Billy (Part One)

Billy sat viewing a video on his computer laptop that he had taken three weeks ago of a neighbor’s backyard gathering.  A beautiful woman spewed fire into the sky from her mouth as he hid in a tree secluded from site with his camera about five houses away from where the Ancient’s lived.  He shivered as he watched the scene over again and again.  This isn’t the only strange event he has witnessed from this neighborhood home – he saw a man floating in the air in the middle of the night in the same backyard.  He had heard that the group of people who frequented this house was different, but he never dreamed they were like this – more than human.

He began to watch the house about six weeks ago and found that ten people (or five couples) were constantly coming and going at all hours of the day and night.  They were quiet and no one seemed to complain about any strange things happening at this location, but Billy’s gut told him that he should wait and watch.  He played the video of the beautiful woman (whom he discovered was Eve Ancient) sending a huge cloud of fire into the sky with one breath.  What is this?  He kept asking himself if this was a trick of some sort, that maybe he would see an apparatus or chemicals being handed to her to allow such a huge fire ball to come out of her mouth.  But there was nothing – just a coin someone threw to her before she heaved the fire.

In his research he found that the house belonged to Joseph and Eve Ancient.  They both owned several web sites and one of the websites sold coins, curios and artifacts.  He went to the site and found “Joseph Ancient’s House of Ancient Coins and Curios” (http://www.ancientscoin.com). He had to admire the strangeness of some of the curios as well as the detail and authenticity of the ancient coins.  So the wife was tossed a coin and then came the fire?  He pondered the series of moves that led to the fire breathing of Mrs. Ancient.

“What about the others?” he asked himself.  How are these people related?  We have the two red heads that stand out in the crowd along with the beautiful wife and tall girl that has a shorter husband.  There’s that scruffy “John the Baptist” looking guy and his wife that always seemed to be standing instead of sitting. And then there is the ordinary girl and boy next door couple that seemed to be the “quiet ones” in the group.  These are ten people with different styles and personalities that look like they would have nothing in common.  Who are they?  Where did they come from? Why care?  Billy was curious and needed to know more.  Since his divorce he has been bored and lonely, but at thirty-two years old he was making great money as an electrician and “wiring guy” – there are plenty of companies needing to run category 5 an 6 wiring for their network systems and he always had contract work from other companies that had more work than they could handle  He made enough money to take two weeks off a month to spy on his neighbors and still have plenty of time to party and meet new ladies until the next booked job.

In all, the entire group down the street consisted of young twenty-something’s -- except for Joseph Ancient, who was noticeably older, bald and had a different demeanor about him --- almost like he was always on his guard with his eyes shifting like he was looking for something or waiting for something to happen.  Billy felt uncomfortable just thinking about having to talk to him face to face.  “How could such a homely, scary looking guy as this get such a hot gorgeous wife as her,” he thought, “must be lots of money in those pockets.”

“I guess I will have to take a closer look at these people and hope they don’t see me,” Billy said aloud to himself.

He began to type on his laptop keyboard looking for clues.  His screen brought him to the Missouri Public Records website.  He thought this would be a good place to start his new

hobby . . . .

(To be continued . . . .)

Visit the real Joseph Ancient Coin Site:  House of Ancient Coins & Curios

The Two Gingers

The Ancients and friends were called away on business.  Joseph told me to recap a few of his old thoughts.  Enjoy the mid-season reruns.
- R J Perry

 

“I see Joseph is really pushing his website.”  Tommy said as he scrolled through the ‘House of Ancient Coins and Curios’ website, “He really throws caution out the window when it comes to his obsessions.”

Lori put her head on Tommy’s shoulder and peeked at the display screen. “He’s never let any of us down and he has always protected us. He knows what he is doing.  I really miss them all.  It’s been too years since we saw each other face to face and Skyping just isn’t the same as being there.”  She kissed his cheek and moved back to making breakfast.

“It looks like Jago, Mona, Dani and Chester moved to Missouri.  It must be that time again.” The red haired man looked up from the display. “It’s been about 40 years since we moved to Texas.  We have to keep the promise.”

“I’m ready for a change”. Lori said as she flipped some sausage, “It will be so good to be with the others.  Has anyone heard from Neecie and Adam?”

