Husband and Wife

I give to you a story in eleventy-one words...

(See Reincarnated for other posts in the series.) 

He stared into the mirror at his face so young and plump. His mother’s voice – still foreign – spoke what would be the ceremony’s next line. He mimicked her diction and intonation robotically; she smiled knowingly.

The priest knocked, told them that the time had come. The boy felt awkward, excited, confused. His mother reassured him that this ceremony would help bring closure.

When the boy entered the sanctuary, he stood dumbstruck. Twenty people stared at him intently, lovingly. He approached an old man in the first pew. The boy spoke what had been familiar words in his once native tongue, ‘Hello husband.’ The old man grinned and hoarsely replied, ‘Hello wife.’