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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "A Man is Known by the Company He Keeps" (without using the actual phrase). (01/31/08)
“I don’t care!” This wasn’t exactly true. He did care what his parents thought. But they were wrong this time.

“This guy, this leader of those… those gypsies…”

“They’re not gypsies, dad. They’re fun loving, caring people. Like a family.”

“A family? Oh, whatever. Just how much do you know about him, really?”

“All I need to. He’s smart and kind and he cares about people. He cares about me.”

“We care about you, your mother and me. Isn’t that worth something?”

“Sure but… you just don’t understand. You’re just too old fashioned.”

“I understand this- me, your grandfather your great-grandfather and your great-great-grandfather worked hard to build the family business so one day you could take over, make a good living for your family and pass it on to the next generation. What about that? Is that just so much chopped liver, now? And what about church? We tried to raise you right, taught you to honor and respect God. Are you just going to throw all that away, too?” His dad’s face was as red as his mother’s apron.

“Mom. Can you please…?” His mom just shrugged and busied herself around the kitchen.

“This guy has a bad reputation, son.”

“I’m sorry dad. I really am, but I’m going to hang out with my new friends now.”

“You watch. This will all blow over in no time. It’s just another adolescent fad. Who in their right mind would want to be seen with some nobody from Nowhereville Nazareth. Everywhere he goes he insights a riot. Trouble follows on his heels. Why, just last week he trashed a church for goodness sake. I mean just who does this guy think he is anyway?”

“Jesus. His name is Jesus. He says he is the son of God and I believe him.”

“Well, mark my words, six months from now no one will even remember his name. Then who can say I told you so? Huh?”

“I love you mom, dad. I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t know just when that will be.”

“Here son, I packed you a lunch. It’s just a couple of fish sandwiches. In case you get hungry.”

“Thanks mom.” He hugged his mother and she kissed his cheek.

His father watched puffs of dust as they followed his namesake down the path.

“Bahh, kids these days.”
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This article has been read 963 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
02/08/08
Clever update, and thanks for the aha! moment.

FYI--"incites"

I like your title, too.
Sharlyn Guthrie
02/09/08
I had a little trouble with the first line...seemed like I had missed something. After that the story developed well, and I love the ending.
Patty Wysong
02/10/08
Definitely a modern twist to this. That's probably how we'd see things today if Jesus were to have come in our days.
Gregory Kane
02/11/08
A very clever twist to the ending. I like it when a familiar story takes you by surprise.
I felt a bit uncomfortable with the reference to gypsies. Historically they didn’t originate as a nomadic people group until the 9th century. And given that Abraham, the esteemed father of Judaism, was himself a nomad, I’m sure that it would have worked as a pejorative in Jesus’ day.