IF THE GREEKS HAD LOST May 6, 2007
Posted by Mr. Bell in Uncategorized.trackback
If The Greeks Had Lost
“The war of Marathon 2000 years ago was won by the Persians…” My father rambled on and on. I tuned it out, as I had done countless times before. “They were the backbone of our country…” Yeah, yeah I thought. They won the war, and started a strong monarchy in
Greece. They made us who we are. I don’t care. “A woman’s place is in the home child, please stop running off.” All I could do was bow my head and say “Yes, father.” “Now run along and do your chores.” I turned and fled the room.
I ran down the long stone hallways. They had large windows with a window seat at each one, with shutters that could block out the winter cold. Normally, I would sit at a window with one of father’s books reading, but today was different.
Last night father had announced that in two years, I would be old enough to marry off, that isn’t what bothered me. I’d already known that, it was his second announcement. He was remarrying. Father was going to marry! I didn’t mind, mother had died from an illness 2 years ago, no what bothered me was who! She was a slight woman with long ebony hair. Her skin was the color of white alabaster. She had ice cold blue eyes that could freeze you where you stood, and her mouth reminded me of a cat that had just caught a bird, curled up at the corners with an evil smile.
I had nothing against her; it’s just that she didn’t seem to like me, ever since I accidentally spilt red wine on that lovely white dress of hers. Oops, there I go, now I look like I’m the one who caught a bird, oh well.
I turned a corner and dashed through a door, and collided heavily with one of the servants.
“Oof, child, what are you doing?!” I started I’d just crashed headlong with the head gardener. She was a lovely woman, with chocolate colored skin and kind eyes. Why couldn’t father marry someone like her? “Child, come, I’ve been looking for you, and you promised to help me gather fruit today to send to your brother at war, did you run off again? Golly, ‘tis almost noon! Heavens child! You’re awfully pale.”
She, the rambling woman was right! I was pale, clammy too. I kept forgetting where Greg was, it was so peaceful here I’d forgotten. “Come child, warm sunlight and fresh air will do you good, go find a shady spot, I’ll bring you some cold mint tea. Hurry along now, and then you can help me.” “Thanks, um,” “Nell!” “Okay, I’m going,” You’ve got to love her.
I wandered the gardens until I came to my favorite fruit tree. It was the only apple tree we had and it had a grape vine growing up its trunk. I reached up and picked the biggest, sweetest apple I could find. Then I sat down and waited, chewing on the warm, crisp fruit in my hand. I didn’t wait long. Soon I could see the form of the head gardener heading my way. She sat on the ground beside me.
She wasn’t so much a slave to me, as a friend, but that is because I wasn’t allowed to leave home. (Except when I, um, took, ah, secret excursions into the forest, father calls it running away, I call it freedom.) We quickly drank the mint tea, and then we started picking.
I quickly filled my skirt with the biggest, reddest apples I could find. It didn’t take long before… “Child, come on, we need more than apples, pick some grapes and kiwi, don’t forget the raspberries and strawberries, Nell, are you listening? We need to send your brother more than apples!” I blushed deeply and wandered away looking for other fruits. Within the hour we had enough fruit.
“Nell, come with me, we’ll take the fruit down to the kitchen, and then you can leave.” I followed the head gardener obediently; she was the only person I ever listened to. We made our way down to the kitchens.
When we walked in I was pulled into a gigantic bear hug. When I was released I spun around. Standing there in the doorway was my brother, Greg. I dropped my fruit laden skirt and embraced Greg. I looked up at his face, “Why are you here?” Greg looked hurt. “Don’t you like me anymore? The war is over, but if you don’t want me here I could leave.” I punched his arm and bent to pick up the fruit I’d dropped.
We were walking down a hallway when dad and his fiancé turned a corner. Much to my dismay, father had another announcement. He (and my soon to be step-mom) had decided to marry me off! I turned and ran. I could Greg arguing, and then I heard him coming after me.
Greg found me crying but I didn’t care. I sat there looking out the window, I heard him sigh. I didn’t move. I sat there on the window seat hugging my knees. I sat there long after he left lost in my own confusing thoughts. I sighed and leaned back against the wall. I watched as the sun sank down and bathed the world in red and gold. I found myself wondering what the world would’ve been like if the Greeks had won the battle of
Marathon. But that was a ridiculous notion; after all the Greeks had been greatly outnumbered. It was a silly idea, wasn’t it? I guess I’ll never know. I sighed, closed my eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
By: Krista Kaufman
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