Drabble – Green
Hephaestion was on another diplomat mission. He had arrived at the Indian village and was being wined and dined by the local royalty. The wining part he didn't mind, it was the dining he was having trouble with.
Before his eyes trays of exotic food began to appear. He knew they were considered delicacies here but his tummy began to protest with each new tray. He tried very hard to not moan out loud as the plates of parts of animal bodies that he had never imagined looked him back in the face. He could have sworn one of them winked at him. It took every ounce of concentration on his part not to show the native royalty what he had just tried to swallow.
The meal mercifully ended with no surprises coming from Hephaestion's mouth except all of the politeness he could muster. He smiled at everyone on his way to the house he had been given, never opening his mouth. When he at last closed the door safely behind him, the floodwall broke and the contents of his tummy revolted. This was soon followed by the food that had passed a little farther down the line. His color was a sickly shade of green, much like the contents of the two pots, one in front of him and one in back.
When he could finally stand, though he was hunched over at the waist, he went to his desk and immediately wrote a letter to his King.
Dear King Alexander,
I respectfully request that you find someone to replace me as your diplomat. I can no longer handle the responsibilities of the job. I don't want to do it anymore.
Signed,
Hephaestion
He then made a mad dash for both pots again.
Alexander received the letter from Hephaestion only a few days later. He was on his way to the same village that Hephaestion was in and hurried to his house once he got there. A very pale and thinner man that he had remembered seeing several weeks ago met him.
After a hug and kiss of welcome he told Hephaestion how thin he was getting, that he should eat more. The green shade came back in Hephaestion's handsome face and he said he was all right, just a little under the weather. The local royalty, the ones who had entertained Hephaestion so well, couldn't wait to meet the King and promptly invited him, and Hephaestion, to have dinner with them. Hephaestion turned greener and begged off. Alexander shook his head and said they would talk more when he returned, especially about Hephaestion wanting to quit being a diplomat.
Later Alexander barely made it to the Hephaestion's door; in fact, he had made several stops along the way from the banquet. He limped in and Hephaestion handed him a pot. While he was busy in the front, Hephaestion placed the other to his rear.
Through bouts of nausea and diarrhea a very green Alexander granted Hephaestion's request.