Apples of Gold (complete)

Part 2 - "I'm the Richest Boy in the World"

Joseph fetched his rickety handcart and pushed it to the forest edge where space had been made for people to collect wood. When he returned through the city gates, his load would be assessed and tax would be charged; this was why he had kept the penny. His cart fully loaded would cost a farthing. He had four loads to transport today. 

Taking up an old ax, he chopped wood and stacked it neatly, piling the cart high. To his horror, the cart creaked, shuddered, and collapsed.

Returning to the city, Joseph borrowed a hammer and some nails from one of the many carpenters, after which he walked back to the forest, unloaded the wood, repaired the cart and began reloading.

The large man who had watched his diligent work joined him —the man he now considered to be his 'personal spy'.

"I'll help you," the man said gruffly, removing his costly cloak. He began throwing the wood on the cart.

Surprised, Joseph stared at him. Close-up, the man was larger than ever. His clothes were not just those of a nobleman, but of a rich man of great consequence. Buttons on the man's velvet vest glittered in the sunshine.

"Thank you, Sir," Joseph said earnestly. He would never refuse a helping hand. "But please, be careful; although the cart is repaired, it's not very strong. I'll not load it so high this time."

Joseph rearranged the wood thrown in by the man. He liked to stack it properly rather than have it in an untidy heap. He was glad to see the man obey his wish; but by the appearance of the man's large smooth hands, Joseph knew stacking wood had not kept his hands busy before.

To Joseph's further surprise, the man helped him by supporting and pushing the cart when they came to a rough piece of road. He didn't introduce himself and didn't speak again. Joseph wondered if he should ask why he was being followed.

When in doubt, it's better to be quiet, he reminded himself. However, he asked, "Do you live in the city?"

The man gave no answer.

After returning the hammer and remaining nails, Joseph delivered half the wood to the widow's house, and then took the rest to another house where he was paid one penny. Returning to the forest, he collected what he had left behind and chopped wood until he refilled the cart. A baker in the city needed three loads today.

Again, the man helped load the cart and Joseph sensed he watched for his reaction as wood was deliberately placed out of kilter. The lad said nothing but restacked the pieces. After following Joseph back to the city, the man disappeared.

Joseph didn't receive money from the baker, but food. For the three loads, he was given enough food for twenty people. Joseph knew it would have to feed thirty—thirty-one—if he counted himself.

He took crusty bread rolls to the place outside the city wall where homeless beggars slept. There was Dan, who was old and blind; Harry, younger, was blind too. Dolly, an old lady who went everywhere with the younger lady, Jill, was also blind. Dolly's sister, Cherry, was terribly deformed and stone deaf. The other twenty-five were a mixture of cripples, disabled, aged, and handicapped.

Having distributed the food, Joseph made sure they all had their rugs and were settled for the night, in the shelter of the wall, under the overhang of the steps leading to the wall top. As he turned away, he saw that his personal spy had returned. This time, a smaller man stood with him, watching as Joseph bade his friends good night.

***

The sinking sun painted the city with orange flames, creating deepening shadows. Feeling bone weary, Joseph could have easily skipped his evening wash, but he remembered how much better he slept after removing the grime of the day. Therefore, he headed down to the river, collecting his sun-bleached, well-worn clothes from the branches where he had left them to dry. Placing them on a large rock, he moved around the riverbank to a high place. Leaping in, fully clothed, he created a large splash. Immerging from the middle of the splash, he laughed.

It felt good, making the splash. It gave him a sense of power; something big happened when he hit the water. Diving into a deep spot, he peeled off his clothes, surfacing to rub the hem of his tunic where it had been crushed in the soil when he knelt to collect the herb roots. He placed his sopping garments on the edge of the rock.

Swimming across the river and back, he enjoyed the relaxation of the water, diving under the water, he massaged his scalp with his fingertips.

The warmth of the large rock at the river's edge was welcome and Joseph sat there, pulling on his dry clothes, listening to the last songs of the birds as they settled for the night. Deepening twilight painted the sky blood red and Joseph relaxed in his beautiful out-door bath chamber. Lifting his eyes to the sky, he said, aloud, "Thank You, Father. I'm the richest boy in the world."

"What makes you imagine such a thing?" a deep voice resounded from the shadows behind Joseph.

Feeling indignant, Joseph forgot his previous thoughts and demanded, "Who are you? Why do you follow me?"

"I asked you a question, child. What makes you think you're so rich?"

Joseph felt intimidated at the commanding tone of his watcher. The smaller man stepped closer to the river's edge, waiting for the lad's reply. Joseph answered truthfully, "Well, Sir; do you see the beautiful sunset? Look at the crimson reflections in my river —my favorite things are here; they were made by my Father and they belong to me. —Look around! —Who else is here to enjoy them? Who can steal them from me?"

Silence.

Joseph stood, collected his wet clothes, and added, "My Father made it all, and I like it all so much."

And just who is your father?" the smaller man asked, following Joseph by walking side by side with his tall broad-shouldered companion.

"Why, God —of course." Joseph climbed the tree, hanging his clothes in the branches. When he descended, the men had disappeared.