shotgun wedding

[Kirk Reiser]

A woman awakes during the night to find that her husband is not in
their bed. She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for
him. She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee
in front of him. He appears deep in thought, just staring at the
wall. She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of
coffee.  "What's the matter dear?" she whispers as she steps into the
room. "Why are you down here at this time of night?"  The husband
looks up, "Do you remember 20 years ago when we were dating, and you
were only 17?" he asks solemnly.  The wife is touched thinking her
husband is so caring and sensitive. "Yes, I do." she replies.  The
husband pauses. The words are not coming easily. "Do you remember when
your father caught us in the back seat of my car?"  "Yes, I remember."
says the wife, lowering herself into a chair beside him.  The husband
continues... "Do you remember when he shoved a shotgun in my face and
said "Either you marry my daughter or I will send you to jail for 20
years!"?"  "I remember that too." she replies softly.  He wipes
another tear from his cheek and says "I would have gotten out today!"