JENNIFER looked at the three and said “I’m sorry. I was just curious about this part of the house and…”
“…and you should know that curiosity kills a cat.” said Priscilla.
Calpurnia saw her charge after Jennifer but Calpurnia held her back.
“Go back to the main dining hall.” said Calpurnia. Under protest Priscilla bowed to her mistress and did just that. Turning to McFlius, Calpurnia said “McFlius if you can excuse us, we would like to talk to Jennifer for a minute.”
“Yes mistress.” said McFlius.
After McFlius bowed to Calpurnia, Calpurnia along with Clara took Jennifer back to the main hall.
Once there, Calpurnia told her “I told you not go there.”
“I wanted to see McFlius.” insisted Jennifer.
“Jennifer.” reminded Calpurnia, “McFlius is betrothed to Priscilla.”
“I know he is.” said Jennifer, “But the question is: Did either of them do this on their own free will?”
“Jennifer!” exclaimed Clara in severe shock.
“May I point one thing out, Jennifer.” said Calpurnia, “If it wasn’t for their betrothal, there would been no Marty to get wounded here which means I don’t go back to the future with him or Clara’s son which means I don’t get trapped in your century until Doctor Brown fixes the time chariot, Clara doesn’t take me back to my own time, you don’t tag along and since you’re the one that’s standing between McFlius and Priscilla there might be a…what does husband call it, Clara?”
“A paradox.” said Clara.
“A paradox so great that it could destroy the universe.” said Calpurnia. Turning to Clara, she asked “Did I get that right?”
“Yes you did.” said Clara.
Jennifer pondered this. Then, she said “You’re right. I’m sorry Calpurnia.”
“Are you going to stay away from McFlius during your stay here in my time?” asked Calpurnia.
“Yes, ma’am.” said Jennifer.
“Good.” said Calpurnia.
There was no further discussion on the subject for the rest of the evening.
++++++
After changing into their nightgowns, Jennifer and Clara lay down on the respective beds.
“I don’t like it, Clara.” said Jennifer, “The way that woman bosses her servants around like that.”
“It’s her job, Jennifer.” said Clara, “Remember, this is 44 B.C. and with her husband gone, she’s in charge of the household and she’s only following in her husband’s footsteps.”
“It’s indentured servitude.” said Jennifer, “They can’t even chose their own lovers.”
“It’s the way of the Roman world.” said Clara, “And who’s to say that what these Romans are doing is right or wrong. But I could tell you this: In the century I was born, the United States had slavery.”
“I know that.” said Jennifer, “I studied that in my history classes.”
“But you didn’t live through it.” said Clara, “When I was five, this was before the Civil War, me and my family went on a vacation in the Deep South. We came across this plantation where there were black people used as slaves picking cotton in the hot sun. And what was worse, the overseer was using his whip to get them to keep working. It was a nightmarish sight even for me at that age. So you tell me what is worse, what I saw when I was a little girl or what you’re seeing now.”
Jennifer sat up in her bed and thought about it.
++++++
Hours passed and Jennifer couldn’t sleep. Finally, she got out of bed and left the guestroom. Going out to the main hall she found the corridor to the male servant’s quarters and went there. Upon arriving at McFlius’s quarters, she knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” asked McFlius’s voice.
“It’s me, Jennifer.” she said.
The door opened and there was McFlius.
“Jennifer.” he said, “What are you doing here? Go back to your fellow shepherdess.”
“I couldn’t sleep.” said Jennifer, “I keep thinking about you.”
“But Jennifer,” said McFlius, “I am betrothed to someone else.”
“To someone not of your own choosing.” said Jennifer, “McFlius, if you were to choose, who would you choose?”
McFlius paused for a minute. And then, he let Jennifer in. Both put their arms around each other as if to get ready for a kiss. That’s when the door closed.
Friday, March 20, 44 B.C.
7:00 a.m.
Rome, Italy
After a good night’s sleep, Clara woke up. It seems like the traditions of Rome had gotten to her just like the wine.
No wonder why the U.S. had prohibition. she said to herself. And then aloud “Jennifer are you awake?” She turned to see Jennifer but she’s not there. “Jennifer?” she repeated. Immediately, she went out to the hallway. And there was Jennifer on her way back to the guestroom. “Jennifer.” said Clara, “Where have you been?”
