Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: GREED (avarice, particularly for wealth and things) (01/22/15)
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TITLE: The Heart of the Matter | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jennifer Champion
01/27/15 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“I am quite aware Cleo; it is my dresser.” The sarcasm oozes from my mouth like the pus from Cleo’s brown recluse spider bite.
“Well, are you going to tell me what is in them or should I guess, my friend?” Cleo’s curiosity about my vessels gives me much room to toy with him.
“In this brown one is the heart of my deceased wife. It is a nasty site to behold and the stench is unbearable. I’d advise you never to open it.” I tap the brown vessel lightly with my finger.
“That is disgusting, Antony. Please tell me there is something more pleasant in the other vessel.” Cleo makes a face at the thought of my dear dead wife’s heart resting in the bottom of the large pot.
“In this white one are gold coins that I put back for the church. Each month, I empty it at the altar.” I tap the lid and smile.
“It must be full then my Dear Brother! You are a dedicated servant for our Lord. Now that my curiosity has been satisfied, please lance this spider bite so that I can get back to my business.” Cleo props his throbbing leg on the table.
I remove my knife from the fire and wipe off the smut. Then, with the tip pointed down, I pierce the skin. Cleo flinches as I mash the mound that has grown on his calf. The poisonous pus pours out and runs onto the towel. The room is suddenly filled with the sickening smell of rotting flesh. I wash it out with wine and pack it with salt. Cleo muffles his screams into the bend of his elbow. Once wrapped, Cleo reaches into his pocket to pay me.
“Twelve gold coins? Cleo this is much too much.” I shake my head to him in refusal but pray he is insistent.
“What you do not need, you may put in the white vessel.” Cleo hugs me and limps out of the room after watching my deposit all but one coin in the white vessel.
I check in the hall to make sure he is not coming back. He is a forgetful man so it would not surprise me. Once satisfied that he is not returning, I empty the white vessel of all its contents and drop it into the brown vessel. Then, with wine in hand, I sit by the window and look out in to city below.
“Poor miserable fools. Even poor old Cleo thinks the white vessel is full of money and how funny that he believed the brown vessel contains the heart of my dead wife! Ah, if he only knew that it really contains gold coins and lots of them. Better yet, it is only but one of many vessel full of coins I have hidden around my house. Why would I give the church all this money? They have plenty. The church is full of hypocritical politicians and lawyers. I am but a mere servant to the people. I deserve their money more than the church.”
As I mumbled the last words and took a bite of bread with cheese, I feel my throat tighten up and I cannot breathe. My wine glass falls to floor as I reach my hands to my throat. I am choking! My eyes water and I try look out the window but there is no one down in the street but Cleo and he is too far away now to see or hear me. Finally, I collapse on the window sill and die.
The next day when Cleo comes back to have me check his leg, he discovers my dead body. His first thought is too look in the white vessel and steal its contents. When he looks, it is empty. Then, with some hesitation, he lifts the lid from the brown one and prepares himself for something truly horrible. Instead of a rotting heart, he finds the glimmer and brilliance of a pot full of gold. He takes it with him but not before flicking one coin my way.
“Good bye, my dear old friend. You were a despicable character full of greed and lies. You’ll not be needing this ‘heart’ so I’ll take it with me. I’ll send someone up to fetch your body.”
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