Drabble – That's Not Right
The two elderly sisters sat on the bench in the palace gardens enjoying the afternoon. Sweet fragrances from the flowers filled the air and birds chirped their sweet songs. A small water fountain bubbled happily not far away.
Their quiet afternoon was soon interrupted by voices as two men came walking over the small hill not far from them.
"It's our King."
"Aye, and General Hephaestion is with him."
They watched as the two men continued on the path across from them, close enough to hear what was being said but far enough away to not be a bother.
"Come on Hephaestion," the King was saying, " Just try these wonderful apples."
Alexander had several apples in his arms, many of them coming close to falling out. His companion had not stopped walking and the King was walking backwards, trying not to trip and juggling the apples at the same time as he tried to convince Hephaestion to partake in the apples.
Another apple was shoved in his face and Hephaestion finally stopped walking and sighed loudly.
"Alexander, I told you that I don't want an apple right now, you go ahead and eat one though, don't let me stop you."
"Aw, come on, try one, you will love them I promise." Alexander said pushing the apple even closer to Hephaestion's face.
Hephaestion's famous patience was close to coming to an end as he stood there giving Alexander the evil eye.
"Look, just take one bite and if you don't like it, I will eat the rest."
Hephaestion grabbed the apple out of Alexander's hand, if only to shut him up, and took a big bite out of the apple. Alexander started talking before he even had the apple out of his mouth but stopped when he saw the look on Hephaestion's handsome face.
All of the color had drained from his face, returning in a sick shade of green.
"What's wrong, don't you like it?"
Hephaestion aimed the apple at Alexander with the side he had taken the big bite out of and showed Alexander. In the middle was a worm or rather half of a worm.
By this time, Hephaestion was bent over spitting the contents of his mouth out on the ground; this was followed closely by the contents of his stomach. Alexander upon seeing Hephaestion empty his stomach promptly leaned over and did the same.
The two women looked at each other and then back at the two men bent over at the waist coughing and gagging.
Both men soon recovered and Hephaestion handed the wormy apple to Alexander, who took two giant steps back from the extended hand.
"You said you would eat the rest."
"Aye, but…" Alexander took off running with Hephaestion in close pursuit.
No words were spoken as the King ran into the palace with Hephaestion right behind.
"He is the King, it doesn't seem right to chase him like that."
"I wonder if he can worm his way out of this?"