“Oh up and about.” said Jennifer.
“Jennifer.” said Clara, “You didn’t go to McFlius’s quarters again did you?”
Jennifer looked at her and said “I don’t think that’s really any of your business.”
“You did didn’t you.” said Clara.
“Alright I did.” said Jennifer, “It was because I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about him so I went to his quarters. Clara, he looks so much like Marty.”
Looking around, Clara took Jennifer by the arm and took her inside the guestroom closing the door behind them.
“Jennifer.” she said, “You didn’t…”
Realizing what Clara was talking about, Jennifer said “No I didn’t. I wanted too, but McFlius talked me out of it.”
“He did?” asked Clara.
“Yes.” said Jennifer, “He said that deep down inside it wasn’t just Caesar that arranged this marriage with Priscilla, it was destiny. And he said he must stay attached to his beloved in order to preserve the future. It’s as if he knew all along that Charlton Heston was Marty and that Marty was his descendant from the future.”
“But why did you spend the night there?” asked Clara.
“Because I went to sleep.” said Jennifer, “I suddenly got tired and dozed off.”
“Well the servants could be coming any moment now so you’d better get in bed before they realize that you have been out.” suggested Clara and Jennifer did.
The servants knocked and came in.
“Time to get up.” said one of them.
Clara rose from her bed and said “Good morning.”
“Good morning, shepherdess.” said the servant, “And how are you this morning?”
“I’m fine.” said Clara, “It’s a beautiful day. Isn’t it, Jennifer?” Jennifer said nothing, so Clara repeated “Jennifer?”
“She’s asleep.” said another servant.
Clara turned around and saw that the servant was telling the truth. Jennifer was out like a light.
Clara went over to wake her up. “Jennifer.” she said, “Wake up!”
But Jennifer said “Mom, I don’t want to go to school today. I’m sick.”
“Jennifer.” said Clara, “You’re not at home, you’re in Rome.”
“Oh are we there yet?” asked Jennifer rising from her bed. Now there were sleep in her eyes. “Rome!” she said, “We are in Rome.” Whispering into Clara’s ear, she said “I did go to sleep.”
“We’ll discuss this later.” said Clara.
The servants helped both time travelers out of their beds and started to dress them.
++++++
After breakfast, Mark Antony came over.
“These two shepherdesses have been invited to the Senate today.” he said.
“Well.” said Clara, “We’re flattered. But why?”
“Come with me and you’ll receive your answer, shepherdess.” said Antony.
Clara and Jennifer looked at each other. And then, they got ready to leave.
++++++
On their way to the Capitol, the two time travelers noticed a draped statue.
“What it that?” asked Jennifer.
“Find out tomorrow.” said Antony.
Whatever it was, she couldn’t wait until tomorrow to whet her curiosity.
++++++
On the floor of the Senate stood the two time travelers. Octavius was sitting in a chair underneath a statue with the inscription POMPEIVS written underneath it. Octavius himself was decked out in something that looked like a royal garb and he was wearing a laurel wreath on his head.
Octavius rose from his chair and said “Let the agenda be read.”
“Today’s top agenda,” said the clerk, “for saving the life of Caesar’s widow Calpurnia, the two shepherdesses Clara and Jennifer will be given a place on Olympus among the gods and statues will be made in their honor.”
“Do you have anything to say Clara and Jennifer?” asked Octavius.
“We’re uh flattered.” said Clara, “But I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Why not?” asked Octavius.
Jennifer turned to Clara and asked the same question. “Yes, Clara.” she whispered, “Why not?”
“Jennifer.” said Clara, “You don’t know what they think of their gods and goddesses.”
Just then, Jennifer remembered posing for Botticelli when she was in 15th century. She was posing for The Birth of Venus.
“Clara.” asked Jennifer, “You mean…”
“Yes.” said Clara as if she was reading Jennifer’s mind, “I mean.”
“To coin a phrase,” said Jennifer “Great Scott!”
“I know.” said Clara, “And to coin another phrase: this is heavy.”
++++++
When they came home to tell Calpurnia what happened at the Senate today, Calpurnia laughed.