“They’re still in London, enjoying the Queens country.” Tommy joked.  “I think they will be moving to Missouri, too.”

Lori placed 2 plates on the kitchen table, tossing her long red locks to the side before sitting down.  Tommy joined her at breakfast and complimented her cooking with a kiss to the hand and a thank you for going through the trouble.  After finishing the eggs sausage and toast, Lori continued the conversation.

“So, when do we move?” she asked.

“Well, we can have a Realtor sell the house while we are gone.  We can leave next week.  I‘m sure Joseph and Eve have plenty of room for us while we look for a new place to live.”

“Sounds like a plan.  The two gingers are off to the Midwest.”

Tommy smiled, got up from the table and waved his hand over the dishes, sending them gently to the sink.

 

Visit Joseph's real website: http://www.ancientscoin.com

One Cool Spring Night

The Ancients and friends were called away on business.  Joseph told me to recap a few of his old thoughts.  Enjoy the mid-season reruns. 
- R J Perry

Once in “Blue Moon” my friends and I get together for dinner and drinks to remember the wonderful times we had in our youth.  It was on a cool spring evening that several of us and our spouses settled in at a local outdoor grill for food and laughter encouraged by our bottomless beer mugs.

“Jago” brought his wife Mona and Chester brought Dani. I of course brought Eve and we all dominated the area of the patio where we were sitting.  Jago (we still don’t remember why he is called “Jago”, but we knew it wasn’t his real name), was laughing loudly enough to annoy the table next to us into taking their drinks to the inside of the bar rather than remain by us.  He smiled widely as he threw back the rest of his glass of beer with a loud gulp.

“Ah, these are the times, eh friends?”

Chester (who also adopted that name instead of his birth name) agreed by raising his glass.  Mona shook her head as Dani and Eve looked at each other with an expression that said “Oh no, not again”.

Jago looked at me with an impish grin and asked, “So I see you have gone public to the world with that website - “House of Ancient Coins and Junk”.

I corrected him. “That’s house of Ancient Coins and Curios, and I haven’t really gone public, I am just arousing their curiosity”.

“Looks like that could be dangerous to the rest of us.” Chester said with concern.

The ladies decided to adjourn to the bar area as we began to discuss a very old subject.  They didn’t want to know too much about the others spouse.  Jago poured us each another round and sat down.

“Don’t worry”, I assured them, “they would never believe any of us, even if we were honest to their faces.  It’s too hard to accept the truth, so we give a little to mislead”.

“You sound more like you teasing them”, Chester said as he took a drink.

“Why do you share these things, and why do you continue to buy and sell?” Jago asked.

I replied, “The older I get the harder it is to remember everything.  I suppose it’s nature’s way of keeping our minds fresh and sharp.  No one has done what we have done.”

“Why coins?” asked Jago.

“They are easy to store and I can pull them out to reminisce whenever I like.  Aren’t either of you having the same problem?”

They both agreed with a nod.

I continued, “I have many of these trinkets to offer everyone.  When you hold one in your hand it makes me feel like I am there, in the desert or walking the streets of Rome. That’s why I am offering these coins and artifacts to everyone.  They can experience this too.  Why don’t you guys try it?”

“Do you have any with you? “ Jago asked.

“No.  Go to www.ancientscoin.com and buy some!”

“You would charge us?” laughed Chester.

“Do you want to remember?” I asked them. “Then like everyone else go to House of Ancient Coins and Curios and pick up something. Hold history in your hands boys!”

“Ah, you’re an idiot”, Jago said waving his hand, “but here’s to the good old days!” He stood and gestured his glass to toast.

The girls came back out at that moment and looked at each other with a look that said “It’s going to be a long night”.

Chester (Conclusion)

We couldn’t stop Chester’s revenge --- it was streaming to the old woman’s house in a wave of red heat.  First, an enraged and newly immortalized (did I mention he was indestructible?) Chester rocketed out of his house with a blade held high in the air.  He was immediately followed by our men, who in turn raised their blades in the gesture soldier’s would use when running forward into battle.  Eve and I followed with apprehension, foreseeing the outcome of Chester’s augmented rage.

“Joseph, “she said as she gulped huge breaths of air from the long run, “we can’t stop him or our men.”

