Deborah materialized on the road to Ramah, near sunset. She walked to Ramah, to Amech’s and Alisa’s house. As she walked by the vineyard, she saw Lapidot harvesting grapes into a woven basket. He was gorgeous, with well developed muscles and bit of a beard.
“Lapidot!”, She called out.
“Deborah?”, He answered.
“Yes”.
He put down his basket and came over to her. “It’s good to see you”, he said.
“It’s good to see you, too. When you are done picking grapes for the day, let’s walk together to your parent’s house.”
“If you are here, then I am done for the day”. He ran back to his basket, picked it up, returned to her.
“What brings a famous Judge of Israel to a small town like Ramah?”
“I have to talk to you about something very important”
“What”
“Well, have you considered getting married?”
“I have. There are some girls in Ramah who look good”
“Would you consider marrying me?”
“You?”
“Me. Yes”
Lapidot stopped walking, and Deborah took that as a cue to stop walking.
“Are you joking?”
“No, I’m not”
“My parents could never afford the bride price of a woman such as you”
“I am an orphan, so that is not a problem”
“You are so old”
I am so insulted. But now I am 39. Maybe to him, I am old. He is young, and inexperienced, so I will let that pass.
“I am going to live for a long time. And so will you”
“Will you have children?”
“If you want me to, I will”
“I want to have lots of strong, healthy, sons”
“Daughters?”
“Well, I could have daughters. Are you a virgin?”
There is that question again. Do I tell him the truth? Will that be a deal breaker? Or maybe I can talk him out of his preconceived notions”
“No. Have you ever known a woman?”
“Women do not ask that question”
“Maybe they should. I’ve been honest with you. Will you be honest with me?”
“No, I have never known a woman”
“Well, I won’t tell anybody if you don’t tell anybody. There are lots of women who are not virgins, and they get married, have children, and their husbands are happy. It’s just not talked about. I want to marry you and nobody else but you, and I bring to you all that I have, much of which you have not seen.”
“I have to talk to my parents about this”
“I want to talk to your parents about this, too.”
They started walking, much faster now. They came to Amech’s and Alisa’s house, went in. Alisa was kneading some dough, and Amech was chopping some wood.
“Mother, Father, Deborah is here! We want to talk to you”.
Amech put down his ax. Alisa got up, wiped her hands on her garment, and the two women embraced.
“Lapidot, what do you want to talk about?”
“Deborah wants to marry me.”
Amech said, “Lapidot, Deborah talked to us about this shortly after you were born. She is a very wise woman, and the spirit of God is within her. Your mother and I almost divorced after we married. Deborah convinced us to stay together. You, your brothers and sisters would not be here if it had not been for Deborah. Our lives together have been very happy. I have a debt to her”
Alisa said, “The spirit of God is in her. She is just, and kind, and wise. She will be a good wife to you. However, she is a Judge and a prophetess. It is strange for a woman. You will have to be patient with her, you will have to talk with her, not talk to her.”
Alisa has had a powerful insight. I wonder where she got that from? I wonder if she just thought of that, or is it something she figured out some time ago.
Lapidot got a far away look on his face. He was thinking about something.
“Deborah, you are very wise. Will you listen to me when I talk to you?”
“Lapidot, I will listen to you. If what you say makes sense, then I will do it. However, I might have a better idea, so I will talk with you about it. We will come to an agreement. I am not going to do your bidding, but I will listen to you. I will not gossip. I will not waste time. I will give you children. But I also have to speak for God, and that might be hard for you. I think I can make you happy. Look, Lapidot, this is a big decision to make. You must think about it carefully. If you want, I can come back in three days and you can make your decision then”
“No, Deborah, if you want to marry me, then I will marry you”
“That’s wonderful. Now, I have an important question: How do we do a wedding ceremony?”
“You mean, you don’t know?”
“I have been to many places, seen many things. In every time and place, there are husbands and wives. So there must be weddings. I’ve just never been in the right place and the right time to see one. So I need you to decide what kind of wedding you want. I can pay for the cost.
“I thought you were an orphan?”
“I am. But it’s a little complicated. I am a wealthy orphan”
Deborah took off her backpack and set it on the floor. She rummaged through it until she found a leather bag. She pulled out the bag, opened it, and spilled about a kilogram of pure copper disks on the table. “That’s pure copper. I can get more if you want. Take the whole thing and use it to pay for the wedding. So what do we do?
“The bride’s family throws a feast. The bride is dressed with all of her jewelry, and wears a veil. The families eat together, sing songs, and the then the groom takes the bride into his house”, Alisa said. “Haven’t you been to a wedding?”
Amech spoke up. “Deborah, you are an orphan”
“That’s right”
“How did you get so much copper as an orphan?”
“Well, I’ve been favored by God so I have the copper”
Alisa interrupted again: “If you don’t have a family, who is going to throw the feast? Who will represent the bride in the negotiations?”
“Alisa - would you be willing throw a feast in my honor?”
“Well, yes, I can do that. How many people are coming?”
“I think one man from my side will be there. However many from your side, that’s up to you”
“When do you want to have the wedding?”
I’m having my period right now.
“Would two weeks from today work for you?”
“I think so”
“Walter, what are you doing two weeks from today?”
“I’m washing my hair that night”
“Well, I’m getting married that night, I’d like you to be there”
“You’re actually going to let me out of the timeship?”
“Yes. You know the definition of a trusted system?”
“No.”
“A trusted system is one that will screw you if it fails to be trustworthy. I’m simply going to trust you to do The Right Thing”
“You’re worried that I might maroon you?”
“Yes”
“I notice that you haven’t abandoned me yet”
“I am a hopeless optimist. I think I can find you a proper niche where you can live out your most grandiose dreams. Anyway, I have no family here, and only one friend here, and that’s you. So you are invited”
“I accept. I can wash my hair in the morning. Nobody will mind”