Fiction Friday! Interview With the Woman at the Well – Part 2

A Fictional Interview With the Woman at the Well
Part 2

Taken from the Biblical Account in John 4

Q – We left our readers hanging last week after I said we would tackle the issue of your five husbands in a subsequent interview. Honestly, I had not given that issue much thought previously, other than the fact that Jesus did not let you get by with a half-truth there. Tell us about your marriages.

A – My first marriage, David, was the love of my life. We were very young–and in love. We had started building a good life. I became pregnant very soon after we married, but I loved children, and we were happy. However, he was trapped in a fire in our vineyard and killed. Then I married Simon, the overseer of the vineyard, innocently thinking he would be like David and take care of us, but he was brutal and abusive. He simply didn’t come home one evening.

Q – And you suspect that your brother did away with him, don’t you?

A – Yes, but he never admitted it, and I didn’t pursue it. Deep down I have to say I was relieved.

Q – You know, Marah … or I suppose you’d rather I call you by your “new” name, Abigail.

A – You can even call me Abby if you like.

Q – I like Abigail fine. What I started to say was you don’t have to go into detail about each marriage. Our readers can get the book to find out about all of those. What I’m interested in is your feelings about having so many husbands.

A – I was embarrassed when Jesus verbalized it to my face. I never meant to have so many husbands. I was widowed three times, abandoned once, divorced once. I was a disgrace in our village, and kept myself isolated. I felt “less than.” Shame followed me around everywhere I went and nipped at my heels like a yapping little dog. I never felt clean or free from the whispers and gossip. That’s why I went to the well at mid-day. Most of the women went earlier in the day or in the evenings when it was cooler. So I chose to go during the heat of the day to avoid them. And it was so very hot that day. I can remember Jesus wiping the beads of perspiration away as we talked.

Q – I’m curious about what Jesus looked like – his physical appearance.

A – Very ordinary – average stature, a pleasant tanned, but not overly handsome face, a quick smile, kind eyes that drew me in. There was nothing about his appearance that made him stand out — it was his demeanor.

Q – Explain that.

A – I don’t know if I can. His presence created an atmosphere of peace, of kindness, of acceptance, which put people at ease and drew them to him. His smile disarmed me immediately. So warm.

Q – And nobody else was around?

A – Only the one disciple, John. He’s the one who recorded the story.

Q – I know. I read the Book.

A – (Chuckling) Ah, yes. That’s right.

Q – And I also have been to the well.

A – Really?

Q – Yes, in 1998 we were given a trip to Israel by a dear friend, and we visited the site. I stood beside it and thought of you.

A – That touches me.

Q – Your story has touched many people through the ages. Next week I want to discuss your son, Matthew’s, encounter on the road to Jericho.

A – Yes, I would like to tell you about that.

Q – He became known as the Good Samaritan in another one of the most beloved stories in Scripture. Stay tuned until next week.

Questions for my readers. Please leave your comments below…

What do you imagine Jesus’ demeanor to be like? Do you picture him smiling?
Had you ever realized that the disciple, John, was with Jesus during this beautiful encounter and witnessed it firsthand?
Can you identify with the shame this woman felt and her desire to isolate herself because of it?
When has Jesus met you in a personal way and removed your shame and replaced it with hope?

 

If you would like to order a copy of “Alone” CLICK HERE.

If you would like to read the first chapter of “Alone” CLICK HERE.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.

 

 

The post Fiction Friday! Interview With the Woman at the Well – Part 2 appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.