A Woman's True Calling
My carefree life ended on March 1, 1998. I was working as a waitress in a fast food restaurant in a small town in Vermont when a handsome customer approached me and explained that he was a medical doctor who was doing a research project on the customs and related habits of people in their late teens and early twenties. He asked me if I would be willing to answer a questionnaire and undergo further written tests if the first questionnaire's results showed that I was a suitable candidate. Naturally I was reluctant to become involved with a total stranger but he allayed those fears by assuring me that I would be able to fill in the questionnaire in a public place with him as an observer. He said that I could choose the location. I chose a Harvey's restaurant near where I lived.
The next day we met and I was given the sheets of paper to fill out. The questions were wide ranging from my family background, siblings, the age of my ancestors when they died, the health of the various members of my family and especially myself. Then the questions zeroed in on me - asking about my health, any previous romantic relationships, my religious beliefs, my views on the sanctity of marriage, my views on sections in the Bible where it said that a woman should obey her husband and if I thought that this was the word of God, if I was a virgin and what my goals for the future were. These questions seemed a bit intrusive but we were in a public place and I felt no danger and, after all, he was a medical doctor so I answered as truthfully as I could.
When I had finished the questionnaire he quickly scanned over it and said that I qualified for a further test to test my intellectual ability. He said that it had to be conducted in a private place and I could choose the place and have a friend with me so that I would feel secure. I chose my apartment and asked my friend Jane to be there. The next day I did the test. After he scored the test he became friendlier and asked me if I would meet him for dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town the next evening.
I was flattered and excited as I anticipated this first 'date' and the date did not disappoint me. Dr. John was attentive and charming and I was very attracted to him. When he escorted me home he walked me to my door, shook my hand and thanked me for a lovely evening. I was somewhat disappointed as I had hoped for a kiss. We continued to date for the next three months and though I could feel the chemistry between us he never did more than give me a light kiss on parting. So I was very surprised when one evening he presented me with a beautiful ring and asked me if I would agree to be his wife. Naturally, by this time, I was more than ready to carry our relationship to the next level and I hoped he felt the same way but he gently told me that it was a family tradition that brides be chaste on their wedding day. But to make things easier for both of us he had arranged for our wedding in a month's time. As both my parents were dead he had felt it proper for him to make all the arrangements. The next day he took me to a bridal salon and I chose a beautiful dress that needed only a few alterations. His family would be flying in for the ceremony and he coached me as to how I should approach them. There was his father and mother and five brothers and I was to show the utmost respect and deference towards them.
The wedding day was right out of a fairy tale. I had met his family the night before and they seemed friendly even though a bit different. His father was quite handsome and an older version of John and very authoritative-seeming man while his mother was a quiet, gentile woman. Of the five brothers only one was married and his wife, Selina, was very pregnant with her forth child. She said that their other three were three, two, and almost one year old. When I said that that must be quite a handful she smiled and said that she had help with the children and that her husband wanted a very large family as he always felt deprived as he was one of only six children. When I replied that I had hoped for no more than two children she put her finger to her lips and cautioned for me to not share those thoughts with John or my in-laws to be.
After the ceremony where I promised to love, honour and obey my husband, I said good-bye to my friends and we boarded the family's private jet and set out for Seattle. During the flight I sat with my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law and we conversed in hushed tones as it seemed that they did not wish to disturb the men who were talking together in the front of the plane.
On touch down the family hugged me and wished me good fortune before they set out for home and John and I went to our honeymoon suite which he had reserved for the next month 'or longer, if necessary'.
I was filled with excitement and love as I anticipated my first-ever sexual experience. I went into the bathroom and put on a beautiful satin and lace nightgown hoping that John would be pleased with me.
When I emerged I was shocked to see John standing by an examining table with a white doctor's gown on. In a business-like manner he directed me to undress and get up on the table as it was necessary before we had intercourse for him to examine me to be sure that I was indeed a virgin as he would have to have the marriage annulled if I had been deceitful. Dumbfounded I climbed up and he placed my feet in the stirrups and directed me to slide down towards the foot of the table. He placed a metal instrument into me, looked carefully, smiled and said that I had passed the first test. I was gratified but embarrassed as this was not what I had envisioned my wedding night as being.
Shamed I put on my beautiful nightie and got into bed. I hoped John would join me but he set up a camera on a tripod and explained that he was recording my deflowering so that there would never be any doubt. He was my husband and I had never had any experience with men so I thought that this might be the custom with wealthy families.