Chapter 11

Plans, Promises, and Pumice.

Since the moment she arrived, Peter and Judith had been nearly inseparable. Judith was leaving for her studies abroad at the end of the week and even though they tried to convince each other that a year is nothing in the grand scheme of life, it felt like eternity for both. It was bad enough to be separated by towns and boroughs, but having entire countries between them felt impossible to bear. They decided that lamenting on the separation would only make Judith feel guilty for going (which was the last thing Peter wanted) and so they kept themselves busy, running about the town, enjoying every moment as though it were their last together.

Judith begged Peter to show her his work, and so he took her to the publishing house. With an air of expertise, he demonstrated how he could operate the press and taught her about the different types of inks and oils used for printing. She agreed that it was quite a fascinating profession and listened thoroughly as he described the great advantage of working in publishing once he writes a book of his own. And then he flooded her with all of his ideas, both fiction and factual. He was well versed in speech and thought, and although he got along well with the other workers, he knew he could never hold such a conversation with them (this was possibly the only thing he missed about working alongside the editors). "You're so lucky to get to go to Pompeii," he told her and then spoke endlessly about his plans to survey the Serengeti, travel to Singapore, and sail through the locks of the Panama Canal.

While Peter spoke of venturing to far off lands, Judith always noticed a magical glint in his eyes and how his voice grew strong with a solid sense of purpose. Although she usually enjoyed basking these rare and stately moments, pressed against an approaching journey of her own, she asked him, "What are you searching for?"

"Anywhere more interesting than here," he replied. And upon seeing that his answer did not satisfy Judith's curiosity, he collected his thoughts and added, "Somewhere beyond everything that we think we know, there are wars and heroes, plans and prophesies, martyrs and disciples…all waiting for someone to find their story."

"But I'm sure there are plenty of those stories waiting to be discovered right under your nose. Why go searching elsewhere?" she replied with a cynical smile.

Peter raised an eyebrow at looked at his friend smugly as he made his rebuttal. "Why go digging in Pompeii when there's plenty of soil and history right beneath you here?"

"Aha!" Judith exclaimed playfully. "I'm not dim…I know what you really mean. Peter, do you want me to stay?"

With some sorrow in his voice, he decided to no longer play games and answered honestly, "Of course. But I couldn't make you."

"Sure you could," she said blankly, placing her hand softly and subtly on his.

"I know," he sweetly smiled. "But I wouldn't (Not today, at least)."