Marcus was usually not the type of
man to complain and whine, but today was different. His wife Cecilia had spent a hours arguing
with him about all the things she needed for their hut and how he never tries
to help her with simple tasks such as walking to the Roman Forum to visit the
market. Marcus, of course highly
irritated, didn’t understand why Cecilia didn’t walk down the many slopes of
the Palatine Hill herself and visit the market if she needed these items so
urgently. Cecilia couldn’t take Marcus’s
laziness any longer, she threw the list of items at Marcus and then strapped her
sandals and gathered the two younger children and left.
Cecilia couldn’t stop her tears
from running down her face when the kids asked why they must go with her to the
market. The kids were highly ignorant of
the previous fight their parents had engaged in and insisted on asking their
mother until they found out. When
Cecilia finally told them that they had to go to the market because their
father was too lazy to help out around the hut and doesn’t want to spend time
with her the kids stopped talking.
The trip down the Palatine Hill was
not one of adventure. Marcus takes this
trip many times during the week to go to work.
Cecilia never completely understood why he came back so fatigued and
tired but today she found out. The Roman
Forum did not look far away but in order to reach it, with the least amount of hassle,
you had to walk toward Velia Hill then head toward the Forum. It was tedious, yes, but with the kids and
her short patience, she wouldn’t have been able to stand the children’s whining
of the steep slopes and plentiful pain.
As she approached the Forum she heard a great debate from the distance and
inside the Forum with people from all seven hills attending and grew even more
irritated because the children wanted to run off and see what everyone was
talking about.
Cecilia then went to visit the
Temple of Vesta, known for the many distinguishable embellishments and worship
of the goddesses and she prayed. She
prayed for her husband to care more, for him to step up and understand her pain
and wishes. When she finished praying
she gathered the children and headed towards her favorite market with the generous
workers. When the man working the market waved at her she smiled but realized
that she had thrown the list at her husband and left the money in a rush to
exit their hut. Just as she was about to shed another tear someone had gently
touched her shoulder and put the list in her hand. The children shouted in joy as Marcus pulled
his wife in around her waist and kissed her lips. The goddesses had fulfilled Cecilia’s
prayers.
