"David Marusek - The Wedding Album" - читать интересную книгу автора (Marusek David)

"Yes, my wedding day."

Across the room, the guests laughed and applauded. Benjamin-both of him-was entertaining, as
usual. He-the one in goggles-motioned to them. The other Anne said, "We have to go. IтАЩll be
back."

Great Uncle Karl, Nancy, Cathy and Tom, Aunt Jennifer, and the rest, left through the wall. A
polka could be heard playing on the other side. Before leaving, the other Benjamin gathered the
other Anne into his arms and leaned her backward for a theatrical kiss. Their goggles clacked.
How happy I look, Anne told herself. This is the happiest day of my life.

Then the lights dimmed, and her thoughts shattered like glass.

***

They stood stock still, as instructed, close but not touching. Benjamin whispered, "This is taking too
long," and Anne shushed him. You werenтАЩt supposed to talk; it could glitch the sims. But it did
seem a long time. Benjamin gazed at her with hungry eyes and brought his lips close enough for
a kiss, but Anne smiled and turned away. ThereтАЩd be plenty of time later for fooling around.

Through the wall, they heard music, the tinkle of glassware, and the mutter of overlapping
conversation. "Maybe I should just check things out," Benjamin said and broke his pose.
"No, wait," whispered Anne, catching his arm. But her hand passed right through him in a stream
of colorful noise. She looked at her hand in amused wonder.

AnneтАЩs father came through the wall. He stopped when he saw her and said, "Oh, how lovely."
Anne noticed he wasnтАЩt wearing a tuxedo.

"You just walked through the wall," said Benjamin.

"Yes, I did," said AnneтАЩs father. "Ben asked me to come in here and . . . ah . . . orient you two."

"Is something wrong?" said Anne, through a fuzz of delight.

"ThereтАЩs nothing wrong," replied her father.

"SomethingтАЩs wrong?" asked Benjamin.

"No, no," replied the old man. "Quite the contrary. WeтАЩre having a do out there. . . ." He paused
to look around. "Actually, in here. IтАЩd forgotten what this room used to look like."

"Is that the wedding reception?" Anne asked.

"No, your anniversary."

Suddenly Benjamin threw his hands into the air and exclaimed, "I get it, weтАЩre the sims!"

"ThatтАЩs my boy," said AnneтАЩs father.