Fiction Friday: One More Time, Chapter 29 - June, 30 CE – Ebenezer

When Paul finished the day’s lessons, he walked to the marketplace to talk to Jonas again. Of course, Tamara had to go, too. She skipped ahead of him, stopping to pick flowers and talk to the other children she saw.

Jonas greeted Paul with a kiss to each cheek and Tamara with a wink and a hug. “What brings you back to my shop so soon?” he asked.

“The woman Mehida who took care of me—she had a daughter by the name of Emma, married to a fisherman named Ebenezer. I don’t suppose you’d know them?”

“I might. There is a fisherman here named Ebenezer, but I don’t know his wife’s name. You can probably find him in the afternoons at the port. In the mornings, I’m sure he’s out fishing.”

“Thank you, friend Jonas. I need to try to find him. Come along, Tammy.”

Paul strode quickly toward the north port, before long carrying Tamara. He asked several people at the port before he found the one called Ebenezer, a sunburned and gruff man about the same age as he.

“Hello, Ebenezer, my name is Paulos and this is my daughter Tamara. I’m a friend of Jonas and a servant at the house of Hamath and Dorcas. Is your wife’s name Emma?”

“What business is that of yours?” Ebenezer asked.

“If that’s her name, I have a message from her mother, Mehida. Mehida saved my life when I was injured.”

“Oh, Mehida,” he said, making the name a swear word. “The woman tried to stop us from getting married. My Emma had to sneak out of their house and come to mine to be wed to me. We went back to their house after our marriage, but she just railed at us until we left. Shortly after that, we moved here. We haven’t gone back.”

“She’s a lonely old woman. She was strong when I saw her a few days ago, but it won’t be long until she needs help.”

“I’ll tell Emma, but I don’t want Mehida to live with us, and I think Emma will agree.”

“She was kind to me. If you won’t take care of her when she can’t take care of herself, I’ll take her in. Although—there isn’t much room in my house.” Paul turned to leave, then turned back. “If you should wish to talk about this, my wife Sarah and I live next to Hamath and Dorcas’ home. If we’re not there, check at Dorcas’s house. That’s where we work.”

“It is not likely you will be seeing me or my wife. Mehida might have saved your life but she made Emma’s life—and mine—thorny. Goodbye, Paulos.” Ebenezer scowled as He turned his back and strode away.