Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: TOURIST ATTRACTION(S) (natural or man-made) (08/06/15)
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TITLE: Word on the Street | Previous Challenge Entry
By Amanda Septer
08/13/15 -
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First, we have tourists. Jewish worshipers flock from near and far. Then, we have the locals who take advantage, I mean, take care of said tourists.
To the right we have the moneychangers, Phil and John. For a “small” fee they offer the convenience of exchanging your foreign money. This way the tourist can buy the animals they are required to purchase. This job is just a stepping-stone for those two. I’m pretty sure their career ambition is to take up posts as tax collectors.
You have the sons of Darius set up at the far end. They have the cow and sheep market pretty well wrapped up. One of the brothers transferred a while back to a Roman attraction. Haven’t heard from him since.
Then you have Vinnie. He sells the doves. I hate that guy. Everyday he puts on his best used camel salesman act, and takes full advantage of the poorest of us all. Of course, like the others, he hides behind the law of supply and demand. The only ones who might be worse than Vinnie are the Chief Priests, but don’t even get me started on white tunic crime.
Last but not least is yours truly, your resident lowly beggar. I’ve been working on trying to come up with a more impressive title like, Lead Officer of Shekels & Talents, but it seems a little uppity for a crippled beggar. Besides, who wants to hand out L.O.S.T. business scrolls? Everyday I sit on my mat, dependent on the mercy of others.
So you see, the temple really has all the elements of a tourist spot. I know it’s not politically correct to call it such, but hey, if the sandal fits…
I could fill fifty scrolls with all the crazy things I’ve seen, but I have to tell you about what happened the other day. I was sitting on my mat, like everyday. I saw a group of men come in. There was nothing special about these guys. The only reason I noticed them in the first place was because the head guy looked at me. I mean he actually seemed to see me when he walked by, not the normal glazed glance I usually get. They walked in and things got interesting. The head guy grabbed some cords, fashioned a whip, and started driving everyone out. Tables were turned over and money went flying, He then turned to Vinnie and said,
“Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
Ha! If only my legs worked, I would have stood up and applauded that guy. I don’t know why he was causing the scene, but anyone who told off Vinnie was all right by me. I heard one of the guys in his group say something about consuming zeal, but I didn’t catch the meaning.
“What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” cried Vinnie, like a little baby. Okay, so maybe he didn’t cry like a baby, but he sure had attitude.
I stretched myself up as far as I could, waiting to see what he’d say. Obviously this guy was someone. The name Jesus was whispered among those watching. The Chief Priests were furious, though they weren’t saying anything.
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” Jesus replied.
Well, this totally went over Vinnie’s head. To tell the truth it went over mine too, but it seemed to mean something to the guys with him. They looked at each other like something finally made sense.
“It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” Vinnie boasted, like he built it himself.
I wasn’t able to hear this Jesus’s reply. People started grumbling and blocked my view from my mat. I just sat there shocked by what I had seen. All I could think was, maybe this would be the guy to take the temple back. Make it a place of pure worship again.
The Passover Feast is coming up. I’m going to figure out a way to be there. I want to see this Jesus. I have to meet this guy. Word on the street is … he can heal the lame.
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Fictional Story based off events of John 2:12-24
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One small (very small) suggestion. You have your MC saying that "the head guy" came in and drove everyone out. Then you have him use the name Jesus. How did he know who it was? A simple line of "Then I knew He was this Jesus everyone had been talking about" at some point.
Great job on this. I loved the bits of humor... Used camel salesman. That's awesome.