Okay, I know I don't usually tell you about my school, but...well, I suppose you can bear with me once! *grin* Hope you don't mind reading my brainstorming for my next story--by the way, if you come up with a name, I'd be more than eager to hear it! My brain seems to be sapped of titles for stories at the moment.
So, what I did for school today:
- Math--had a quiz today, and got 85%. Mostly foolish mistakes--for instance, I marked "(0, 7)" on the coordinate grid instead of marking "(0, 5)". OOPS! Anyway, I should do better tomorrow.
- Memory verses
- Read four pages of Antiquities of the Jews by Josephus. Read about Jeroboam dying and all the way through history until King Asa came on the throne.
- Did sentence diagramming--got 100%!
- Studied history for the story I'm writing (about the girl in the market--remember???). Got a belly full of Gessius Florus. Read about him, if you will. I was shocked. The thing I was glad about was that it "fit" in with my story line--just the right time! Oh, and yes--it will include (but not totally) the open-air market. So here's a little bit of my ideas so far: (I'm not saying that this is the way they're going to turn out, we'll just have to see about that! :D)
The main character: A girl, around 14 years (doesn't have to be exact). Not quite sure of name. Ought to be somehow Jewish/Hebrew. Any suggestions?
The main conflict: The girl tries to decide whether her parents are right about following Jesus. She has serious doubts.
The family: The girl has, of course, her two parents. Then she has two brothers--one older, and one younger than her. She also has a sister, younger than her youngest brother--about 5 years old. Then there is an addition, but not in the way you might expect! It's a boy. (I also need names for all of these people, too. Any suggestions?)
Religious background: Used to believe the Pharisees. But--somewhere along the line--not exactly sure where--they were converted to Christianity. Ever since, her parents have been ardent believers.
Here's a little bit of an outline of what happens to the family: (I'm trying to make it as close to real history as possible)
A. Girl's mother's father (grandfather) dies, and family takes a 2-3 (maybe 4-5) day trip to go to the funeral. (OR, I could have it that they own a field several day's journey away, and have to go harvest it. During the month of Lyyar (or Lyar), the barley, peas and lentils were all harvested, and the wheat ripened. Basically, I need the family to LEAVE Jerusalem [so that they'll be safe, and no close relatives will be hurt! :D], and be far enough away to not hear of the "massacre" right away. I'll need to have them finding out the story to be able to tell the history.)
1. While gone, Gessius Florus does his horrible massacre.
2. Family sees all the crosses, and through them wondering what happened the story unfolds.
3. An addition to the family comes
B. Months pass. The girl and her family work together, and the girl still has doubts. She still isn't sure that Jesus is the true Messiah. And then, all of a sudden...
C. The great revolt is under way. Cestius Gallus marches on Jerusalem to try to stop the revolt. He conquers Bezetha, but cannot quite take the Temple Mount. For some unknown (at least to me so far!) reason, he withdraws. During the withdrawal, the army is ambushed near Beth Horon. Cestius was barely able to escape to Antioch (where he spent most of his time), beaten. Most of his army and a lot of their war material were lost.
1. After this sudden withdrawal taken by Cestius Gallus, many Jews remembered what Jesus said in Matthew 24:15-21 (see below), and fled. I'll have "my" family flee, too.
2. Father will remember either A) Jesus saying the words, or B) the Jerusalem church leaders repeating it. Family flee. And escape.
3. And I'm not sure exactly where/what I'll have "my family" do next--hide in the hills, or have them go and and work as missionaries right away? Eventually, I want them to get somewhere in Asia Minor (or beyond!), where people come to Christ. The girl will slowly (through all this) realize that God is the "One and Only", and become a strong believer.
OH--and you were wondering where the open market would come in? The girl is going to be the one who buys most of the food, because after all, her mother has a lot on her hands doing all the other household things BESIDES taking care of a baby! :D She'll also go there to find out the latest news. Seems like all through the ages women have liked to gossip. :D
1. While gone, Gessius Florus does his horrible massacre.
2. Family sees all the crosses, and through them wondering what happened the story unfolds.
3. An addition to the family comes
B. Months pass. The girl and her family work together, and the girl still has doubts. She still isn't sure that Jesus is the true Messiah. And then, all of a sudden...
C. The great revolt is under way. Cestius Gallus marches on Jerusalem to try to stop the revolt. He conquers Bezetha, but cannot quite take the Temple Mount. For some unknown (at least to me so far!) reason, he withdraws. During the withdrawal, the army is ambushed near Beth Horon. Cestius was barely able to escape to Antioch (where he spent most of his time), beaten. Most of his army and a lot of their war material were lost.
1. After this sudden withdrawal taken by Cestius Gallus, many Jews remembered what Jesus said in Matthew 24:15-21 (see below), and fled. I'll have "my" family flee, too.
2. Father will remember either A) Jesus saying the words, or B) the Jerusalem church leaders repeating it. Family flee. And escape.
3. And I'm not sure exactly where/what I'll have "my family" do next--hide in the hills, or have them go and and work as missionaries right away? Eventually, I want them to get somewhere in Asia Minor (or beyond!), where people come to Christ. The girl will slowly (through all this) realize that God is the "One and Only", and become a strong believer.
OH--and you were wondering where the open market would come in? The girl is going to be the one who buys most of the food, because after all, her mother has a lot on her hands doing all the other household things BESIDES taking care of a baby! :D She'll also go there to find out the latest news. Seems like all through the ages women have liked to gossip. :D
*clear throat* Hmm...this story is sounding like it's going to turn out a full-fledged HF (historical fiction)! I think I like writing stories like this. Seems like a lot of my stories lately have been that. No wonder I like reading it. (Or maybe I've got it backwards. Maybe I like writing it because I like reading it. Could that be???)
So yes, I've given my story completely away. Oh, well. I suppose it'll be just as interesting written out in story form. By the way--do you have a name for it now????
Better go. More studying for the story ahead.
(by the way, I hope you enjoy history. If you don't you may as well leave. I've found out that I L.O.V.E. I.T.!!!!)
Abigail:you really have a story going Esther! Good job so far.
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