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- 02/08/2021
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Rome - 21. Chapter 21
Duccius stayed for an additional seven days. He had to make one more hunting trip. He came back after two days, with several rabbits. Later the boys told me they took him to a new spot where they knew there would be no deer or boar.
“There are bears, but we did see any.”
I was sad and happy Duccius was leaving. We could get back to normal, but I’ll miss him. Life return to what I consider normal.
I needed to go to Rome. We loaded the cart with fruit. One of the boys asked if we could sell rabbit meat. I didn’t know the answer, but my guess would be no. They are easy to raise. We did have some vegetables to sell. Aeneas asked to go along. He wanted to visit the Temple, and he knew I’d do that. So he drove the cart, and I rode my horse. We left early in the morning, before light. We arrived at Gaius’s house late at night. His servant said he was sleeping, “We will go to my room, and in the morning, we’ll surprise him.”
We woke before grandfather, so when he came to the table for his breakfast, he found us sitting there. “When did you arrive?”
“Last night very late. You were sleeping, and I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Well, I’m glad to see you. What brought you to the city?”
“We have some vegetables to sell, and I need some supplies. Duccius said he would pay for a second press, so we’re looking for a second press.”
“I think I can help you with that. One of the men in the Senate is moving to one of the islands. He was selling some of his furniture. He may have an olive press he’ll sell.”
“Great, I have some vegetables to sell to a vendor who has been buying my vegetables. Send your cook to my cart, tell her to take what she needs.”
Later that morning, after the cook took what she needed, they left to sell his vegetables. They went to the Temple and made an offering to Apollo, leaving some vegetables for the old priest. Then they left for the vendor. As usual, the vendor bought the remaining vegetables at his price, which was alright. The goal wasn’t to sell the vegetables; that was a side action. The goal was to get a larger olive press.
When he got back to Gaius’s, Gaius told Lucinius that the Senator was willing to sell the press. The price he wanted was reasonable in Lucinius’s mind. Gaius said he would go with them if he would bring him back home. That wasn’t a problem for Lucinius, so the three of them headed to the home of the Senator. When they arrived, Lucinius remember him from the times he sat in on the Senate deliberations. The Senator remembered him as well. So what was to be a quick business deal turned into an afternoon at socializing, with wine and snacks of sweet honey rolls. It was too late to start home by the time they loaded the mill on the cart. So they spent another night at Gaius’s house. Early the next morning, before light, they left for home. Gaius insisted they have some cheese and freshly baked bread before leaving. They took a pitcher of water with them.
On the way home, they talked about when they thought the olives would be ready to press and where they should set up the press. They talked about how they could make their olive oil different so they could get a better price. They also talked about what happened when they had company. Talking, they didn’t pay attention to how far they traveled. They were surprised when they saw a torch in the distance.
“Is that home?”
“Yes, I think it is.”
“I didn’t think we traveled this far.”
“I guess we were talking and not paying attention. I’m glad the horse knew the way.” Laughing as they enter the gate surrounded by the boys.
The next morning two people slept past breakfast. When they finally woke, after a cold bath, they were ready for the day. Felix had another egg creation for them to try.
“What do you call this?”
“I call it egg papyrus.”
“You can write on it?”
“No, it’s like papyrus, it is thin, about the thickness of papyrus and you can roll it like like a scroll.”
“You are becoming an egg emperor. I wonder what your next creation will be like.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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