By Gibson W. Jerue
As I closed the front door of my house to bid my 7-year old son goodbye, the clock began to tick for 13 hours and 54 minutes of drive from Fargo, North Dakota to Louisville, Kentucky. The journey was destined and Sam Wilson and Patsy Cocoo Doelu ensured that a stone laid in predestination happens.
For the first time of my nine years in the US, I steered the wheel of a rented Jeep and meandered through the streets of North Dakota, Minneapolis, Wisconsin, and as Celine Dion puts it: “I Drove All Night”. The experience was mixed, but with two 5-hour bottles gulped down, sleep evaporated.
One thing stuck – I was there to do an important job for a bride and her groom whom I refer to as “The Princess and The Prince.” Well, Sam is privileged to take the hand of Cocoo Doelu, a woman worth more than gold and diamond.
As my GPS docked me in front of Sam and Cocoo’s residence, I exited the Jeep Patrol that conveyed us. I stepped on the lawn adjusting myself to meet the couple I have been promoting for nearly three months. Cocoo saw me first. And with jubilant leap, she jumped from her truck; smiles consumed her visage and gave me a long huge of thank you for coming. She led my brother and business partner, Prince Jerue, and I through the house to the back into the garage to wait for Sam. In no time we were served rice and pepper soup, hot enough to beat looming sleep out of our heads.
We retired to our hotel that Sam had booked for us, getting ready to start the job we were there to do. The bridal party was undergoing their final rehearsal. “Still rehearsing,” I wondered. But it was to pay off later Saturday when the rehearsal Friday proved the groomsmen and bridesmaids on top of their game.
At the Jefferson Community Center, the bridesmaids were gathering. Michael-vee Wremeo was to host the bridal shower in addition to her position as Maid of Honor. The DJ pumped up the volume, as Michael-vee put face on the program. Our cameras rolled, as the bridesmaids led their star of the night inside. A giant chair to dignify Cocoo stood against the wall. The women threw the men out to start their girl’s things.
As one lady barked like a dog, another relentlessly shook her ‘mapuca’. Her ‘tumba’ shook like it would fly off. The cheers and laughter overwhelmed the music. I smiled and turn away but linking my eyes deceptively…well, I am supposed to do my job. Speeches and admonitions followed, urging Cocoo to blind side gossips about Sam. Another said, “Don’t take your problems outside,” as another suggested, “be patient and respect your husband…” I am not sure if the volley of pieces of advice did not overawe the woman who has been with her soon-to-be husband since 2012. But she listened and accepted all.
By 10pm Eastern Time, the groomsmen all dressed in their white shorts and sky blue t-shirts brought their groom to find his bride. The women gave them a cloth to tie Sam’s face to prevent him from seeing. That was a mistake. Sam’s guys tied the cloth in a way he could see. I knew it but my duty for the night was not to be a snitcher for the bridesmaids. I smiled and let it play out. Sam edged on, the women blocked him, and the men pushed harder. Finally, the daring groom found his wife-to-be, hugged her as if this was the first time he touched her body. The crowd went into frenzy. The music and dance continued.
Saturday, August 12, was eventful. By 10am, the women had started dressing. The men were in another room dressing as well. My brother and I went from the women to the men. The limousines – three of them, a black and two white – had arrived. We would proceed to the Church, but first, I must interview the bride and her girls. The women were ready for this, in festive mood, and remaking their faces to kill. The bride gave a great interview: “I am so happy for me for this day,” she said. “I will remember this day. And I am thankful for Sam…this guy is good man. He is free-handed, and that I cannot trade him for anything,” Cocoo said broadly smiling and intermittently bursting into laughter. The room lighted into laughter, I did too. Who would not…when the Princess laughs, everyone must.
The men were dressing Sam as well. This was my first time to see groomsmen dress their man. As one put his socks on, another placed the tie. Yet another flung his hands into his coat. Sam was all smiles. He was treated like a King. In an interview with him, he told me, “This woman is patient and that is the one thing I cannot trade her for. He showered praises on his soon-to-be wife. But he ended the interview not before he said; I am “Nyongbaor”, the man in the home, which was what Cocoo referred to when she said he is “free-handed”.
At the Church, everything went as planned. Although friends and relatives came late, there were a considerably good number of congregations to witness the exchange of marital vows. As Pastor Cameron Debity and the groomsmen matched in, the women followed from another entrance. Dester Tueh held Leamon Glusashea’s right hand closed to his chest, and Leamon compensated with a complimenting smile. They – groomsman and bridesmaid – orderly processed and stood their positions at extreme ends.
Then Sam received his bride. The pastor asked Cocoo first, “…do you take Sam as your wedded husband, forsaking all others, and for better or for worse, in sickness and in health?” Cocoo took a deep breath and changed her tone to a deeper one: “YES I DO!” The congregation applauded. When Sam’s term came, he would not even wait for the Pastor to end his sentence, and he sounded a thunderous “Yes I do”. After all, was that not what he has been waiting for the entire time? I guess Sam did not want any error that would postpone this hour. And Cocoo needed it too. The vows were exchanged and Sam grabbed his wife’s head with his both hands, looked her between the eyes, and pulled her toward his face. He was about to salute the bride – this Sam-style of saluting bride was long and passionate. He gave the congregation a glance to assure them they cannot stop him now. He grabbed Cocoo’s lips with his, pulled at it like it would not happen again. Cocoo cooperated fine. Both embraced and continued kissing until I heard a “hum-hum” in the audience. The rest is history…
