Brenda had never met her fiancΓ©'s best friend but she had heard lots about him, for the three years she had known Rick, Barry had lived and worked 300 miles away.
It was only the day before the wedding that she met the guy whose memory and speech abilities could make or break her wedding day.
She was not impressed.
Barry was an unshaven long haired yob, that was the most fitting description she could think of. Rick tried to reassure her that all would be well but she wasn't so sure
On the wedding morning she was up early, she had hardly slept at all, nerves only played a small part in it she was dreading how Barry would behave during the ceremony and most of all she dreaded the speech he would make.
Climbing into the car with her father she was unusually quiet.
"Its not too late to change your mind " said her father gently.
"Oh no Dad, it isn't that its... oh forget it, its just my nerves " she laughed On her fathers arm she walked down the aisle, there was Rick looking smarter than she had ever seen him and there beside him was Barry, he hadn't even bothered putting his hair in a pony tail, he was still unshaven, presumably he thought it was designer stubble.
As she joined Rick at the altar she turned to hand her bouquet to Rachel her best friend and today her chief bridesmaid, Rachel however was not looking at her.
She knew the look in Rachel's eye, she had seen it often enough in a dozen bars on a Friday girls night out, she looked again at Barry hmmmmmmmm yes she could see Rachel's logic, while he was totally inappropriate for a best man he had that dangerous look about him, the look that tells a girl she is in for the wildest hottest sex she could imagine.
Quickly she turned her attention to the matter in hand.
She had to admit despite his appearance Barry conducted himself impeccably as Best Man, the ring was there on cue, he ensured there was a lift for everyone who didn't qualify to ride in the limousines, at the reception his speech was a perfect length without any of the filthy jokes she had imagined and he had even thought far enough ahead to present each of the bridesmaids with a locket and chain, even her three year old niece.
Later at the evening disco he helped the DJ in with his gear and made a beeline to her grandmother to get her up for a dance early on, how you can misjudge someone she thought, she felt a little sorry for Rachel though, he was clearly uninterested in her, indeed he was so involved in being the perfect best man he didn't seem interested in any of the girls of his age although he joined the little ones when they danced to The Birdy Song and he took care to dance with each of the aunts on both sides of the family.
So busy was Brenda observing this astonishing guy in the tramps body that she didn't notice how much Rick was drinking, not that is until near the end of the night when he fell asleep on her shoulder. She looked around anxiously, thank goodness most of the guests had goner, the DJ was just winding things down and Barry was paying him. Barry that's it, he would help.