The Tunic (part 8)

(The Tunic is a fictional story based on the Passion of Jesus. The story began on post March 18, 2019.)


  "Mama, can we just wait outside until Papa returns?" begged Remus.  "I want to run right up to him when he gets off his horse!"
  Livia loved the idea!  "Of course!" she answered.  "I actually thought he might be home by now.  He might be working another long day."
  "I don't care how long we have to wait!  This will be the best surprise I have ever given him."  The time seem to go by very quickly.  Remus hopped and jumped and did all the things he used to only dream about doing again.
  "Remus look! Is that Papa coming down the street?!"
  Remus looked carefully.  "It is! It is!" Remus began jumping up and down yelling, "Papa, Papa!"
  Cato had felt pleased with himself as he rode home.  He had sold that tunic for a good price.  He was anxious to tell Livia of his success.  As his eyes focused towards his home, his heart suddenly began to pump faster.  "Was that?   No.   How could it be?"
  "Papa, Papa!  Look at me!  I'm healed!"
  Cato jumped off his horse in an instant!  He ran the last few steps toward his son!  "Remus!  You are walking!  No, you are running!"  Cato grabbed his son in his arms and swung him in a circle and then hugged and kissed him.  "How has this happened?"
  "Mama is healed too!  We are both healed!"
  Cato looked at his wife.  Where were her scars?  He looked at Remus' legs.  There were no scars there either!  For a moment the three laughed and hugged one another.  It felt as if the pain of the past year had disappeared from their lives.  It felt so good.  "Livia, how has this happened?"
  Livia was giggling.  "Come inside!  I'll show you!"  She was bursting with excitement!  As she pulled Cato inside, her laugh came to an abrupt stop.  "Where is it?  Remus, where is it?"
  Remus pushed past his parents.  "It's right......wait...what happened?"
  Livia began searching frantically.  "Where is it?  Did someone take it?"
  Cato was very confused.  "What are we looking for?"
  "The tunic!" Livia and Remus screamed simultaneously.
  "The tunic?  Why are we looking for that?"
  "The tunic healed us. Or the blood from the tunic healed us.  I don't know which! That man Jesus surely must have been God's son.  He healed us!"
  Cato began to feel the room spin.  Nothing was making any sense.  What had he done?  How can blood stained tunic heal.....his son was healed.....his wife was healed.....?  He had helped crucify Jesus.....His head began to pound as fast as his heart.  He fell to the ground to weak too stand. In the smallest of voices Cato confessed, "I sold it."

(to be continued...)

-Susan