“I know.  We will need to leave this place as quickly as possible once this is finished.”  Eve caught her breath, looked up at me and smiled.  She pulled a blade from beneath her robes that was hidden, strapped to her inner thigh. “I can’t let Chester murder an old woman.”

She ran toward the screams and clanging of metal. “So you’ll do it for him?!” I yelled questioning her with my arms up as she disappeared around a corner.  “I am going to have to have a serious and long talk with her tomorrow,” I said to myself, striding away from the battle shaking my head side to side in futility and disbelief.  I sat myself down under a tree looking down over the valley where the sun was coming up.  The fighting went on for about thirty minutes, and then the silence followed as the men killed the wounded and then set the house on fire to cleanse it.

Eve found me sitting under the tree and took her place next to me.  She was covered in blood, from her chin to her thighs and Chester followed her, smiling and nodding silently, victoriously.

I looked at them both and scolded, “Murder is never the answer!  Revenge cannot fix the past! And you --- Eve!  What kind of teacher are you?!  You have upset me more than you will ever know.”

“Joseph, she deserved . . . .”

I cut Eve off in mid-sentence, “She deserved to be punished, but not to death!”  I walked off into the morning sunlight leaving Chester and my wife to fend for themselves.  Our men ransacked the old women’s house after killing her husband and sons, and then set their slaves free.

I heard Eve calling after me as I continued to make my way to our home.  Upon arriving I changed clothes, packed a sack of my belongings and walked out the front of our house.  I found Eve standing with Chester waiting for me (Eve was afraid to confront me) --- she saw my bag and ran to me.

“What are you doing?” she asked in apprehension. “Where are you going?”

“I have had enough! You are turning into someone that doesn’t care anymore.  We are here to help people, not kill them.  I am going away on my own.  You can take care of Chester; teach him what he needs to know.  I am going to make peace with myself for creating monsters.”

Eve wept, “Joseph, I’m sorry!  Please don’t go.  We’ve been together for so long.  I promise I’ll be good and think before I act!  Please!” She pleaded.  “Please don’t go.  I love --- need you”

Chester put his arm around Eve to comfort her, but she shrugged him off.  I looked back at them and began to walk into the unknown.  Chester will be fine with Eve --- she will be like a mother to him.  It’s what they both needed for now.  As for me, I will spend the next one hundred years learning more about the potion I created.

Visit Joseph Ancient’s real web store at  HTTP://WWW.ANCIENTSCOIN.COM

Chester (Part Five)

After three days of waiting and watching Chester, the thick white mist engulfing his form began to dissipate. Eve and I were amazed at what we saw when the mist was gone – Chester was no longer obese and his skin and muscle tone were as good and as fit looking as anyone’s.  We cleaned him as he lay sleeping, oblivious to what has happened to him and what he has become. 

“He’s a handsome young man.” Eve said smiling as she pulled a clean linen robe over his head.  “He will be happy to be able to move around like everyone else – without someone helping him move his weight around.”

“He’s in for a shock once he sees the change his body has gone through”, I said, “He’s also going to have a tough time with being an indestructible immortal.”

“We’ll help him.  Haven’t we always helped everyone we’ve made?”

I nodded in agreement. “Sure.  We’ve helped them, but we can’t do anything about the crazy time he will go through.  We don’t know what to expect.”

We lied to our men and leaned on their religious beliefs to help us explain what happened to Chester and what caused his change.  We told them that the gods smiled on him, healed him and changed him.  We said Jupiter sent a messenger made of fire to visit Chester to reward him for his kindness to all the people he has helped and been generous to by healing him and taking away his excess weight.  Fortunate for us, these men were fanatics that were trying to destroy all the “others” that believed in the “One God” ---  they were elated to praise Jupiter and have actual evidence that he existed, allowing them to share this and spread the news that the “others” were blasphemers.  This gave them all the more reason to come down on the old women’s house and their small army of thieves.

The following morning, Chester awoke and asked for some food.  It took a few moments for him to notice that he had changed.  He stood up and gasped in shock. He didn’t hear a word when we said that we have many wonderful things to tell him.  He kept feeling himself, first his stomach, then legs and rear, then his face and arms.  For about fifteen minutes he touched and felt himself in disbelief until he finally went to look at his reflection in the polished iron mirror in his parent’s quarters.

