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Adventures of Tobias: Episode 9
Shallum’s Stand
Panic-struck, Tobias could only gape at the man. The rest of him was paralysed. The man was watching him openly, his eyes peaceful but concerned. Angry, Tobias blurted out, “Who told you about my Master? Why are you so nosey?”
“Tobias!” Shallum’s voice cut the air sharply.
Stunned, Tobias looked over at Shallum. Since when had he woken to this world?
“You will not talk to our guest like that. Apologise!”
Lips clamped together mutinously. He would not apologise – after all, he had invited this man to sit with them while Shallum sat like a mute drunk beside him oblivious to the world. Shallum had no say over him. He was his own person, not Shallum’s, not Jathniel’s, no one but his own!
“Tobias, you have choices to make,” the man’s eyes were kind but serious. Tobias didn’t want to meet them and yet at the same time he did. The warmth in them was compelling. “You have many difficult choices to make that will influence the way your life goes. Choose wisely because when the time is right I will come back and give you another chance to make a choice.”
A shiver ran through Tobias as the man stood and thanked him for the fish. Something was wrong, he just knew it. It was as though his response to the stranger had left him feeling empty inside, but why? He had said way worse things to people in the past; why should he feel like this towards this man?
He watched with growing dejection as the man headed into the city.
“What?” Tobias turned to find Shallum glaring at him accusingly.
Shallum’s scowl deepened.
“It’s not my fault he left,” Tobias shook his head firmly. “He obviously had somewhere to go. Anyhow, what’s got you so woken up.”
Suddenly, Shallum jumped to his feet, “I’m going to follow him. Come with me boy.”
Stunned by Shallum’s sudden life, Tobias hesitated.
“You’ve been kind to me boy,” the ragged old man persisted. “Come with me. Don’t let me have to leave you behind when we could be following him,” he pleaded.
Tobias stared at Shallum and then at the man who was just a distance speck now. He didn’t want to follow anyone. Wasn’t that why he had run away from Jathniel? Wasn’t that why he had run away from home before that? Wasn’t that why he had been happy to stay with Shallum because Shallum was no threat to his independence?
He shook his head slowly and turned back to face the fire, sorry to be losing Shallum even if he hadn’t been the greatest of company.
He almost wished Shallum would have insisted he came but Shallum didn’t. But the old man had learnt one thing about Tobias during their time together, and that was that Tobias was stubborn.
Jathniel lingered. He knew he was already pushing boundaries by staying these few extra days but he missed the boy. Perhaps the extra time would be just long enough for the boy to decide to return. He scowled at Aculeo feeling like Aculeo was to blame for the boy’s disappearance.
“You know he won’t be back,” Aculeo’s eyes glittered with cold humour. “He’s from the street, he knows how to survive.”
Jathniel clamped his jaw together, stomping to the door to glare out at the passers-by.
“And if you don’t return soon you’re going to get into heck of a trouble,” the pleasure in Aculeo’s voice drove Jathniel from the house. He would not stay one moment longer with the heckler or Aculeo would have a fine big bruise to show off tomorrow.
Striding through the crowds, Jathniel headed for the market. Just as he was reaching the market he thought he caught sight of a child about Tobias’ size ducking between some women headed towards the river.
Jathniel dove between the women but there was no child anywhere.
The women were both very indignant.
“Excuse me, I thought I saw someone,” Jathniel backed away from them, smiling politely as he circled cautiously around them and then with one last mumbled apology he dashed towards the river.
“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region” Luke 4:14.
Panic-struck, Tobias could only gape at the man. The rest of him was paralysed. The man was watching him openly, his eyes peaceful but concerned. Angry, Tobias blurted out, “Who told you about my Master? Why are you so nosey?”
“Tobias!” Shallum’s voice cut the air sharply.
Stunned, Tobias looked over at Shallum. Since when had he woken to this world?
“You will not talk to our guest like that. Apologise!”
Lips clamped together mutinously. He would not apologise – after all, he had invited this man to sit with them while Shallum sat like a mute drunk beside him oblivious to the world. Shallum had no say over him. He was his own person, not Shallum’s, not Jathniel’s, no one but his own!
“Tobias, you have choices to make,” the man’s eyes were kind but serious. Tobias didn’t want to meet them and yet at the same time he did. The warmth in them was compelling. “You have many difficult choices to make that will influence the way your life goes. Choose wisely because when the time is right I will come back and give you another chance to make a choice.”
A shiver ran through Tobias as the man stood and thanked him for the fish. Something was wrong, he just knew it. It was as though his response to the stranger had left him feeling empty inside, but why? He had said way worse things to people in the past; why should he feel like this towards this man?
He watched with growing dejection as the man headed into the city.
“What?” Tobias turned to find Shallum glaring at him accusingly.
Shallum’s scowl deepened.
“It’s not my fault he left,” Tobias shook his head firmly. “He obviously had somewhere to go. Anyhow, what’s got you so woken up.”
Suddenly, Shallum jumped to his feet, “I’m going to follow him. Come with me boy.”
Stunned by Shallum’s sudden life, Tobias hesitated.
“You’ve been kind to me boy,” the ragged old man persisted. “Come with me. Don’t let me have to leave you behind when we could be following him,” he pleaded.
Tobias stared at Shallum and then at the man who was just a distance speck now. He didn’t want to follow anyone. Wasn’t that why he had run away from Jathniel? Wasn’t that why he had run away from home before that? Wasn’t that why he had been happy to stay with Shallum because Shallum was no threat to his independence?
He shook his head slowly and turned back to face the fire, sorry to be losing Shallum even if he hadn’t been the greatest of company.
He almost wished Shallum would have insisted he came but Shallum didn’t. But the old man had learnt one thing about Tobias during their time together, and that was that Tobias was stubborn.
Jathniel lingered. He knew he was already pushing boundaries by staying these few extra days but he missed the boy. Perhaps the extra time would be just long enough for the boy to decide to return. He scowled at Aculeo feeling like Aculeo was to blame for the boy’s disappearance.
“You know he won’t be back,” Aculeo’s eyes glittered with cold humour. “He’s from the street, he knows how to survive.”
Jathniel clamped his jaw together, stomping to the door to glare out at the passers-by.
“And if you don’t return soon you’re going to get into heck of a trouble,” the pleasure in Aculeo’s voice drove Jathniel from the house. He would not stay one moment longer with the heckler or Aculeo would have a fine big bruise to show off tomorrow.
Striding through the crowds, Jathniel headed for the market. Just as he was reaching the market he thought he caught sight of a child about Tobias’ size ducking between some women headed towards the river.
Jathniel dove between the women but there was no child anywhere.
The women were both very indignant.
“Excuse me, I thought I saw someone,” Jathniel backed away from them, smiling politely as he circled cautiously around them and then with one last mumbled apology he dashed towards the river.
“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region” Luke 4:14.