Mr. Teague sat at the porch, by the small round bistro style table. He sipped at his tea and set it down. Longingly, he looked over the grassland and hills stretching behind his house, and began to light his pipe. As the smoke began to form, his wife, Paula knocked on the patio door and poked her head out.
-You have a visitor dear.
-…
-Should I tell him to join you?
-Who is it?
-Lehman.
-… Let me enjoy this one.
Mr. Teague sucked in a breath of his tobacco and blew out a grey cloud of smoke. Paula drew back from the door and soon returned Ulysses Lehman following in her steps.
Mr. Teague rose from his chair and walked to greet his friend with a handshake.
-Ulysses, how goes it?
-Dreadful, absolutely dreadful!
Teague lifted an eyebrow, and pointed his friend to a chair and seated himself so that he could converse with his visitor while looking at the scenery. Ulysses began talking even before Teague could pour him a cup of tea.
-Absolutely horrible!
-What is?
-Well, have you not heard!?
-Of what my good friend?
-Yet again those infuriating pagans have decided to ruthlessly slaughter my brothers and sisters in Israel.
Mr. Teague leaned back on his chair and pulled his pipe to his lips. A puff of smoke floated in up into the air as he closed his eyes.
-How many died, pray?
-Three people dead! Can you believe the audacity of those heathens?
-Ah. ‘tis but a scratch on the population wouldn’t you say?
-Do I detect mockery? How can you scuff at such an atrocious act of violence upon innocent civilians?
-They say that violence breeds hate.
-Who do?
-They…
Teague pointed over the plains with the back of his pipe.
-People.
-Well indeed! Violence does, and it won’t be long before we finally retaliate…
-Here is your tea.
-Thank you.
-…
-This is good tea… Oh I almost forgot Dennis is coming over as well, he must be on his way all ready.
-Mm.
They sat, drinking tea. Ulysses was steaming with righteous rage over the situation at hand. He was one of those people who took divinity by the collar and showed it up onto the face of reason until reason gave up.
There was a creaking at the door.
-I see that Ulysses is at it again.
It was a voice so jovial and carefree that it used to remind people of lazying and alcohol, as was much the reality with Dennis.
-I see that you were able to remove yourself from the wine bottle. What happened, did it finish?
-Good afternoon Dennis.
-Afternoon Teague you old rascal, hasn’t anyone told you smoking kills? I finished the wine, and my flask of whiskey.
- Smoking calms my nerves Dennis.
Dennis grabbed a chair and sat down.
-You’ve any coffee?
-…
-Thank you.
Dennis whipped out a flask and poured its contents into the cup.
-I thought that you said you drank your flask!
-I had another one.
Mr. Teague laughed as Ulysses stared distastefully at their friend.
After Dennis had settled down they began talking again, Lehman leading the discussion.
-You know,
Dennis said between sips of his Irish coffee,
-I don’t understand your anger. You don’t hail from a Zionist background as I recall.
-That doesn’t matter! They are my people!
-I’m just saying that why are you getting mad here while drinking your tea?
-…
-There is one sentence that springs to mind over this whole issue.
-Yes Teague?
-“A man tormented by a demon is a devil brewing.”
-… I don’t understand.
-Ha! Teague, you are as mysterious as ever.
Mr. Teague smiled under the pillowing smoke of his tobacco.
As the day progressed the men stopped talking of Palestine and moved onto more pressing matters: The fertility of the lands and value of crops. This is, of course, typical human nature, since people dying far away seems like an illusion and their grief borders non-existence. Distance lessens value as some say; this resembles the mindset of people who say that “out of sight, out of mind”.
-I dare say that Teague’s lands are by far the most fertile! Teague old friend, I adjure you to sell me a furlong of your land! It is beautiful land I can see, and I know how you love watching it, but a furlong shan’t bother you if I buy it from the borders of your land.
-…
-Ulysses! Please tell him that the money I offer would be a good add to his wealth. I would pay with gold and rubies! Gold and rubies, my friend.
-Ha! Where would someone such as you get such assets!
-Ah Lehman my pal.
Dennis looked mischievously at Ulysses, and tapped his nose as if to stress his point.
-A figure of speech… It is a figure of speech. Nevertheless, a handsome sum of money!
Mr. Teague, ever so silent, on his third patch of tobacco, looked along his lands and waved at it with his hand with a grand gesture.
-My land… Is not for sale…
-Pray, why not?!
-… It is there for my own enjoyment, there is a certain peace in serene scenery… If I wished to smell cow manure on daily bases I would start a farm, I assure you.
-So your final answer is “no”?
-Indeed.
-See Dennis I told you so.
-Hmph.
Mr. Teague, a retired military officer and aristocrat, was what people would call a gentleman. He did not speak much, mostly because he believed that few things required speaking. He had heard of possible bad effects of smoking and decided that he was old enough not to care. Choice is such a wonderful trait.
After the failed transaction Dennis soon grew tired of chit-chat and the two visitors thought they should leave. Mr. Teague once again left on the porch looking at the distance.
Paula sat next to him. He put away his pipe.
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