Possible ’The Dugout’ Ending
I looked at my dad who smiled to me. I smiled and he kissed my forehead, hugged me gently,
and teared up.
“I can’t believe your all grown up.” He said softly.
I snied and smiled and hugged him back. “Not really. I’m not really grown up yet.” I said with a
smile.
Dad hung his head and held back tears.
“I know.” He said softly with a smile.
“Don’t cry yet! Your gong to make me cry!” I said with a snie.
Dad chuckled and grabbed my hand. I took a deep breath and held the bouquet of owers in
my hand. I looked at dad and smiled.
“I love you Nicky.”
“I love you too dad.”
My dad smiled as we started to walk down the isle together. I looked up and locked eyes with
Grion. He froze and stared at me. His black tuxedo was pit on well, and I could tell he wanted to
take the tie o and wraps it around his head.
Ashlyn smiled brightly along with the other bridesmaids. My white wedding dress wasn’t as
fancy as mom wanted it but I liked it. It wasn’t puy but a long silky dress. The sleeves went to my
wrists, and were owery.
I glanced to Austin who looked ready to break into tears. Ashlyn shot him a look that said, ‘You
cry, I cry. Stop!’.
Bart stood nervously but with a smile. Ever since Grion found out that Bart had helped fund
him for his medications Bart was like family to him.
Kevin stood with his four year old son, Danny. Danny was climbing on his shoulder and poking
his face, but Kevin didn’t budge. He just smiled.
Madison, who was standing next to Ashlyn, gave a smile. She had a round stomach and put a
hand over it. She was going to have a baby girl, who’s name wouldn’t be shared with me and Grion.
Grion hated that and would beg like a child.
Dad walked me over to Grion and went to sit back down. Grion kept staring a blank stare like
he forgot what he was supposed to be doing.
“Hi.” I said softly with a smile.
Grion stared and nodded. His shaggy hair looked like he tried to comb it but gave up after two
seconds. He hadn’t shaved in a few weeks so his face was covered with a thin brown beard.
“You say ‘hi’ back mate.” Austin snapped smacking his back.
“I know, I just can’t talk in the presence of an angle!” Grion snapped.
I gave a small smile and shook my head. “Angles were men in the Bible.”
Grion looked up and smiled. His cross necklace was over his suit. H spit a hand to it and gave
a smile. He was saying a silent prayer. I could just tell.
“Well, let’s get this started.”
I looked to Grion’s father. He was going to marry us. His hair was completely grey, but still
shaggy like Grion’s and Kevin’s. His dark eyes twinkled and he took a deep breath and started.
“Grion, you repeat what I say, and don’t change it because it’s funny. Just like we’ve
practiced.” His father said with a smirk.
“Your practiced?!”
“A few times, it almost gave dad a heart attack.”
“Because you kept changing it!” His father snapped. “Do you want to get married or not?!”
“I do! I do! Jesse!”
“Good. Repeat this, In the name of God, I, Grion Conners, take you, Nichole Ranes, to be my
wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness
and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death.”
“That’s a lot!” Grion yelped.
“Say it!” I laughed
Grion repeated what his father said, and gave me a small wink.
I rolled my eyes and smiled as Grion’s dad turned to me.
“I trust you know what to do. You will repeat what I say okay?” Grion’s father said, sending
Grion a side eye.
Grion’s mouth dropped and I smiled.
“In the name of God, I, Nichole Ranes, take you, Idiot— I mean Grion Conners—, to be my
husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in
sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death.” Grion’s dad said with a smirk.
I burst out laughing and repeated it word for word. Grion’s face was priceless, as he stared
with his mouth dropped.
“You can’t do that that!” Grion snapped.
“I can, I’m your paster son! You better get used to it!”
Our family and friend laughed and I smiled as I reached out for Grion’s hands. He took mine
and smiled at me.
“Where’s Danny?” Mr Conner’s asked.
“Right here dad.” Kevin said walking from behind Austin. He set Danny down who handed his
grandfather the rings.
“Gods boy. I’ll spoil you later.”
“Dad.” Kevin hued.
“Fine.” Mr Conner’s said with a smirk. He turned to me and Grion. “Grion repeat after me, I
give you this ring as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and
in all ways, forever. This ring is an outward sign of an inward commitment. Today, with these vows, I
make my commitment to you.”
Grion did so, and I put his ring on his nger. He moved awkwardly in his wheelchair but smiled.
I said the same thing and Grion out the ring in my nger. I gave him a smile and but my lip to
not cry.
“Grion, do you take Nichole— the woman who has put up with you your entire life— to be your
wife?”
“I do.” He said softly, looking at me like he did earlier.
“Nichole, do you take this idiot who gets himself hurt 24/7 to be your husband?”
“I do.”
Grion gave me his smile and I but my lip more as he squeezed my hand.
“Any objections?” Mr Conner’s asked.
Austin pulled out a nerf gun— yes, a nerf gun— and said, “Speak now or forever have a black
eye.”
Nobody said anything and Grion nodded in agreement with Austin. This idiot really planed that
out.
“Good, you two may kiss.”
I knelt down to his wheelchair and Grion pushed me back.
“Grion what are you—”
“Austin, Kevin, upsies.”
I stood up straight as Austin and Kevin walked over. The put straps around there legs to
Grion’s and pulled him up.
My eyes watered as Kevin and Austin helped Grion balance.
Grion was standing.
He looked up— or down— and gave me a small smile. I forgot he was actually taller than me.
I burst into tears Grion reached his hand out to me and pulled me closer. He whipped a tears
from my eyes and leaned down and kissed me.
He pulled away and I wrapped my arms around him and cried into his chest, and Grion hugged
me. Austin tarted to snie and Kevin elbowed him with his eyes red like he was about to explode.
Grion leaned closely into my ear as I shook from crying.
“I love you.” He whispered into my ear.
Tears ran down my face as I stood with my paralyzed husband. I stood with him as he stood
with me.
“I love you too.”