Thirteen Coins

At year’s end, Gemma and her family made preparations for the wedding. As a gift to Josie and Pidro, father decided to add a room to the Cruz house.

Piles of sand and stacks of cement blocks grew around the Cruz house. All day long, construction workers pounded and poured and scraped. A wall rose along one side of the house, extending back from the road.

Work began on Josie and Pidro’s wedding, too. Maria spent weekends at Josie’s apartment, sewing beads into the wedding dress. Pidro chose Marco and Tingo to be the sponsors at his wedding. Pidro made several journeys to visit with Josie’s mom. He ran errands for her, getting groceries and medicine from the Market. He also repaired broken lamps and replaced burnt light bulbs. In return, Mrs. Concepcion fixed delicious meals for Pidro and Josie.

"Are you ready for the wedding?" she asked.

"Not quite," said Josie, "We still have to visit many of our friends and send invitations."

"Are you going to pay a visit to Aunt Lala and Uncle Rico?"

"Of course, mama."

"How about Aunt May?"

"Yes, mama."

"I want to make sure you don’t forget anything."

Josie and Pidro traveled by bus throughout the province, enjoying long visits with everyone they could. One evening, Mrs. Cruz made baked fish for Josie and Pidro. Everyone gathered around the table and, as usual, the topic was the wedding.

"Gemma, would you like to be in our wedding?" asked Pidro.

Gemma nodded enthusiastically.

"We were hoping you could be the flower girl."

"I would rather be the coin bearer."

"Gemma, that’s a boy’s job," said Ms. Cruz sternly.

"But I don’t want to be a flower girl."

"Do you want to break tradition?"

"Why can’t I start a new tradition?"

"You can be the flower girl or nothing at all," said Pidro.

Gemma crossed her arms.

"Gemma, we really want you to be the flower girl," said Josie.

"But why can’t I be the coin bearer?"

"My nephew Pepe is already the coin bearer."

"Alright, I guess I can be the flower girl."

As the wedding day arrived, Josie woke up to thunder and rain. A muddy river ran through the courtyard in front of her apartment.

“Rain, rain, go away,” said Josie.

"Don’t worry dear. Rain is a blessing from Santa Clara. I cooked some eggs and rice for breakfast. Have a seat and don’t worry about it. What will be will be."

Josie spent all of breakfast worrying about her wedding. Things weren’t much different several kilometers away.

"We can’t go to church in this rain," groaned Pidro.

"Of course we can," said Mrs. Cruz. "Tingo called and said he was going to take us all to church."

"But his car is too small," said Pidro.

"If you don’t like Tingo’s car, we can ride to church on your motorcycle."

"Mother, that’s not funny."

Tingo arrived just before the wedding. Pidro and Tingo escorted the girls to the car one at a time, careful not to ruin anyone’s dress.

When they arrived at the church, Gemma followed Maria into the waiting room, where most of the wedding party was getting ready. Josie’s Aunt Lala and Uncle Rico were there as well as Marco and Marcella. Gemma was introduced to Pepe, who she sat next to and waited.

"I heard you wanted to carry the thirteen coins," said Pepe.

"It’s okay."

"I didn’t want to do this. Grandma Concepcion made me."

"It’s a great honor to carry the coins," said Gemma.

"At least you get to do something. You get to throw flowers on the carpet."

"I guess so."

As the two children waited, Pepe and Gemma sat in the waiting room. Pepe filled the time by eating all the mints in the candy bowl.

Meanwhile, Tingo returned to the Cruz house and fetched Pidro. Pidro was in the bathroom, trying on his Barong Tagalog – the traditional men’s wedding shirt, made of cream-colored silk. Fine white lace ran down the front, from the Mandarin collar to the bottom hem.

"You almost ready?" said Tingo.

"There’s a stain on my shirt next to the collar."

"That’s not a stain. It’s a shadow."

"No, it’s a big stain."

"Step closer to the mirror and look again."

The shadow disappeared in the brightest light. Still, Pidro tugged at his collar.

