0 comments

Coming of Age

When my parents got married they combined their names and each changed their named to a hyphenated version. So their names were Mom Dadsname-Momsname and Dad Dadsname-Momsname. When I was born they named me Daughter Dadsname-Momsname.

Last week I spent twenty minutes getting harassed by the clerk who was filing my marriage license. First she wanted to know my maiden name. My maiden name is Dadsname-Momsname. I came into this world with a double last name. She didn't like that.

Then she wanted to know my dad's "real" name. My dad legally changed his name. With the power of the law behind him, he tacked my mom's name onto his. That is what it says on my birth certificate. That is what it says on his driver's license. She didn't like that.

Finally, she wanted to know my mother's maiden name. My mother, out of all of us, actually has a maiden name, so she got that. But now, on the form, the mother had a single name and the fatherhad a double name. She didn't like that.

She stressed, repeatedly, that if any of this information was incorrect, I wouldn't be married. She stressed that they were "actually going to check." She stressed so hard, her stress had stress.

I'm taking my husband's name. I've had enough of this bullshit.

When my parents got married they combined their names and each changed their named to a hyphenated version. So their names were Mom Dadsname-Momsname and Dad Dadsname-Momsname. When I was born they named me Daughter Dadsname-Momsname.

Last week I spent twenty minutes getting harassed by the clerk who was filing my marriage license. First she wanted to know my maiden name. My maiden name is Dadsname-Momsname. I came into this world with a double last name. She didn't like that.

Then she wanted to know my dad's "real" name. My dad legally changed his name. With the power of the law behind him, he tacked my mom's name onto his. That is what it says on my birth certificate. That is what it says on his driver's license. She didn't like that.

Finally, she wanted to know my mother's maiden name. My mother, out of all of us, actually has a maiden name, so she got that. But now, on the form, the mother had a single name and the fatherhad a double name. She didn't like that.

She stressed, repeatedly, that if any of this information was incorrect, I wouldn't be married. She stressed that they were "actually going to check." She stressed so hard, her stress had stress.

I'm taking my husband's name. I've had enough of this bullshit.

When my parents got married they combined their names and each changed their named to a hyphenated version. So their names were Mom Dadsname-Momsname and Dad Dadsname-Momsname. When I was born they named me Daughter Dadsname-Momsname.

Last week I spent twenty minutes getting harassed by the clerk who was filing my marriage license. First she wanted to know my maiden name. My maiden name is Dadsname-Momsname. I came into this world with a double last name. She didn't like that.

Then she wanted to know my dad's "real" name. My dad legally changed his name. With the power of the law behind him, he tacked my mom's name onto his. That is what it says on my birth certificate. That is what it says on his driver's license. She didn't like that.

Finally, she wanted to know my mother's maiden name. My mother, out of all of us, actually has a maiden name, so she got that. But now, on the form, the mother had a single name and the fatherhad a double name. She didn't like that.

She stressed, repeatedly, that if any of this information was incorrect, I wouldn't be married. She stressed that they were "actually going to check." She stressed so hard, her stress had stress.

I'm taking my husband's name. I've had enough of this bullshit.When my parents got married they combined their names and each changed their named to a hyphenated version. So their names were Mom Dadsname-Momsname and Dad Dadsname-Momsname. When I was born they named me Daughter Dadsname-Momsname.

Last week I spent twenty minutes getting harassed by the clerk who was filing my marriage license. First she wanted to know my maiden name. My maiden name is Dadsname-Momsname. I came into this world with a double last name. She didn't like that.

Then she wanted to know my dad's "real" name. My dad legally changed his name. With the power of the law behind him, he tacked my mom's name onto his. That is what it says on my birth certificate. That is what it says on his driver's license. She didn't like that.

Finally, she wanted to know my mother's maiden name. My mother, out of all of us, actually has a maiden name, so she got that. But now, on the form, the mother had a single name and the fatherhad a double name. She didn't like that.

She stressed, repeatedly, that if any of this information was incorrect, I wouldn't be married. She stressed that they were "actually going to check." She stressed so hard, her stress had stress.

I'm taking my husband's name. I've had enough of this bullshit.When my parents got married they combined their names and each changed their named to a hyphenated version. So their names were Mom Dadsname-Momsname and Dad Dadsname-Momsname. When I was born they named me Daughter Dadsname-Momsname.

Last week I spent twenty minutes getting harassed by the clerk who was filing my marriage license. First she wanted to know my maiden name. My maiden name is Dadsname-Momsname. I came into this world with a double last name. She didn't like that.

Then she wanted to know my dad's "real" name. My dad legally changed his name. With the power of the law behind him, he tacked my mom's name onto his. That is what it says on my birth certificate. That is what it says on his driver's license. She didn't like that.

Finally, she wanted to know my mother's maiden name. My mother, out of all of us, actually has a maiden name, so she got that. But now, on the form, the mother had a single name and the fatherhad a double name. She didn't like that.

She stressed, repeatedly, that if any of this information was incorrect, I wouldn't be married. She stressed that they were "actually going to check." She stressed so hard, her stress had stress.

I'm taking my husband's name. I've had enough of this bullshit.

May 25, 2021 04:27

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

0 comments

RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in Reedsy Studio. 100% free.