“What has happened to me?” he finally asked. “That’s not me in that reflection.  It’s someone else that looks like me but is strong and  . . . .”

“Handsome.” Eve interrupted. She moved to Chester’s side and tried to comfort him.  “You have been given a great gift from Joseph and me.  You were dying.  Do you remember?”

Chester continued to stare at his reflection as Eve spoke on. “The old women’s husband and sons came in and beat you with their hands and feet and they killed Joseph buy running him through with a blade.”

Chester turned away from the reflection and examined Joseph with his gaze. “He is alive, not dead.  Look . . .” he gestured for Eve to look at me, and then returned his gaze to his reflection.

“He is alive because he took the same medicine that we gave to you.  It healed you and changed you.  There is no magic here, just alchemy.”

Chester looked up at the both of us.  He stood about six feet four inches and was as strong as he looked.  We figured that his strength came from carrying around all of the excess weight --- it made him strong enough to lug his bulk around.  He has chestnut brown hair that was quite light for a Roman and large hands --- the kind you would expect from a ship’s mate.

“The old woman let them beat me?  And her husband and sons kicked and punched me hoping I would die?” His voice became louder. “Those sons that mocked me and tormented me every time they saw me?  The sons that pushed me around and made me do things until I cried? I was a small boy all alone . . . .”  At this point he took a deep breath, looked up to the sky and began to weep and wail loudly.

Eve looked at me and quietly said, “Oh,oh.”

Chester ripped the linen garment from his chest and screamed a shrill cry of anger.  Years of suppressed emotion were surfacing causing his body to shake with rage at the thought of what everyone put him through --- how everyone tormented him and used him. With his face as red as the morning horizon he looked about and picked up a sword, swung it a couple times to get the feel and he ran toward the doorway.

Eve and I looked at each other and knew where he was going.  I shook my head and looked at Eve and said, “Oh, oh.”

(To Be Continued . . . .)

Visit Joseph Ancient’s real web store at HTTP://WWW.ANCIENTSCOIN.COM

Chester (Part Four)

“Joseph!” Eve shook me awake, while hiding my mortal wound from the others, as I came back to life with a deep gasp of air. “When were they here?  I am going to rip that old woman apart!”  She growled.

Our men struggled to lift Chester to his bed, attempting to gently put him in place. Eve and I saw that he was alive but unconscious, wheezing with every breath.  She had a furious expression on her face with tears of sorrow in her eyes that made her look like an insane woman on the edge --- because of what they did to Chester, not to me.  He was innocent and regrettably he was as helpless as a child. She loved him and this made revenge her only purpose --- there was little I could do to slow her emotional eruptions down.  When in this state of mind she couldn’t eat, sleep or function normally until her goal for vengeance was accomplished.

“Chester doesn’t sound like he will make it through the night.” I said, while removing my bloodied under garments. “Go check on him and I’ll clean myself.”  I knew this would distract Eve from any retaliation while I thought of a sensible plan of action.  Chester should be our main concern at this moment, nothing else should distract us from the decisions we will have to make.

Eve had a wet cloth in her hand, gently wiping away the blood from Chester’s face as he lay struggling to stay alive on his bed.  Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she calmly set her gaze at the young man, tuning out the surrounding activity in the large room.  I sent our men to watch the front of the house and told them not to disturb us.  When the room had emptied, Eve and I conversed about our next course of action.

“I know what you are thinking”, I said, “there’s already five of us walking the earth and we just left Leneeca only two years ago.  Will we turn everyone we feel sorry for into an indestructible immortal?”  I moved to her side and looked down at Chester fighting to breath, gasping to stay alive. “We have to decide, right now.”

Eve looked at me and shook her head in indecision. “I don’t know.  I have been struggling with the idea of this gift we have.  Is it a gift or a curse, Joseph?  Is long life good?  Only you can answer that right now.  You were six thousand years old when I met you.  Should we be the ones to decide who dies and who lives forever?”

