"How did your parents die?"
Clay closed his eyes and remembered the day vividly...He could paint a highly detailed painting of it, he could write a play about that horrible day in his life.
"It was an accident..." Clay mumbled
"An accident?" Bloberta said inquisitively.
Clay knew what happened, but he didn't like what happened. Whose to say what happened is really what actually happened anyway?
"My dad accidentally shot off our gun, it deflected on one of my mother's plates and shot her through the heart. He couldn't take what he'd done...and he shot himself in the head."
"I'm so sorry, Clay, that's horrible."
"Yeah. I mean I was okay in the end."
"So it really was a blood bath."
"Huh? Oh...ah yeah I suppose it was kind of a mess."
"I hope we can start a family together and not be a messy blood bath." Bloberta said thinking over Clay's and her own childhoods.
"Yeah...I hope that too" Clay echoed as he drifted back to sleep this time on the ground. Bloberta looked over to Clay laying on the ground a little bit irritated. He was just lying there with no blankets or anything on the hard wooden floor. Bloberta put the blanket over him, lifted his head up and placed a pillow under him, she noticed the faint bruise near his eye where she had punched him. So far she was having a turbulent marriage, not at all like what he friends had been bragging about. Bloberta decided to read a little from the Bible to lift her spirits.
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. " -Ephesians 4:31-32
With that she placed a pillow near her husband on the ground and attempted to get as comfortable as possible with no luck. So she just stared at Clay's face, examining every little detail. His almond shaped eyes, his curved nose, and the drool escaping his mouth. She thought about Clay's childhood...His parents dying so brutally early in his life was definitely something she sympathized with. Perhaps starting a new family brought some ugly thoughts in his head...hence the crazy and tumultuous past few days. At some point she fell asleep, dreaming about a future son...he was a perfect boy.
Clay awoke first, Bloberta's face right in his. Clay let out a small yelp quickly getting up. Her proximity to him during his sleep was bringing up some...regrettably exciting thoughts. It brought him a shame he wasn't use to feeling...He was pretty good at keeping that shame shoved down, but Bloberta was bringing that shame back up in him. He didn't know how to tell her.
To shut down that shame he thought perhaps he'd make some breakfast for him and his new wife, perhaps that would bring some feelings of joy. He cooked up some eggs and toast with a side of bacon. After putting their plates together he remembered he took that bottle of whiskey from Mr. Hymentact and still had it in his trunk! Score! He wrote a small note and put it on the plate and placed it next to Bloberta on the ground. He put his own meal on a plate in the living room and ran outside to grab that bottle.
Bloberta rubbed her eyes awake, that dream she had of a perfect boy was delightful...in front of her was a plate of food with a piece of paper but no Clay.
"Here ya go -Clay"
Bloberta let out an audible "Aw", somewhat touched, she hadn't expected the first meal in the marriage be made by the husband...How non-traditional she thought, but it was still sweet of him regardless even if the meal was noticeably less perfect than what she could do. Hopefully she would be able to "wow" Clay with her cooking skills. In where her singing skills seemingly lacked according to her so called "mother", she was quite confident in her skills as a house wife.
Clay grabbed the bottle from her trunk and rushed back inside, this drinking thing was still quite new to him he was still learning what was "acceptable" in the eyes of society. He walked into his place where he found Bloberta with her plate of food at the table in the living room. Bloberta's smile turned to a miffed expression upon noticing Clay holding the bottle of whiskey.
"There's my gal! How was your sleep?" Clay asked.
"Oh uh...I had a nice dream I wanted to tell you about...But where did you get that?" She pointed to the bottle in Clay's hands.
"Your father gave it to me as a present. Said we could share it together." Clay said attempting to grin.
Bloberta hadn't told Clay she didn't drink anymore...Not after that day they met...
"I thought maybe we could have a little drink over breakfast!" Clay said as he came to the table placing the bottle next to his plate.
"Its 8 in the morning, Clay."
"What does that mean?"
"People don't usually drink in the morning, Clay."
"Heh, they are sure missing out aren't they?" As Clay started to open the bottle. Bloberta closed her eyes and exhaled deciding to drop the subject for now.
"Um...Thanks for making breakfast for me...No one's ever done that for me." As Clay began to pour both of them a glass.
"Your mom never made you breakfast?"
"She always made me make my own food..."
"Pardon my french, Bloberta, but your mother is a witch."
"I'm beginning to figure that out. But I happen to be a great cook! I can't wait to make you some meals. You never need to worry about making your own meals anymore!" Clay sipped on his drink.
"I could get use to that...So what was your dream about?"
"I dreamt we had a son! He was absolutely perfect! He listened to every word you said, he followed the word of God to a 'T' and loved us very much." Bloberta's eyes sparkled as she talked about this fantastical idea. Clay tried to picture it in his head, it vaguely sounded like him as a boy. The idea of having a child was still a scary to him.
"You really are into this idea of having a child huh?"
"As a Christ fearing wife, that is my main goal. To be a mother, of course!" Clay winced a little at the word 'Mother'
"Did you have any dreams, Clay?" Clay put his glass down. Clay coughed as he walked over to the sink placing his head under the faucet to drink water.
"I don't remember..." Clay lied. Bloberta looked down picking at her food.
"Here lets listen to the morning news." Clay walked over to the couch and turned on his radio.
"Oh sure, I'd love to." Bloberta walked over to the couch with Clay, sitting closely to her husband. Clay looked over to his wife, sweating a little. This was really not easy for him...It brought those weird ideas up...He lifted his hand up and caressed Bloberta's hair. Bloberta took in the smell of Clay's breath...It was similar to her fathers, but ever so different. Clay looked at Bloberta's face and her hair...brunette like his mother, that up angular nose. His heart felt like it was climbing up his chest into his throat. The news spoke up about something that caught their ears.
"Today we will honor the newly married couples of Moralton, God is looking down on them with happiness that they can now share their prayers together. Mr. Clay Puppington has been married by Mrs. Bloberta Puppington. We pray for their years of happiness, and pray they create a wonderful God serving family. Christ be with them. Amen."
Clay and Bloberta blinked a couple of times a little taken off guard. Bloberta bit her lips hoping Clay would perhaps take the hint...Right now seemed like a good time for...children.
Clay's mind felt a sensual feeling come up in him. But as well as undeniable shame.
"I...I feel ashamed..."
Bloberta frowned.
"What's to be ashamed about, this is what a married couple should do...every once in a while at least..."
Clay took a sip from his glass trying to forget what was ever so prevalent on his mind, every single time he was near this woman like this. But it was no use, it was amplifying it right now. His other hand not even thinking went to Bloberta's thigh grazing it ever so slightly. Bloberta had never had a man's hand on her like this...She couldn't deny that she was slightly afraid, but ready.
"I'm sorry but I have to go consult someone right now..." Clay said abruptly as he got off the couch and to the door.
"Wait whats wrong?" Bloberta called after him.
"My head feels heavy, I need to think about all this for a moment. I'll be back..."
"Um alrigh...I lov-"
With that Clay was out the door. Bloberta felt a bit rejected...Perhaps it was her make up, she hardly was trying with her appearance for that last few days...She got off the couch and went to work cleaning the living room. Meanwhile Clay was on his way to the church of Reverend Putty.