Author's Note: Thank you for all the kind reviews! I was a little nervous about how this story would be received, so the support is greatly appreciated. I'm going to be honest, this chapter is a bit slow, but it is necessary to set the stage for what's to come. By the way, something I forgot to mention in the last chapter, bragging rights go to the first person who can tell me who Sherman's babysitter, Adrienne Bolling, is. She is a real person and that is her real name. She's not very famous, but she is related to someone who is. Anyway, on with the story!
Mr. Peabody's Penthouse, Thursday 17 April 2014, 2:00 PM
Mr. Peabody and the kids had just finished having lunch and were stepping out of the elevator into the WABAC room.
"When are we going today, Mr. Peabody?" Sherman asked excitedly.
"Sherman my boy, we are going to THE pivotal moment in history: the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth," Mr. Peabody replied.
"Oh, THIS story," Penny said with a sneer. "I've heard it. He taught people and they killed Him and stuff."
"It's not as simple as that, Miss Peterson. Maybe you don't know the story as well as you think you might," said Mr. Peabody as they climbed the steps into the WABAC. "Sherman, set the WABAC for 9:00 AM local time on Sunday the 2d of April A.D. 30."
"And the place, Mr. Peabody?" Sherman asked as he dialed in the time.
"The Kidron Valley, one half mile from the eastern gates of Jerusalem," Mr. Peabody replied.
"Do I really have to go?" Penny whined.
"Well, I would really appreciate it if you did," replied Mr. Peabody. "Or are you afraid of being proven wrong?"
"Wrong about what?" Penny asked grumpily with her arms folded.
"Your parents told me about your conversation at lunch yesterday."
"I'm NOT wrong," Penny retorted.
"Perhaps. But think about it this way, Miss Peterson," said Mr. Peabody as he turned his chair to face her. "If you're right, you'll still have an exciting adventure in first century Jerusalem, and if you are wrong, well…wouldn't you want to know?"
Penny sat and thought for a moment.
"Please, Penny. I really want you to come!" Sherman pleaded.
Penny looked into Sherman's big brown eyes. The look he had when he pleaded with her was one she simply couldn't resist. She finally sighed. "Oh, alright. Perhaps we can finally put this whole thing to rest once and for all."
"Excellent!" exclaimed Mr. Peabody. "Then, Miss Peterson, if you will do us the honors."
"Huh?" Penny asked.
"Push the red button, Penny," explained Sherman.
"Oh," Penny pushed it and the WABAC began to levitate and hum until it vanished from the room.
Kidron Valley, Sunday 2 April A.D. 30, 9:00 AM
The now cloaked WABAC settled onto the desert floor with a low hum. As the three time travelers stepped out, now wearing period correct clothing, they could see a large number of people walking up the hill and into the city of Jerusalem.
"What are all these people doing here?" Penny asked as they began to follow the crowd.
"They are faithful Jews who are here to celebrate the Passover. It's a Jewish holiday when they celebrate their release from slavery in Egypt almost 1500 years ago," Sherman explained.
"And so are we," Mr. Peabody said. "If anyone asks, we are also here to observe the Passover. You are both orphans and I am your caretaker. Is that understood?" This was true in a roundabout sort of way, as Penny was still a spiritual orphan and Sherman was a physical orphan.
"Yes, Mr. Peabody," both children nodded.
"Good, now let's follow the crowd. Something very special is about to happen," Mr. Peabody beckoned the children to follow him up the hill and into the city.
Just Inside the Eastern Gates of Jerusalem, Sunday 2 April A.D. 30, 9:15 AM
Once they were inside the city, Penny began to notice that the crowd was beginning to split in two, plastering themselves up against the walls on either side of the road. The crowd had also stopped moving, and was facing the center of the road as if they were about to watch a parade.
"Why has everybody stopped moving, Mr. Peabody?" Penny asked.
"Somebody very special is about to come down this road, Penny," Mr. Peabody explained. "We need to find an empty spot along the side of the road ourselves."
"What about over there, Mr. Peabody," said Sherman as he pointed to an empty spot next to a middle aged woman and a teenaged boy.
"Ah, excellent Sherman. Let's go," said Mr. Peabody as he beckoned the two children to follow him. "Pardon me, ma'am," Peabody said to the woman as they approached her. "Do you mind if we squeeze in here with you?"
"Not at all," the woman replied. "Have you come to see the Master as well?"
"The Ma-" Penny began to ask, but Sherman put his hand over her mouth before she could finish.
"Yes, it has been a long time since we last saw Him," Peabody replied.
"Here He comes now!" Sherman suddenly shouted, removing his hand from Penny's mouth. And sure enough, coming up the road was a Man riding on a donkey with twelve men walking beside Him.
"A Man on a donkey? All this fuss for a Man on a donkey?" Penny asked, but nobody heard her, because as the donkey passed everyone except for her and Mr. Peabody began shouting variations of, "Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" Penny obviously did not shout because she didn't have a clue what was going on. But Mr. Peabody was using his superior canine hearing as he listened very intently to the disciples walking beside the donkey. He was attempting to identify two in particular. Suddenly, he heard what he wanted to hear.
"I guess we didn't have to worry about returning to Jerusalem after all, John!"
"No, Peter, I guess not! The crowds love the Master!"
Mr. Peabody filed away the image of the two men's faces. He would need this piece of information later. As the donkey moved away and the crowds began to disperse and returned to their business, the woman turned to Mr. Peabody.
"I don't believe we've been properly introduced," she said. "My name is Mary and this is my son, John Mark."
"It is a pleasure to meet you both," Mr. Peabody replied. "My name is Peabody and this is Sherman and Penny. They are orphans you see, and I am their caretaker. Say hello, children."
"Hello."
"Hello, children," Mary responded before turning back to Mr. Peabody. "You must be here for the Passover. We live here in the city and we haven't seen you here before. Do you have a suitable place to stay?"
"Oh, yes. We have a little place to stay in the tent city out in the valley," Mr. Peabody replied.
"Well that's good," Mary replied. "If you need anything while you're here, just come find me. Any friend of the Master's is a friend of us. Our house is the largest house in the Upper City. It's easy enough to spot."
"Thank you very much for your kindness," said Mr. Peabody. "It was a pleasure meeting you. Farewell."
"Farewell," Mary replied as they went their separate ways.
Kidron Valley, Sunday 2 April A.D. 30, 10:00 AM
The time travelers had made their way out of the city and back down the hill to the WABAC. By now, Penny was thoroughly confused. "Is that it? What was the point of that, Mr. Peabody? Who was that Man on the donkey?" she asked as they stepped into the WABAC.
"Oh, that's not it Penny. Not by a longshot," Mr. Peabody replied. "We're just skipping ahead a little bit in the story, that's all. As for the Man on the donkey, well, you'll find out in good time."
"Well, okay," said Penny with a hint of doubt in her voice. "But this is not the exciting adventure you promised me."
"You won't be saying that for long, Penny," Mr. Peabody said with a chuckle. "Sherman, set the WABAC for the same place on 5 April A.D. 30 at 9:00 AM."
"Okay, Mr. Peabody," Sherman said as he moved to make the proper adjustments. When Mr. Peabody saw he was finished, he pushed the red button and they were off once again.
Author's Note: Again, I know this chapter was a bit slow, but it IS necessary. I promise it's going to pick up soon, and there will be a significant Penmanship scene in the next chapter for those who are really into it. And, as always, reviews are welcome! God bless!