I looked down at Chester and pulled the clay jar from my hidden pocket.  The jar has been with me about seven thousand years . . . . I tried to put the potion in better containers, but it would turn gray and evaporate in seconds.  The peculiar thing about the concoction is that it never runs out or runs low.  I’ve dropped the container and watched it shatter, but the liquid inside fixed it and replenished itself.  I don’t know what fell from the heavens, but it a creature all on its own.  I pulled the stopper out from the jar’s opening, lifted Chester and poured it into his mouth.  He coughed and swallowed and let out a deep moan.  His gasping for air stopped and he sounded like he was falling into a healthy sleep.  Eve watched as I did this and a smile started slowly spreading across her lips.

“This will either kill him or save him.  He has a good heart and a giving and loving spirit.  He deserve to live another day.” I said laying him back down to rest as his skin began to sweat and steam.

Eve looked up with an approving expression and said, “And then there were six.”

(To Be Continued . . . .)

Visit Joseph Ancient’s real web store at   HTTP://WWW.ANCIENTSCOIN.COM

Chester (Part Three)

Eve and I took an immediate liking to Chester and wanted to help him.  He was one of those rare people in this time and place that had empathy for those around him, causing him to try and fix the pain and suffering exuding from people.   He had given away most of his money and gold, but had considerable wealth in livestock and land.  We supposed he really didn’t understand that he could sell off the land and livestock and remain comfortable the rest of his life.

“Chester, who are the caretakers of your father’s land and livestock?” I asked.

He replied, “The old woman’s husband and four sons.  They take care of those things.”

Eve and I realized this family of caretakers was taking advantage of Chester and hiding this from the authorities that protect the ruling class families in Rome.  The old woman is sent to keep him happy while the others pilfer his live stock holdings and farming properties.  She keeps him fat and immobile while the others steel from this defenseless young man.

“Chester, we want to help you.” Eve said in her moist consoling voice.  “We believe there are people that are doing bad things to you and keeping you from the truth.  Where do the old woman and her family live?”

He thought for a moment. “I really don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.  She comes here and takes care of me and that’s all I know.  I usually provide fifty denarius a month for her to take care of everything.”

When Eve heard this I saw her beautiful face go red, then ugly. She had that dangerous look she gets when she feels someone has been wronged.  I would always call her my “avenging beauty”.  She was always getting into trouble  . . . .

We asked around and found that Marianna, the old woman and her family lived about two miles down the main road that leads out of Rome.  I convinced Eve that we should wait for the old woman to confront her about Chester’s father’s land and livestock before we go marching into their home to cut off heads.  My “Avenging Beauty” agreed --- late one evening we waited for her to visit Chester’s house.  That was the beginning of some bad things for all of us.

We surrounded Marianna and confronted her for the truth.  She wasn’t very happy with the fact that she and her family’s integrity were being questioned.  And it didn’t help matters that Eve grabbed her by the chin and pushed her against the wall to pry out the truth.  Marianna’s motherly demeanor disappeared and a horrid old woman’s anger emerged, slapping Eve’s hand away and while kicking her in the groin in one swift movement.  Eve fell to her knees as the woman ran to escape us.  While she was running we could hear her threats, “My sons will come back and take care of you and the fat man.”

Rome in 80AD was a good place to take these threats seriously.  We knew that we would have to gather our household men to protect Chester.  Eve was fuming about the old woman’s kick to her groin and wanted to grab a blade and remove her head that same night.  I calmed her with some wine and soft words and after, I told her to run back to our house to get help in case of a fight, while I stayed with Chester.

I sat with the young man, not letting him know that a grave situation was about to occur, but this didn’t matter.  Marianna’s family descended upon us with a group of twenty men. They first grabbed me (I was without a weapon), as ten of them pulled Chester from his bed and began to viciously beat him.  He screamed and cried to have mercy, but here was none.

The old woman’s husband came to me and spit on me, then called me a filthy “Roman whore.”  After I spit back he took his blade and ran it though my heart.  I was really enraged that I was caught so unaware.  As I lay dying for the thousandth time, I knew Eve would be back, she would be outraged at what she would see.

“Oh well”, I thought as I heard the assassins leave. It’s time to die and wake up again . . . .

To Be Continued . . . . .

Visit Joseph Ancient’s real web store at  HTTP://WWW.ANCIENTSCOIN.COM

Greetings From Rome!

Hello everyone.  I thought I would remind you that I will post the third part of the story "Chester" next week when Eve and I return home.  We want to be with all our friends back in the Midwest in time for Christmas and New Years Eve. 

