Pieces of Hope: A Collection

Israel's Messiah (Part 1)

Author's Note:

I've had this story idea in my head for awhile.  But the time never came to write it until the writing group I'm a part of on Wattpad, WCWRC (Wattpad Christian Writers and Readers Club) hosted a flash fiction contest that I finally put pen to paper, or rather, fingertips to keyboard, to write this story.  

Unfortunately, I didn't finish this story in time to enter it.  But I did continue writing it.  

It took longer than I thought it would, and it ended up being several pages long.  Thus, it's less flash fiction and more short story.  I've divided it into two parts because of it's length.  

The title was also changed.  Originally, it was called 'A Little Bit of Faith' but as the story grew, I decided that 'Israel's Messiah' was a better fit.  

It is completely unedited as well, so bear that in mind.  I hope you enjoy it!  

"Have you heard?"

My mother leaned a little closer to our neighbor. "No?"

"The Miracle Worker, Yeshua of Nazareth, is coming up by Capernaum tomorrow!"

My fingers stroked the puppy that was in his lap as I listened. When my fingers slowed, the puppy's head looked up and nuzzled me, demanding that I keep going.

I looked down and smiled. "Sorry Zundel."

My smile twisted as I ran his eyes over Zundel's shaggy body, wincing when I came across the dirty cloth wrapped around the dog's hind leg.

I bit my lip. It'd been a week since Zundel's hind leg had been crushed by falling wood in Abba's workshop. The pup had bravely borne his pain, but the leg had only gotten worse as time went on. Now it was infected.

Averting my gaze, I went back to listening to the conversation going on above me.

"I'm taking Naomi to see Him." The neighbor's voice had gone lower, she didn't want to be heard.

My mother grabbed her elbow. "Adah, do you think you should? You know He's most likely a charlatan. What will the others say?"

"I have to try. Besides, everyone else is going to see him too."

The mention of Naomi made my mouth water, because Naomi was always making delicious things and sharing them with the children. That was about all she could do, for a twisted leg kept her from venturing outside often. It was the result of an accident in her youth.

Like Zundel. If this Yeshua could heal Naomi, couldn't he heal Zundel?

"I'll come with you." Mother finally said, seeing that she wasn't going to persuade her friend.

"Could I come, Ema?" The question leapt off my tongue.

Mother's gaze told me I shouldn't have been listening. "You'll have to ask Abba, Benaiah. Now, stop petting that dog and go help him."

Sighing, I gently placed Zundel down by the fire. "I'm sorry you can't come with me." Zundel wagged his tail at the sound of my voice.

As I left the room, Ema whispered to her friend. "He loves that dog, but I'm afraid that he won't live much longer."

I jolted to stop outside the doorway. Zundel is going to die?

I shook my head hard. No, no, Zundel couldn't die. He had to get better.