The day after the bachelor and bachelorette parties went fairly quietly. Molly and I had slept in a little, mostly to relax from the parties and the hike around Peoria that we had gone on the day before. When we did get up and get dressed, we found out that everyone else was up. Frank Rhoer was seated and eating a bowl of cereal as we came out. Polly was already setting up some pans to cook eggs in.
"Good morning, George, Molly," Frank Rhoer said politely as we came in.
"Good morning, Uncle," Molly replied.
"Good morning, you two," Polly Wayne called from the kitchen, "how would you like your eggs?"
"Fried," Molly answered.
"I guess fried too," I shrugged, "for good variety."
Polly Wayne nodded and then set to work with breakfast. Molly was about to make her way into the kitchen when my Mother stopped her.
"I already have some meat cooking for the both of you," Polly Wayne spoke, "Go sit down."
"But..." Molly began to protest.
"SIT!" Polly Wayne command, "this is my kitchen and you're on vacation!"
Molly scooted back to me, not wanting a territorial fight over a kitchen. It left me chuckling a little. I seriously doubted my mother could have won a fight with Molly if it really came to that, but the fact my mother still had some strength in her in defense of her kitchen made me snicker a little. Molly and I then moved to the table and sat down... though I was really crouching beside Molly.
"So, how did things go last night?" Polly Wayne then asked, "I overheard you two talking about the parties last night, but I was just tired enough that I couldn't fully make it all out."
"They went well, I think," Molly said slowly, "we were both well feed, and George tells me that dad was well behaved."
"Of course he was," Polly Wayne commented, "He's always been faithful. I had no fear of that."
"Then why asking me to make sure he behaves?" I asked.
"Just having a little fun, dear," Polly replied, "it's something Jacob and I have found to be key to a long happy marriage."
Molly and I only sighed. Then, while my mother cooked our breakfasts, we turned to Frank Rhoer.
"We will need to buy meat for the ride back today," I told him.
"Today?" Frank Rhoer replied, "do you want a ride, or do you intend to walk down there?"
"Today we can go for a ride," I answered, "we'll need to put the meat in our igloo to bring it back to cook."
"Okay," Frank Rhoer nodded, "we can leave as soon as you're ready."
++++++++++++++++++++++
The shopping mission went with no problems and Molly and I would return with an igloo full of meat to be cooked. Molly and my mother did work to cooking much of the meat so that they would be ready to go after Jackson and Leona's wedding. But the wedding rehearsal was the next big thing that Molly and I were waiting for. And we did the little things that we needed to do over the course of the Wednesday and by Thursday, we made our way into the church Leona and Jackson planned to get married in.
"I'm not sure why I'm here," I commented as we made our way in, "I'm not a groomsman."
"Yes, but maybe you're here as a witness," Molly commented, "Make sure we're all doing it right."
"I'm sure you won't do it wrong," I commented.
As we entered, we were met by Leona and Jackson who approached us.
"Hello, George, Molly," Leona spoke as we came closer together.
"How are things going?" Molly asked.
"Going good," Leona replied, "we'll be going through a quick rehearsal and then there is some other business to take care of."
"Other business?" I asked.
"The gender changing formula's tests worked," Leona answered, "I have two needles ready... and Jackson has completed the basic preparations for receiving the Animatrix Serum."
"So you'll be taking the serum before the wedding," Molly surmised.
"Yes," Jackson nodded, "by tomorrow night, I will be Jacki Washburn."
"Hopefully it helps you both," I spoke, "and hopefully you will both be happy together with many happy cubs..."
"We're a little old to start a family, Mrs. Wayne," Jackson spoke.
"Call me Molly," Molly answered, "and I'm sorry... I spend my days looking after little kids who all seem to love the "tiger-lady". And George and I are young... I want to have a family of my own. Furry or not."
"And I'm sure the both of you will make wonderful parents," Leona answered, "however, that isn't why we're all here."
"The rehearsal," Molly nodded.
"To keep Molly company," I answered.
"You're not here for us?" Leona asked.
"I'm not part of the wedding," I answered, "I don't know what I'm to do at a rehearsal for an event I'm not part of."
"You both have an additional part though," Jackson then spoke up, "as witnesses."
"Witnesses?" Molly asked.
"The serum is in my lab and will be administered as a formal test," Leona answered, "I'm positive it will work, but since it's being done as a "test" we need two witnesses to watch my transformation into a male lion and Jackson's transformation into a lioness."
"And since the two of you have been the most accepting of this, we figured it best if you two were the witnesses," Jackson answered.
"I see," I spoke, "we can do that... where will you want me to sit while you're rehearsal?"
"They have a reception room with some glasses of water set up," Jackson spoke, "You can wait in there... or you can watch us rehearse in here. I don't think the minister will have a problem."
"I wait here," I spoke, "and I'll do my best to stay out of the way."