Roman Society, a ROMANtic Story

Assembly

Another loud, raucous knock. This person must have really wanted to see us.

"Hello?" I opened the door to see a heavy man with a long, bushy beard. He didn't look old, though. His eyes looked young and inviting, yet dangerous.

My mother came to the door, obviously she heard the knock. 

"Oh, it's Augustine Flanto, eh?" Apparently she knew this person.

"Yes ma'am. I am hear to say that us Plebeians will be having an assembly tomorrow. I am not authorized to tell you what it is about, but it is dire that you attend." He said as he marched out.

"Momma, who was that?" Marcella asked after Augustine left.

"He is the Plebeian rights leader. He wants change." Ma said softly.

"I highly doubt we are going to get any change with that man as our leader." Vita stated. "He is an anti-feminist."

"Vita! You say that again and I will smack you across the face. You need to be more respectful to these people." Father explained. 

"Daddy, it's just that it is so unfair. Girls can't do anything! We can't even get a real job." Vita protested.

Father sat down next to Vita and sighed as he stroked her long, dark hair.

"Vita, I know it is very unfair. I know that women don't have as many rights as men do, but if we let the revolution happen then maybe, just maybe we will get all of the freedoms we want. But Vita, promise me that you will hang in there for a while. I know it will be hard, but you can do it." Father reassuringly stated. "Don't give up."

Vita nodded in agreement. She would have to deal with it.

After a while it was eventually time to go to bed. I just couldn't. I was thinking about the Roman godess I saw today at the market. Her long, silky hair and her gorgeous smile. She was magnificent. The only problem was that she was a Patrician. I would never be able to see her. I mean, I could but her parents probably don't want me as her lover. They probably want some royal prince from afar. 

With some time, I eventually went to sleep. I don't know how, but I did.

In the morning, I woke up to Marcella screaming at me.

"Aulus! Wake up! NOW!" She yelled. 

"Marcella, get out. I have to get ready for the assembly." I said, wearily.

"Fine." She said as she stomped off. My Mother said she was going through some little kid phase.

I dressed and bathed.

"Let's go everyone. We need to gather at the Dismus theater, right?" She turned to Father and he nodded his head, obviously tired,because Marcella kept him up all last night with her screams. I heard it too, unfortunately.

When we got there, the place was full. Since Plebeians made up most of the Roman population, there were only a few seats left for my family and I. We sat down next to Damascus, my arch enemy. He was a muscular boy and he looked very intimidating, but it's not like he could pull anything. We were in  a very public place.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! I have prepared this gathering to express an idea. An idea that could get us back our rights we deserve!" It was Augustine talking. The crowd roared for him. He was the most popular Plebeian around, if that counts for something. "We can't let the Patricians win! We must do something, before they gain too much power!" He bellowed. "We are going to start a revolution! We are going to have a rebllion against those idiotic Patricians! They are so dumb to believe that we, the Plebeians who make up almost all of Roman population will back down. If we start a rebellion, we will win! No one can stop us!" The crowd screamed and clapped. Everyone stood up. It was amazing. Augustine was smiling and shaking hands with everyone. He looked thrilled. 

My family and I went home after my mom stopped talking to Augustine. She was obsessed with the guy, but she told me to keep it a secret. She sure makes it obvious.

We went home, it was about mid-day. 

"Oh, honey!" My mother exlaimed, "You forgot to get the fruit! We need that fruit for sickness. Just in case anyone gets a cold. Fruit really does help." She said.

"Fine." I sighed. I didn't mind going to the market again. It wasn't that far away.

I packed my things and left. I walked along the dirt road until I saw the beautiful houses and the lovely shops. The market was just ahead. 

I went to the fruit stall. 

"Hello, what can I help you with?" I couldn't believe it. It was the Roman beauty that I saw the other day at the market. She looked even more beautiful as I saw her now. Her lovely brown eyes and the dark brown hair. She looked amazing. I didn't know Patricians worked at fruit stalls.

"Sir?" She asked. "Are you alright?" 

"Yeah, sorry I am fine." I was so amazed, I felt like I was in a trance.

"Is there something you need?" She asked. Her voice was beautiful too. She was magnificent.

"Actually, I have a question." I answered. "Do Patricians work at fruit stalls now?" It wasn't the right question to ask her. I didn't mean it, I just wanted to start a conversation. I didn't even know she was a Patrician for sure. It was a little sublte.

Surprisingly, she laughed.

"Actually, this is my Uncle's fruit stall. He is sailing today, so he wanted me to run the stall. I'm not that good at it, but I am getting the hang of it. I've never really worked before. My name is Talia, by the way." She said as she put a lock of silky smooth hair behind her ear.

"Nice to meet you, Talia. I am Aulus." I said anxiously. "So you're a Patrician?" I asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Yes, I am from the Orthian Descent." She stated as she smiled. "I am guessing you are a Plebeian? Sorry, I've just seen you around and-"

"Yeah, I am a Plebeian. It's really not a big deal." I said with a smile. I loved her. She was stunning! She also didn't mind that I was a Plebeian.

"So, what do your parents do?" She asked me.

"They are farmers. Well, my Father is, my Mother just works in the house. What about you?" I asked.

"My Father is a senator and my Mother is, well- I don't really know where she is. She left my Father and I a while ago. When I was about five." She stated.

I suddenly felt bad for even asking.

"I am so sorry. I didn't know." I said, feeling ashamed. I shouldn't have felt so bad, but she was my future wife, hopefully. The Twelve Tables won't let us get married, but I hope this whole rebellion thing will work and then I can love her forever.

"It's really okay. I never really knew her anyways." Talia said, still smiling. "So Aulus, would you like to get together sometime?" She asked me. 

Oh my. She was asking me if I wanted to get together. A Patrician and a Plebeian.

"Yeah, sure. When? It's going to be really hard, considering the whole Patrician Plebeian thing." I explained.

"You are right, my Father would kill me if he knew I was talking to a Plebeian even though it is legal. I don't think we will be able to do it."

Great. Now she won't meet with me. We will never get married now. I was dying inside.

"Of course, we could meet somewhere in secret."  She said as she smiled devilishly.

"Yeah, sure. How about the Gratcus Gardens, at sundown?" I said, relieved she didn't back out. 

"Okay. I've never been there before." She cheerfully stated.

"You'll love it." I said.

"Okay, well I'll see you later. I have to go make sure the fruit my Uncle ordered arrived today."  Talia took out a piece of paper. "Can't wait."  she said, smiling that comforting smile.

I took the fruit I needed and left the money on the table.

I can't believe it. She actually likes me. She is a Patrician, but she actually likes me.