“So you don’t like to be shown naked.” she said.
“Well I’m used to it.” said Jennifer, “Did you see Botticelli’s painting The Birth of Venus?”
“However.” said Clara, “In our society, being shown naked is unacceptable both legally and morally.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” said Calpurnia, “I’ve been there.”
“Oh yes.” said Clara, “I forgot.”
“I remember looking at that box of moving pictures you call a television set.” said Calpurnia, “I was aiming that small thing you call a remote doing what you call ‘channel surfing’. And I came across this ‘channel’ where I saw this man berate nudity calling it wrong. In all my life and time travels, I never seen a such man so mad like that.”
“That’s our society alright.” said Clara smilingly.
“Calpurnia.” said Jennifer, “I’m impressed. You know our 20th century lingo so well.”
“Well I want to be well prepared”, said Calpurnia, “for the next time I ‘drop in’ to your century.”
“I see.” said Clara, “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”
“Hear, hear.” said Calpurnia, “It was just that, after losing my husband, I needed the time away from this place.”
All three women laughed.
Saturday March 21, 44 B.C.
8:00 p.m.
Rome, Italy
The time for the unveiling had arrived. Mark Antony took the podium and addressed the crowd.
“Friends,” he said, “Romans and countrymen. Tonight we honor the late Charlton Heston for heroic effort in saving Calpurnia, the widow of Julius Caesar.” He paused for an applause. “To this end,” he went onto say, “We have dedicated this statue to his honor. May it stand for all time. And now, the time has arrived for the unveiling. Let me know when, gentlemen.”
“Ten, nine, eight, seven…”
As the countdown commenced, Jennifer asked Clara “What do you think is under there.”
“I don’t know.” said Clara, “But I do like surprises.”
Just then, the countdown went to zero. And the unveiling commenced and there was the surprise: It was a statue of Marty naked. Jennifer screamed, Clara felt faint but Calpurnia laughed.
“Don’t you get it?” she said, “They’ve made Marty a god.”
“That’s blasphemy.” said Jennifer, “We don’t think of our God that way.”
“I know you don’t.” said Calpurnia, “But you must remember, you’re now in my time so things are different here, even for God.”
“I think He’s going to have some to say about that.” said Jennifer.
“Shepherdess.”
Jennifer turned to see who it was. It was one of the servants.
“McFlius wants to see you.” he said.
“He does?” asked Jennifer.
“Yes.” said the servant, “Come this way.”
Jennifer turned to Clara and said “If you could excuse me.”
“Jennifer.” said Clara, “Remember, he’s engaged.”
“I will.” said Jennifer. And she was off following the servant.
Jennifer was led to a bandstand next to the statue of Marty. While she was being escorted, she saw so much merrymaking in the streets she had seen before. Now, despite the fact that some of her memory hasn’t still returned, she clearly remembers attending booze outs at a house of a friend of hers when that friend’s parents were away. But this made those look like folk dances.
And there was McFlius. There was a band besides him that reminded her of KC and the Sunshine Band.
“Jennifer.” said McFlius, “I want you to sing with me.”
“Sing?” asked Jennifer, “What for?”
“Because you’ve got a beautiful voice.” said McFlius, “And the city should hear it.”
“What about Priscilla?” asked Jennifer.
“She didn’t come.” said McFlius.
“Why not?” asked Jennifer.
“Well, she heard that I was being used as a model for Charlton Heston’s statue and…”
“…she took a rain check.”
McFlius looked at Jennifer and asked “What’s a rain check?”
“Never mind.” said Jennifer, “McFlius, why did the ask you to pose for that statue?”
“Because I look like him.” said McFlius, “You should’ve seen the teamwork of artisans working on the project. I mean they were pulling an all-nighter on it.”
“I see.” said Jennifer.
Just then, Octavius Caesar arrived and said “Jennifer I heard that you could sing.”
“Well actually, I learned that from my boyfriend Marty.” said Jennifer.
“And who is this Marty?” asked Octavius.
Just then, Jennifer, thinking of Marty being the hospital and McFlius bearing the resemblance of him, got sidetracked and put her arms around him saying “He is.”
There was a gasp from the throng of citizens. Among them, Priscilla who had just arrived.