Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Fast: Quick, or stuck or made stable (10/16/25)
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TITLE: Stuck in Fear, Bound for Adventure: A Fast Passage to the New World | Previous Challenge Entry
By Avigail David
10/23/25 -
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Sometimes, the clouds darkened Tomas’ resolves as quickly as hailstorms pelted and meteor-ed down by surprise. But Tomas never scared easily. What do the King and Queen know about me—ME, Tomas? I’m turning thirteen in three days. It would be swell before I know it.
Tomas felt that his Bar Mitzvah was briskly running at breakneck in three days. Accelerated his courage even more-- as swiftly as he could muster up at full speed in rounding up his fight, or flight in question, to the seas of nowhere, but Spain. Tomas’ unrelenting steadfastness to stepping fast into stability-with-more-responsibilities of adulthood and freedom put in place.
An escape. He’d take up to his heels from the burning stake. But he knew that only alleged witches burnt. The ropes would not contain Tomas, nor be tied fast his head chopped off at the gallows. Swiftly, snapped back to reality, “Hashem, is my and my people’s Promise Land to freedom.”
Even though the sun showed in the horizon on some days; even though the blue-sky trifled melancholy with a little sulk, Tomas’ fear that entrapped his age of all ages in his right mind of passage of opinion, that his dream gaoled into nightmare. But he always woke up fast from it. He had felt this dread since he had held on the hope about his great, great grandparents’ daring escape to freedom from Egypt at the Red Sea. They were stories of old that he never grew tired of.
“Baruch Atah Ado-nai” were often secretly exchanged with quick nods.
On the muddy roads that squelched in their sandals or bare feet, words of blessings briskly said which only mountains and hills heard. Death was a constant visitor threatening comfort and stability speared out like fluttered wings of reality in thin air. These blessings uttered in secret, though, did their purpose instantly like a lightning powerful voice from heaven. That was Tomas’ fettered hopes breaking loose and free.
The deck of the Santa Maria the salty autumn-sanguine stirred tension and excitement a 13th century swift business of the day to sail across the Atlantic. The trifle skies hung low, casting golden hues across the expanse of the Atlantic.
“Sire, Captain!” Tomas hurtled, without further ado, “Is it indeed true, Sir, that yer going out to the ocean and to the new world? Wilt you please take me with you. I work hard. Scrub the decks, cook and fight!”
“Well, well, lad . The world is vast and full of possibilities.”
“Prithee, Captain, Sire! Dost thou truly think we shalt find land beyond these waves? A place where I can leave this dark Egypt behind?
“Well, well, indeed, young bonito. What is your name?
“Tomas, Sire!”
“Out yonder, beyond these seas, lies a realm of riches and freedom—a chance for thee to escape the grip of fear and be as free as the wind! Is that what we wish for? ”
“Aye, Sire, in twinkling of an eye as the prophets of old said, that Promise Land in beyond the sea, Sir. I’ve heard about it from my parents and grandparents many a times. But the sea be as treacherous as those who hunt me? What if we are beset by storms or worse, Sire?”
“Ha-ha oi-vey! Quickly detecting Tomas of Yiddish heritage, “Fear not the sea, lad! A mariner hath his tales of tempest and trial. It’s in these trials that ye shall find your mettle. The storms shall teach thee resilience.”
“I can’t shake off this dread fast enough, Sire. Back in my village, I felt horribly stuck, always under watchful eyes, fighting the Mitzrayim when they would come for me in the desert.”
“I see thy plight, Tomas. But this voyage marks thy chance to break free—fast!
“Dost thou believe I shall be more than a mere boy escaping fear, Sire?”
“Aye! Thou hast spirit fast enough. Your courage is light, not merely in brawn, your heart desireth purpose makes a stable character, boy!”
“I shall learn all that I can—about sailing, the stars, face whatever comes. Blessed is He, Hashem.”
“That's the way, lad! Knowledge is yer treasure. With each passing wave, ye shall gather wisdom quicky that cannot be measured in gold.”
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