The Didymus Contingency

TWENTY FIVE
A.D.

Somewhere

Sometime

As David strode up a grassy hill, he stared at the ominous sky, swirling with black clouds and energy. The flapping of his robe grew louder as he neared the peak. In one hand, he held Sally’s hand. She was blindfolded and following David carefully up the steep incline. In David’s other hand was a large umbrella and a 16oz. Wild Cherry Pepsi.

“Where are we, David? It smells like it’s going to rain. I better not get wet. I don’t want to get wet.”

“Patience, my dear. You’re going to enjoy this…even if you do get wet.”

“Great,” she said.

David stopped at the top of the hill and looked at the view, which stretched for miles. “Incredible…”

“What? David, can I take this off now?”

David untied the blindfold and pulled it away from Sally’s eyes. She blinked a few times and then gasped. “What is it?”

“Better get under if you don’t want to get wet,” David said, as he sat down on the grass and opened the umbrella.

Sally sat next to David and huddled under the umbrella. “Now tell me what this is.”

“Ever heard of Noah’s Ark?” he asked.

“As in the flood?”

David nodded.

“Is this?”

David nodded again. “It took me fifteen trips through time to figure out when the flood began, but I’m pretty sure it’s any minute now.”

Sally looked at the view again. Below them was a lush valley and at the center of the depression was an unbelievably large wooden boat, just sitting there on the ground, supported by hundreds of wooden planks on either side. On the side of the boat were a large open door and a long board, which served as a ramp. An old man and three younger men pulled the ramp into the boat and closed the hatch.

After twisting the cap off his Wild Cherry Pepsi, David took a sip and looked up at the sky, tilting the umbrella away from their heads. A drop of water hit David square in the forehead and he laughed. Sally pulled the umbrella back over them and the pitter-patter of raindrops began tapping out a song on the fabric.

“Here it comes,” David said.

The rain picked up quickly and each drop grew in size. Soon it sounded like TV static at high volume. Sally and David could hardly hear each other laughing. David reached into his robe and pulled out four flat, orange, pieces of plastic.

“What are those?” Sally shouted.

David put one of the objects to his lips and blew as hard as he could. The object expanded as David continued to blow. He pushed a clear plastic nozzle in and held the fully inflated object up. It was round with a hole in the middle. “Floaties…you know: water wings.” David said. “Just in case.”

Sally smiled and took one of the floaties from David’s hands. They blew them up and put them on together. David looked at Sally as she watched the water swiftly flooding the valley. She was so beautiful sitting there in her bright orange floaties. David knew he had to take the chance. Maybe this was God’s plan for David and Sally all along? Maybe God had more in store for them both? Sally had yet to tell David about her conversation with Jesus. He knew their adventures were just beginning. Today would be no different. David reached under his robe.

Sally caught the glimmer of what looked like just another raindrop, but upon closer inspection revealed an engagement ring. David held it in front of her eyes. His face was an expressive mix of elation and terror.

“Will you?” David shouted over the rain.

There was a pause as Sally stared at the ring in David’s hands.

“I bought it from an Egyptian merchant in 500 B.C. I don’t have a receipt but if you don’t like it, I’m sure I can-”

“David, shut up!” Sally shouted with a wide grin.

David stopped talking and looked into Sally’s eyes.

Her next words were indiscernible, but David could read the expression on her face and the shapes her soft lips were making. The answer was yes!

David jumped to his feet and tossed the umbrella into the air, which got swept up by the wind. He pulled Sally to her feet and kissed her as water poured over their bodies. Sally leaned into David’s ear and said, “You have a date in mind?”

David smiled, “Whenever you want. Time is on our side.”