“Come on, let’s go or we will be late."

The boys hurried to the car and sped to the church. Many people were gathered outside including surfing buddies, high school friends, and long-lost relatives.

Inside, the church was decorated with ivory ribbon and fresh orange blossoms. The men entered the lobby as music filled the cathedral. Everyone watched as Pidro walked to the front of the chursch. He stood there patiently.

Now it was time for Pepe to walk down the aisle with the ring bearer’s pillow and coin pouch. Unfortunately, Pepe was in the boy’s room, stick to his stomach from all the mint he’d eaten.

"Papa, what are we doing to do?" said Josie.

"I could carry the coins," said Gemma.

"You cannot carry the coins. You’re the flower girl."

"Why can’t I be both?"

Gemma ran to the table and grabbed the flower basket and the ring bearer’s pillow.

"Look! It’s no problem!"

"Gemma, I knew you wanted to be the coin bearer, but it’s not right."

"I’ll be the best ring bearer-coin bearer-flower girl ever," said Gemma.

"Daddy, what are we going to do?"

"I say we let Gemma do it," answered Mr. Concepcion.

"Alright," sighed Josie.

Finally, Gemma burst through the doors at the back of the church. The flower basket hung delicately from one arm while she balanced the ring bearer’s pillow on her hand. The cord from the coin bearer’s pouch hung around the wrist of her free arm. The coins inside the velvet pouch jangled as she spread the flowers along the aisle.

As she looked up, Pidro folded his arms and shook his head. The Priest simply smiled at Gemma.

When she arrived at the altar, she sat the flower basket on the ground between her and Pidro as she balanced the pillow in her hands.

"What are you doing?" he hissed.

"Pepe’s sick in the bathroom."

Whispers filled the cathedral as all eyes were on Gemma. Meanwhile, Mr. Concepcion escorted Josie down the aisle. He kissed her lightly on the cheek as he put her beside Pidro.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Josie and Pidro," said the Priest.

Gemma daydreamed while the priest spoke. Soon, the organist was fiddling with her songbook, quietly flipping through the pages.

"Gemma?" said the Priest.

"Yessir?"

"Can I have the coins please?"

"Right! The coins!" Gemma pulled the velvet pouch off her wrist and poured 13 golden coins into Pidro’s cupped hand. Carefully, Pidro placed them into Josie’s cupped hands.

"These coins represent my loyalty. I promised to keep you nourished in body and in soul. I promise to provide for you for the rest of your life."

"Do you have the rings?" the priest asked Gemma.

"I sure do. Just let me get them." Gemma knelt down and put the velvet pouch on the ground. She dug her fingers into the pocket of her dress, but could not grab the rings.

"Hold on one moment," she said. Gemma then proceeded to pull the lace glove off her hand and place it beside the velvet pouch. She retrieved the rings and gave them to Pidro and Josie.

"No, you gave us the wrong rings," said Josie.

"Isn’t that your ring?" asked Gemma.

"It is, but you’re supposed to give it to Pidro so he can place it on my finger."

"I forgot." Gemma snatched the rings from Josie and Pidro’s hands and switched them so Pidro and Josie could say the vows.

"Do you take each other to have and to hold for as long as you live?"

"We do."

"Now I pronounce you man and wife. Pidro, you may now kiss Josie."

And they kissed.

"I now give you Mister Pidro and Josie Cruz."

"Yippee!" shouted Gemma as she threw her hands into the air.

"Yippee!" shouted Josie. She kissed Gemma and then walked down the aisle. Outside, the rains had stopped. Gemma walked with Maria and Mama Cruz to Tingo’s car. The Cruz family had just gotten one person bigger. Gemma realized she also had other new relatives. There would be street festivals with Mrs. Concepcion and stories about Uncle Rico and Aunt Lala. There would be new roosters and new songs for the rain.

And as she daydreamed, Gemma just knew they would live ecstatically, jubilantly, excitingly, lovingly, and happily ever after.

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