Hearty laughter answered with shrill giggles first filtered through the high ivy hedge work.  A young couple broke through the opening with the girl in the lead.  She moved barely faster than the young man behind her.  Her run was done in play as he followed.  The young man extended his left arm toward her with his fingers contorted in the shape of a claw.  He reached toward her.  He kept his right close to his chest, bent and twisted as though affected by palsy.  He walked stiff legged along as he chased the girl.  He attempted to utter a deep guttural moan but broke into a laugh.

            “I will have you, Elizabeth.  You are the wife Victor Frankenstein promised me.”

            “You must catch me first, monster!” the girl, Crystal, called back.  She suddenly broke into as much of a run that her blue and white dress and lace-up shoes would allow.  Her lead lasted but a moment before the young man caught her hand laced his fingers in hers and bounded to a stop inside an ivy covered gazebo.

            They both stood, trying to catch their respective breaths looking at each other.  The young man reached over to Crystal and pulled her over to him.

            “Oh, my beautiful girl, how am I going to last for four more weeks before our big day?”

            Crystal looked into Michael’s brown eyes.  She traced the line of his jaw with her finger.             “How I long to finally be your wife, Lady Michael MacMillian.”

            The two embraced.  Their lips pressed together in a deep kiss.  Their bodies pressed together just as deep until they could feel the pounding of the other’s heart.  Crystal enjoyed it.  It was a hint of what she could look forward to their wedding night with no hesitation, no holding back, and no fear of what others might think if they found out.  They could enjoy each other completely as husband and wife.