o do to plan a wedding. This is a celebration! We will discuss the bride-price when the two of you are settled.”
Frances smiled at me and said,“That was unheard of. A marriage never occurs without payment first. And between Kikuyus and Masais...it was an exceptional situation.”
A year went by before they had their first child. He returned to Mary’s parents and again inquired of the bride-price. As he and Mary were so busy with a new baby, they told him that he should wait until things calmed down a bit.
Several more years passed, and they had another child. He returned again to Mary’s parents and insisted that he needed to settle his debt. Once again, he said that he was a poor schoolteacher without much money, but that he was so happy and in love that he would pay anything.
Mary’s mother asked him, “What do you think is a fair price?”
Frances laughed and replied as a joke, “A lifetime of love and devotion from your loyal son-in-law!”
Mary’s mother smiled softly and whispered,“It is enough. The bride-price has been paid.”
Frances was silent for a time, and tears spilled over his cheeks as he drove.
“Have you ever told your wife exactly how you feel?”I asked suddenly. “Have you ever said,‘The first time I saw you I thought you were an angel. You were so beautiful...? ’”Frances snorted.“Of course not! Masai men don’t talk like that. All women know if they’re beautiful. They just need to look in a mirror. Besides, we’ve been married now for fifteen years. It would be silly to bring all that up now.”
“Frances!”I exclaimed.“You have to tell her. Especially if you’ve been married so long. Can you imagine the look on her face if you walked in one day and said,‘Listen, Mary... ’”
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