The Missing Bride – a mystery by Alysse Aallyn

Chapter 20 – The End

We flew to a hotel at LaGuardia,

Called Derek, whose father suggested

Vince Tromwell.  He got 

Mirabel immunity as long as she told

“the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”

and after they tested the shirt and the knife

Verne even confessed –

If you call taking an Alford plea –

(Which legally means “You got me”) –

Confession. Verne got forty years

On each count with deportation

Instead of parole. 

Mom and Dad didn’t mind

Having a yoga teacher in the family –

They both started yoga –

I admit I did too –

That’s what big sisters are for;

They go through everything first

So you don’t have to.

We get to be writers, we

The little sisters

Poets and thinkers of all the peaceful

Afternoons; assessing, not

Regressing, savoring even

The upside down moments

Right side up and 

Passing them to history.

It worked on everyone but Mr.

Mowgley, English teacher,

Who said;

“Shouldn’t you write this

In the third person voice

To gain some distance?”

I said, “Never.

I’m Richenda Marshott, only me and

I’ll never pretend to be

Anyone else.”