Theopolda's Quest. Linda Wisely

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      "Push, push! I can see the head," the old fat midwife ordered the young woman on the narrow, hard bed. Her hair was wet and stringy, her face wet with perspiration from the many hours of labor. She strained obediently until her face turned red, as the infant moved out of her exhausted, pain-racked body. She let out a loud triumphant scream, and the tiny baby girl met the world.

      There was an expectant hush over the room. No cry was heard. The midwife held the baby upside down and gave her a short swat on her little round bottom. First was heard a gurgle, then the cry they had all been anxiously awaiting after 36 hours of labor. The sheets on the bed were crumpled and twisted under the woman. "Let me see my baby. Let me hold it." she cried.

      Another woman dressed in a long white nun's robe was wiping the baby, rubbing her to get the slight tinge of blue away. She wrapped the little wrinkly baby in swaddling clothes and laid her on her mother's naked chest. "Here is your beautiful little girl." The mother held her baby close under her chin, glad that the ordeal was over, not knowing her life blood continued to stream out between her legs. The midwife and her assistants worked quickly to staunch the crimson flow.

      "Hurry, more sheets, press hard!" The midwife barked out orders. But as the tiny baby nuzzled her mother's breast, her mother's eyes began to glaze over. One thought formed in her mind, Don't let her father, Theopold, get near my little girl, but the only word that came out was "Theopold'ah!!" and she was gone, leaving the baby an orphan.

      The nun assisting, thinking the mother was telling them the baby's name, exclaimed, "She wants her called Theopolda; a big name for such a tiny, delicate baby, but Theopolda it is."

      Another nun in white lifted the little newborn off her lifeless mother and held her close. She gently rocked baby Theopolda, crooning, "Poor tiny little mite, you will always have a home here with us at the monastery." Feeling safe and warm, Theopolda fell asleep, not knowing her mother had died giving her life.

      A week before the baby was due, a wet nurse and a midwife had been summoned from the mainland of Sicily to the Franciscan monastery on the Isle of Literary Wisdom. The monastery was located on a remote island about 25 miles south of Sicily. They felt this was necessary, because the monks and nuns had no experience birthing or taking care of babies.

      Fiorenza Crispo, the wet nurse, had plenty of milk since she was already nursing her one-year-old son, William. He would be nursing for another couple of years. She was happy to be off of the mainland in a safe place to raise William and now little Theopolda. She had felt so alone since her husband had died in a storm while fishing, a few months before William was born.

      Theopolda, "Theo" as she quickly became known, started as a fragile infant, and grew fat and strong under Fhi's care. Fhi was the name Theo had dubbed her as soon as she could talk. All of the nuns and monks loved having the children, Theo and William, at the monastery.

      Theo and Will were never apart, following Fhi as she went about her duties in the monastery. Theo also had attached herself to one monk in particular, Brother Justus.

      Brother Justus loved children. Not having children of his own had been his only regret in joining the order and becoming a monk. The first thing anyone noticed about Brother Justus upon seeing him for the first time was his kind and twinkly eyes which almost closed when he smiled. He was balding on top with short grey hair on the sides to match his grey beard. The smile lines at the corner of his eyes and around his mouth gave testimony to the fact that he smiled often.

      This short, sturdy monk, with a slight pouch of a stomach, was known for his diligence and kindness. He was a favorite of all that lived at the monastery, because he was always willing to help anyone who needed a hand. He had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and a sincere love of God. Much of his time was spent pouring over the thousands of manuscripts that made up the renowned Library of Literary Wisdom. Nevertheless, he always made time for Theo and Will.

      Working in the vineyards that surrounded the monastery was also a passion of Brother Justus. The monastery was supported by the excellent wine they made on the island. It was known all over Europe as the " Vino Di Saggezza" (wine of wisdom). Brother Justus found it relaxing to tend the grapes because it helped clear his head from so much reading. When not tagging after Fhi, the children could be found alongside Brother Justus in the vineyards or in one of the libraries learning their alphabet from him.

      "Bubby Justus, can we eat the gwrapes?" Theo asked.

      "Not yet, they are too green," cautioned Brother Justus. "You will have a terrible stomach ache."

      Theo's four-year-old eyes grew round. She and Will's mouths were salivating at the sight of the beautiful green bunches of grapes as they dangled invitingly under the leaves of the grapevines.

      Suddenly, Theo's little hand quickly snatched a grape and popped it into her mouth, which immediately twisted at the sour taste. Undaunted, she continued to finish chewing and swallowing the nasty grape. William watched silently, then just as quickly grabbed his own green grape.

      Brother Justus, though his back was partly turned, saw them. Tonight they would need a very mild supper, he thought to himself. Theo always had to learn by experience, with Will following. He hoped Will would learn to be more independent and think for himself, or he was going to have trouble in life. Not to mention the kind of trouble Theo was headed for, running willy-nilly, and headlong, into everything that caught her fancy.

      Over the years, Theo and Will grew in height and wisdom. Theo found a great love of reading, but also enjoyed Will's interest in fencing. Each day after chores, which everyone at the monastery did, and their school lessons, the children were free to do whatever they wanted. It was the custom for everyone in the monastery to help clean, fix and grow food, and work in the vineyards. Theo's life quickly took on a daily routine. She had no idea of the adventure that was waiting in the future.

      Chapter 2