Sacred Scrolls; Chapter 7

 

Sacred Scrolls; Chapter 7

© 2021 by Amber Wright

THE MEETING

“Why?” Junia looked startled.

The question made Demetrius feel angry. Had nobody else in the world lost besides him? “Have you?”

“Which love,” she stammered out with a gulp, “do you mean?”

“General love.” He clenched his jaws and looked up at the latticed roof so she would not see his anger. Fifteen was young but, surely, she must be old enough to know what loss meant.

“I lost both my grandparents when I was baby.” Junia answered slowly. “But I didn’t remember them—so I don’t know the missing-feeling you speak of. Perhaps I did need them but now I’ll never know.”

“Oh.” So, she had not been old enough to know what loss meant. He felt his frown relax. It was not her fault he had known such hurt in his life. It had been his destiny.

“Why?”

He ignored the question and squinted into nowhere. “It must feel nice to have parents—a mother who is alive, a father who loves you…and to have a home.” He felt a prickle of wetness slip from his thick black eyelashes. Instantly, he swatted the air. “Gnats.”

Junia glanced around, as if she was trying to find the last gnat swarm of the season. True, he knew the summer gnats were now officially gone but he did not wish to admit that he needed an excuse to cry. He felt relieved when she started up another subject—something lighter than the dark topic of death.

Silently, he thanked her.

Junia stopped in the middle of her sentence to look up. Her father and Elder John were returning to the house now. She smiled as she stood. “It’s time for the honey cake now.”

“Good.” Demetrius stood, waiting for the men to finish their walk into the courtyard. “I was beginning to think I would never taste it. Honey is my favorite…”

He stopped, a smile widening across his face. Should he add cake, flavor or word to say? From nowhere, he felt a strength surge through him. Perhaps it was the hope he had long forgotten. He did not know for sure. But this he did know, a vein of love in its purest form was springing up within him. Did he dare hope destiny was calling to him—giving him a new lease on life? Was it that speaking with a person whose pure love radiated made him find a way to love again?

Fourteen years had passed since he had known love. Since then, a hidden hate had embedded itself into his heart with an inky blackness. He could never forgive his father, he had thought all those years, but now… Were Elder John’s words making him a different man already? He supposed they were.

“Demetrius Aenos!”

He blinked from his musings. Junia was motioning him to come inside. He followed with a smile. Junia Gaius, my Fil’os, whether you like it or not, you have a new friend for life. Me.

~

Junia readjusted the basket on her arm, looking carefully over the cabbage heads she was going to buy. She selected two round firm cabbage heads, paid the farmer at his stall and walked on to the pepper-seller where red, green and yellow peppers were heaped in one huge crate. She chose three peppers—one of each color—that would be cooked with the lamb for a farewell supper for Elder John. The next morning, he was returning to Ephesus.

“Only three peppers?” the pepper-seller raised one thick black eyebrow. “But if you buy six I will give you them for cheaper, no?”

“Thank you, but no.” Junia thrust the coins into his hand before he could make another bargain offer.

As she was leaving, Junia spotted a familiar face in the crowd. It was her friend Demetrius, who had been baptized last Sabbath. With her paid peppers snugly fit between the heads of cabbage, little sacks of spices and dried onions in her basket, she walked to the side of the street where it was less crowded. As she lifted her head from watching where she stepped, she saw Demetrius’ towering dark head take a sharp turn towards her. He glanced around, his step quick.

His face lit up with recognition. “Hello, Junia.”

“Hello, Demetrius.” Junia watched him as he finished walking up. His dark eyes were sparkling with humor—and her smile instantly froze. She felt her veil to make sure it was not sticking up oddly.

“Are you getting food for supper?” Demetrius eyed her filled basket and tapped its reed-woven handle.

Junia nodded, glancing down at her basket. “You are coming this evening, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” A big smile filled his face, including his liquid brown eyes. “You are fixing plenty of food, aren’t you?”

“Yes. That is,” Junia gave him a crooked smile, “if you think a whole lamb with vegetables, wheat cakes, grapes, cubed cheese, salted cucumbers and a honey cake is plenty of food.”

