THE GOSPEL OF TRAVIS - Chapter Fourteen

THE APOSTLES SPEAK TO TRAVIS
That night Travis settled down upon his sleeping mat, a little ways off from the main camp as was his tradition, but he had great difficulty resting. He tried to push the rabbi’s teachings from his mind, particularly the one about the fruit, but the word would not be so easily removed. It had rooted there like a stubborn fig tree, its gnarled roots wrapped around his chest.

After some time he finally felt the familiar drifting of sleep, however at that very moment the Apostles all came to see him. Knowing some scheme must be afoot, Travis sat up from his mat to face the twelve.

“We Apostles were speaking amongst ourselves,” said Peter, also known as Simon to his close family, “and we feel that it would be best for everyone if you continued to worship the Lord Jesus, but from a distance.”

Travis narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying? Are you kicking me out of the Apostles?”

“You were never an Apostle,” noted Judas.

Andrew quieted Judas with a stern gesture and continued, “You see how you’ve agitated everyone, even including the rabbi who has rebuked you on multiple occasions. Our advice would be for you to love God... somewhere else.”

Travis scoffed at them and their narrow-mindedness. “So much for loving thy neighbors, eh? Does Jesus know you’re doing this, or is he as unaware as I suspect?”

Philip interjected, “You can still live a holy and worthwhile life. Just please, stop ruining ours.”

“And so I see that even little Philip is getting in on the action,” said Travis, before casting an accusing finger towards Judas. “This is your doing isn’t it, you viper?”

Judas shrugged his shoulders. “I think this is more your doing than anyone else’s.”

Travis scowled, then began rolling up his mat.

“Short-sighted, all of you.”

TRAVIS DEPARTS FROM THE APOSTLES
With his belongings packed up onto the camel, Travis began to walk away from the camp. Thomas accompanied him for a bit.

“I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you,” said the Apostle.

“You’re sorry, huh? Well, I’m sorry but I don’t believe you,” said Travis. “You put on the airs of innocence, but I see you for who you are, Thomas. You have been selfish this whole time, just as you were with Jonah the sheep dog. You wanted Jesus all to yourself. Well now you have him. You’ve turned the others against me. Congratulations.”

Rather than deny his cousin’s accusations, Thomas merely lowered his head as though to accept a beating. He asked, “Will you be okay?”

“Mostly, I just don’t know what I’m going to do with all of this merchandise. I invested a pretty penny into the business.”

“Money that you... didn’t give to the poor?” asked Thomas.

“Oh you simple children. You’d give away drips and drops to beggars and buggerers and thieves when, with just a little investment and some savvy, you could have a fountain of money to shower upon whomever you desire.

“Watch, dear cousin, that you are not deceived. You have been a skeptic since birth. I understand wanting to set aside your own nature and give your heart over to something greater than yourself, but men are sceptical for a reason. Love is all well and good, but there are other forces that run this world too. And we must also be on guard for those.

“Take care,” said Travis, “And watch for Judas. A snake knows its own kind.”

Thank you for reading The Gospel of Travis. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read and know someone who might like it too, please share it with them! 

If you’re new here and would like to receive email notifications when a new chapter is posted, please consider subscribing - it’s free unless you’d like to pay for it (you saint, you).

If you’d like to support my writing without signing up for a subscription, please consider donating a small chunk of cash. Money will go to site maintenance and then probably childcare and coffee.