“The Message”

When I woke in my bed chamber covered with sweat. I put on my long blue toga and called, “Albia.” Albia is one of our family maid and ever since my mother died Albia gets me ready for the day. She quickly came, we opened the shades and let the light come in.  Albia had a little grin and said, “Di oggi uno nuovo” which is Italian for today is a new one. The sentence never made sense to me so every morning I would ask what does that mean? I never have got a response.

After I put on my shining gold necklaces and glistening diamond rings and put hair in a  loose bun held back with a emerald green ribbon. I went to search Pompeii for Laelia Colombo, the most interesting person you’ll ever met while Albia was waking up Fiorentina my three year old  younger sister. When I found Laelia  she was painting  a pot  with the goddess of love and beauty . “Oh hi Elisa.“ She said joyfully to me.” Did you hear the news?” She said. “My father prepared my marriage with … Gavius!” Laelia said delighted. Gavius is famous l guess because he is well know he extremely wealthy. That's why Laelia fancys Gavius.

”Laelia let's go to my  home.” I said  walking away. When we walked down the road I saw what I saw every day shop people busy, the blacksmith cover with ash, poor in rags begging for money, politicians debating, colors of the rainbow everywhere. When Laelia and I arrived at my home in the courtyard, there was a  some type of soldier talking to Albia  in a  strong but concerned tone. In less than millisecond she started sobbing that if she hadn't stopped in hour or two we would have a small pond in our courtyard. I quickly ran over Albia and asked what happened and all I heard was mumbles and weeps.

I looked into the soldier's face he was a tall soldier he had black hair  and light tan skin. I really shouldn't say what I said to him after that. He  cut me off , “If I was your father mademoiselle you would have already learned not to talk like that and you will not speak unless asked or has permission.”The soldier said bitterly. “Yes sir.”  I replied annoyed.” “We know that mount  Vesuvius  is going to erupt.”The soldier said, “No no,  I chose not to believe this. I have not got married and how do you know monsieur?” Laelia said in a distressed voice. “Mam I am  the messenger and I know if you don't trust me no silver or gold will be able to pay the amount of damage done to your homes and yourself.”

The soldier requested  to see my  father Remus, but Albia told the soldier that he was washing up and that she would deliver the news to father. I went to the gynaeceum to weave baskets with Laelia with the soldier on my mind. When we entered the  gynaeceum fIorentina was singing “Margarita e rosa”.  With are  female servants, cousins,  and aunts. Father walked into the gynaeceum which was odd because men never go into a gynaeceum  because a gynaeceum is an  apartment for women. I ran towards Father and told him franticly about Laelia’s marriage and about the messenger soldier saying that Mt Vesuvius was going to erupt and that no payment could help. “Congratulates Laelia your father made a good a choice,Gavius is a good a man .” ,“Oh thank you Remus.” Lealia said in surprise. I think that man is getting paid to get Pompeii citizens out of there homes so his bosses can sweep in and steal all of our goods.

That day people left  with their servants including some of my aunts and uncles. My father told them that they were  were idiots. He said that they were gullible and when Mt .Vesuvius did not erupt  he would not let them live in  our home because they did not trust him instead he trusted the soiolder. The next day half of pompeii cityzens left I could see that father was doubting what he had said about  Mt.Vesuvius and that it would never explode, but he kept his ground he said  they had no sense of mind the people had stones as a brain.

The next morning I was awoken by screams! I looked out the window lots of people screaming crying and running. It was like a nightmare, Everything was moving so fast. I ran to Fiorentina's bed chamber, shaking her awake. We ran  outside to see Albia waiting for us while father and his servants were caring mounds of pots, gold jewelry, and sculptures. One of Florentina's servants Bennett  stopped to catch his  breath but that was a mistake ,the cloud of ash swallowed Bennett .Albia cursed at father she yelled at him that they should have left and that he was a greedy, selfish and  that he did not deserve to have kids. I stopped to watch, though I shouldn't have because a second after that everything went black.