“I’m getting hungry already and can taste that honey cake.” Demetrius tilted his head back with his eyes opened huge. “You make the best!”

“Thank you.” Junia mumbled, and felt pleased.

A few people stumbled around and between them, rushing towards the market area. Demetrius stepped around a fat man to close in a little on their large gap, giving her a frown with his mouth open as if to speak. A small cart chose to hustle between them at that moment, causing a whirl of dust, and Demetrius began coughing. His darkly tanned face took on a reddish hue.

“Are you alright?” Junia stared at his large, tanned fingers tightened across his jaws.

He did a final cough. “Yes. Now, you are going to be at your house, aren’t you?”

“Y-yes.”

“Last time,” his frown deepened, “you ran off with that friend of yours. Remember?”

“Last time my friend had to show me her bridal material she had just bought, and I had to go see it. But this time,” she made a flat, teeth-showing smile, “I shall be there.”

“Good. None of that running off today.”

Junia silently frowned out, Excuse me, sir, but I am not your wife—yet.

“Promise?”

She gulped a mouthful of air and felt panic rise inside her. “Promise—what?”

“That you won’t run off like you did last time.”

“Yes, I promise.” Junia felt the blood rush back to her head again. She exhaled in relief. Of course, Demetrius would not be so silly. They had only known each other for a couple weeks.

“Have you finished buying then?” Demetrius suddenly acted aloof, pointing to her filled basket and taking a big step back.

“Almost.” Junia looked off into the crowd. “I only have the honey to buy—which I shall soon get in this pot.” She pulled out the little clay pot from the basket.

“Don’t forget to make that honey cake, please.”

Junia glanced back at Demetrius to find him opening his eyes wide and imploringly. He was so changeable she could not figure him out. “Why—may I ask?”

“Because I love it!”

“I won’t forget then.” Suddenly, the thought of fierce Demetrius begging fifteen year-old her sounded funny and she coughed in a laugh. “I shall make that honey cake. But I must find the honey first.”

While she was still speaking, Demetrius cut in. “The honey stand is right there.”

“Where?” Junia tiptoed on her sandaled feet but still she could see no honey stand. She was not short but had a problem making her eyes follow somebody’s finger to where she needed to look. “I still can’t see it.”

“Come along and I’ll show you,” and Demetrius began leading the way through the crowd.

Junia followed him obediently…like a true Lydian female.

“Here.” Demetrius stopped at the honey stand that was nestled between a potter’s stand and a traveling weaver’s tent.

~

The stout man behind his upturned crate rubbed his hands together as the two people stopped before him, ready for business. “How much honey can I get for you two today, sir, lady?”

The young man looked over at the girl with a smile, looking as if he enjoyed watching how she would haggle. The girl looked at him with unflinching yet kind blue eyes. Immediately, he recognized her as the daughter of Junius Gaius. He swallowed. This girl did indeed know how to haggle well. “How much…can I,” another swallow, “get for you?”

“A would like a pot full of honey, if you please.” Junia Gaius handed him the empty pot.

The man opened his large barrel of honey and began ladling it out into her pot. As the pot filled, they haggled the price.

Finally, he grunted out, “I suppose I oughtn’t, young lady, but you seem to know how to haggle persistently so I will have to agree.” He clanked the lid on his honey barrel and handed her the filled pot of honey. “Here is your honey.”

“And here is your money.” Junia smiled sweetly as she handed him the coins.

He made a grunt of a reply as she and the young man walked away. He stroked his chin and shook his head. If all of his customers were like her, he wondered how much less money he would have. But, he smiled to himself as he watched them go, I never have found a better haggler than that girl of Junius Gaius. She won’t waste a coin. Lucky fellow who’ll get her. He won’t have to worry about losing any money, that’s for sure! Then he frowned hardly at the few coins in his opened palm.

A Few Greek Words:

Fil'os: friend

Meh'tehr: mother

Pah'tehr: father

Adher'fi: sister

Adher'fos: brother