Short Story: Love Under the Gazebo

It was a gloriously warm day in the park. Some couples were arm in arm meandering past the walkway, while others picnicked on the thick blades of grass. Parts of the grounds were ablaze with the feverish pink-colored blossoms from the giant mimosa trees and lemon lilies embraced the gazebo where musicians were playing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

Tender sounds of music and floral fragrances wafted down past the blades of grass where another kind of world exists and another kind of gathering was taking place.

Colonies of ants from near and far came to attend the wedding of Private Andy and Lady Bette. Manny, the praying mantis, was to perform the ceremony. Everything was set, except for the heart of the bride to be. For you see, she had fallen in love with another gentlemen crawler while Andy was away on patrol duty. He was in the Queen Ants’ Army which often kept him far from his Lady Bette.

She was a pretty little beetle, who any man-bug would want to call his own. Lady Bette would have been very lonesome were it not for Sammy Snail who liked to read sonnets to her by the little creek in the evenings. At first it was innocent enough, but lately the mood changed under the stars and moonlight glow. Sammy was so different from her fiancée. He was sensitive and appreciated poetry, whereas Andy thought Longfellow was a worm of a guy (literally).

Sammy Snail was very shy, in fact, he was in psycho-therapy to help him come out of his shell. Yet, though unknowingly, he had captured Lady Bette’s heart. How could she tell him that she had fallen in love with him? After all she was already betrothed.

She went to see Spider Max, Sammy’s good friend, who just happened to be married to her best friend, Bonnie Bee, and told them of her feelings. To her surprise they told her that Sammy had confided in them about his love for her. This news made her jubilant. She was filled with new hope of becoming Mrs. Sammy Snail.

She hoped Sammy would make the first move, though she knew that would be difficult because he didn’t exactly move very fast about anything. She did not dare push or confront him; after all she was a lady.

Her wedding day arrived, and still Sammy had not approached her. There was nothing she could do but go through with the marriage and be a soldier’s bride. Everything was in place. The silverfish marched in procession, followed by the leaf-ants. The bees began their buzzing rendition of “The Wedding March.” The Army troops stood at attention by the groom at the top of the mound. Tearfully Lady Bette adjusted the little pink blossom atop her head, and then picked up her tiny bouquet of white baby’s-breath. She reluctantly began her march towards Andy. From time to time her eyes wildly searched for Sammy.

When she finally reached Andy she turned and looked over her shoulder one last time. It was then that she spotted Sammy. She looked at him with pleading eyes. His eyes meet hers. At that instant Sammy knew he had to do something… fast. Spider Max put one of his arms around Sammy and whispered, “Don’t be a slug, claim her for yourself. What are you waiting for?”

“Max, you know that Andy and his Army chums will attack us for sure. We can’t fight all of them.”

“Sam I have a plan. Just leave everything to me. First stop this show.” With that Max left to crawl up a tree just above the groom and the ant troops.

Suddenly Sammy cried out, “You can’t marry him Lady Bette. You love me and I you.” Andy turned a bright red with rage. And before he could tell his Army buddies to attack sticky web netting fell upon them.

Lady Bette dropped her bouquet and ran behind Sammy, pushing him into a nearby dirt hole. They tunneled their way through the soft soil until they came up under the gazebo platform. They were safe there. The scent from the lemon lilies tickled their senses. They giggled with glee before sharing their first kiss, of many to come.

The musicians were playing their last tune, “The Parties Over-Lets Call It A Night.” When the melodious sounds ended, many humans got up to leave. Numerous shoe soles and heels stepped on the web-trapped ants. The rest of the ants, along with the other wedding insect guests scurried away from the threatening, flatting experience.

Sammy and Lady Bette were married below the gazebo in a very private ceremony. Max was the best man and Bonnie Bee the matron of honor.

Andy Ant survived the stampede of the wedding lost. And it was not long before he found a lady that he was better suited for. She was Sergeant Amy Ant. They enjoyed going on ant marches. She was the weight lifting champion of the Queen’s Brigade.

As for Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Snail, they made their home below the gazebo, surrounded by sweet fragrances of spring. Often times these newly-weds danced to the music from the bandstand that filtered down to their happy home. For the rest of their lives love was in full bloom under the gazebo.