Short Stories

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Brood of vipers!
How can you,
being evil,
speak good things?
[Matthew 12:34]
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(The disciples are
following behind,
their Rabbi. It's a
clear, beautiful day
along the Galilee.
Suddenly the Rabbi
stops, and gazes out,
upon the dappling,
sunlit water.)
____________________
[SIGH.]
[SHAKE HEAD,
IN CONSTERNATION.]

(Peter comes over,
to stand by Jesus.)
(He speaks,
tentatively.)
"What is it,
Master?"

(TURN TO PETER.)
(GAZE INTENTLY.)
"I was just thinking,
My Peter...
about,
My talk
with the Pharisees,
just now."

(Deep sigh.)
"Yes, Lord."
(Grim frown.)
(Stare down, at the
grassy shore.)
(Dig a little hole,
in the dirt,
with one sandaled toe.)
"It was not a pretty
sight. Those leaders
do not like You,
My Lord."
(Grim shake of the head.)

(TOUCH PETER, ON THE SHOULDER.)
(DELIGHTED CHUCKLE!)
(SMILE!)
"No!
No, My Peter!
That, is not it!"
[CHUCKLING.]

(Curious glance, up at Jesus.)
(The other disciples come
over, and gather about.)
(Peter speaks up.)
"What?
What do you mean,
Lord?"

[LOOK DIRECTLY
INTO HIS DISCIPLE'S EYES.)
[CHUCKLE!)
[SMILE!]
"No.......no.
I wasn't thinking of THEM."
[LOOK UP AT THE WESTERN SKY.]
[SMILE!]
[BURST OUT LAUGHING!]
"I was thinking of one
of My OTHER children...."

"Who, MASTER?
WHO?"
(The disciples all
glance at one another,
and then at Peter.)
"Who are You thinking
of: one of US?"

[THE LORD SHAKES
HIS HEAD, FIRMLY]
"No.
No, My children.
Not you..."
[DELIGHTED SMILE!]
"Someone else:
an Israelite,
far away...
living in exile."

(Peter looks at each
one of his brothers,
and then back at Jesus.)
(In the background,
a fishing boat is gently
moving on the sunlit water.)
"Who?
One of the Jews?
Living....in
exile?"
WHERE?"

[NOD TOWARD THE WESTERN
EDGE OF THE CLEAR,
BLUE SKY.]
[SMILE!]
[CHUCKLE!]
[LONG SIGH!]
"I will have to discuss,
in vivid detail,
that very scene
I just had,
with the Pharisees....,
with that squabbling,
irritating, beloved child,
of Mine,
one day....!"

"Why,
Lord?
WHY?"

"Because.....
she will be
one of their
descendents...
and, she is
going to be
very ANGRY,
with Me."
[CHUCKLE!]
"And....she..
will wish to
QUESTION it,
in a very odd,
rebellious,
manner."

"WHAT?
WHY?
But.....HOW?"

[SMILE!]
"Shouting up,
at Me...and,
yelling up at Me,
from her
kitchen table,
while she is
eating strange food,
drinking
her root beer."
[CHUCKLE!]
"And,
then...
WRITING,
about it, all."
[SHAKE HEAD,
SIGHING; BESMITTEN
WITH ORNERY,
SQUABBLING CHILD.]

"LORD!
That's so very....
STRANGE!"
(All the disciples,
by now,
are gathered about,
looking at their
Rabbi,
with open mouths.)
(Peter speaks up.)
"But, Lord?
What is....
'RUUTABARRE'?

[DELIGHTED LAUGH!]
[SMILE!]
[REACH OVER, TO GIVE
PETER A HUG.]
[CHUCKLING!]
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Then
some of the scribes
and Pharisees
answered,
saying,
'Teacher, we want
to see a sign
from You.'
[Matthew 12:38]

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