Close Call

Some folks quietly thought she was just being foolish. But she saw it as a close call. Close to disaster. The big date loomed up too fast, probably it seemed fast because Megan was conflicted, tense, pensive. Everyone said she shouldn't marry anyone until all her worries had passed. But twenty-eight year-old Megan Martinson was feeling heat from every direction. Her father had seemed too reserved about the wedding, Megan felt something was on his mind- she valued his opinion over anyone on Earth. But he was a clam. Smiling, he would only say he wanted his daughter's happiness, only. Her closest friends were gung-ho on Victor, the groom, and Megan's boyfriend of six months. Small business owner at twenty-nine, he seemed ahead of the game with a bright future. So, what happened? Why did Megan cancel everything a week before the wedding? It was all over Petey. No, not an old boyfriend, Petey was Megan's beloved parakeet. Victor had announced- without a smidgen of compassion- that he expected Megan to leave the bird with her mom. Expected. He didn't like the bird, and the sentiment was mutual. But Victor's expectation bothered Megan, and reminded her how unlike her father her boyfriend was. Megan's father would never force her to give anything up. Was this the kind of personality Megan was ready to move in with? Not close. She protested, but Victor got annoyed, wouldn't budge. Megan realized who he was all at once, and knew with resolute certainty that she had ignored her own instincts. Close call. But, her beloved parakeet Petey became her canary in the coal mine.