Thanks to all of you that read this blog and go to our store House of Ancient Coins and Curios at http://www.ancientscoin.com .

Remember to read all of the comments that accumulate while the current blog is posted.  

And Jago ----- quit being an ass to everyone. Nobody likes you when you drink and talk.  Mona, keep him as sober as you can :-)

Until next week, my friends . . . .

-Joseph-

Christmas Vacation

Hello my friends.  I am sorry, but Eve and I will be out of the country for Christmas.  We want to visit the places we called home many years ago.  I will return with Chester (Part Three) next week.

**Don't forget to read the comments below the blog for hints to future stories.**

In the meanwhile visit  House of Ancient Coins & Curios (http://www.ancientscoin.com) for great and unusual gift ideas.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends.

-Joseph-

Chester (Part Two)

The elderly woman that pleaded for us to help the young man disappeared as soon as we took charge of the situation.  Eve found a clean cloth, dipped it in some nearby water and wiped the blood out of Chester’s face.  I pulled him around and laid his head gently on my knee.  He began to weep in frustration, not caring that two strangers attended to his dilemma with grace and compassion.

“Thank you my friends, thank you!” He wept. “My servants have long since been gone and I cannot fend for myself due to my illness.” (He referred to his obesity as an illness).

“There now”, Eve said in her most comforting voice, “we won’t abandon you. My name is Eve and this is Joseph.  When you feel ready, we will help you to get inside your house and find you a comfortable place to rest.”

He introduced himself and carried on about how his family was once rich and how he didn’t understand where all of his wealth had gone. He explained about helping as many people as he could, whenever they would ask, but he was sure the wealth his family had amassed was much larger than it seemed.  He could no longer pay his servants and the old woman that brought us to him, checked in on him because she felt obligated to his parents after working for them for so many years.  He had just enough funds to sustain him and to his pay taxes and tribute when needed.  He was all alone. . . .

After he calmed and we finished cleaning him, I began to seek more answers. “Who gathers food for you and tends to the house?” I asked.

“Marianna, the old woman . . . she takes care of me --- but not as much as she used to.  I can no longer pay her, so she either comes here or sends her son takes her place.  He is very cruel to me.  He calls me names and spits on me, but I have to take it or suffer.”  He stared into my eyes for a moment and burst into tears. “I don’t want to die.  Not like this.  I am only twenty years old…what am I to do?  What can I do?”

Eve and I looked at each other.  We didn’t have answer for him.  We wondered if he was born this way or if his entire family was like him.  It seemed there were more and more large people in Rome these days.  Most died at an early age and some fell down, broke a hip or a leg and infection set it, causing their death.  We didn’t know how we could help Chester become healthy again or if he was ever actually healthy.

After we assured Chester that we would check on him in the morning he closed his eyes and went to sleep.   We made our way back home and discussed his situation.

“Eve, I feel very bad for this young man.  He is twenty years old, but might as well be a hundred.”

“I am sad for him too, Joseph --- but what can we do?  We can’t keep watching over him day after day, night after night.  He will be living in the streets soon and he is so large that he makes almost three of me in girth --- he won’t survive alone. If he tries to walk he will fall due to his size.  If he tries to move fast it will burst his heart.”

“Well, either way,” I said, “there is no future for him.  He will die young and no one will remember how generous he was and how he saved other families from slavery.”

(He told us stories about some of the people he had helped).

“I have been curious about something, though --- what if we gave the medicine to someone like him?  Would it cure him? Fix him like it did Mona?”

“Joseph, what if the medicine kills him?  If he drowns in his own fluids like the others?  There are already five of us, should we make another?  Do we have that right to decide on our own, now that there are more of us?”

“It’s for me to decide, Eve.”  I said sternly. “I made the potion and I will distribute it as I see fit.”

“What ---by killing an innocent young man?” Eve replied with equal force in her voice.

I looked into her eyes.  “I love you. And I hear what you are saying, but Chester deserves life and he will also help us understand the medicine and how it works.”

“If it doesn’t kill him.” Eve snapped.

"If it doesn’t kill him.”  I snapped back.

(To be continued . . . .)

Visit Joseph Ancient’s real web store at  HTTP://WWW.ANCIENTSCOIN.COM