Author's Note:

I've had this story idea in my head for awhile.  But the time never came to write it until the writing group I'm a part of on Wattpad, WCWRC (Wattpad Christian Writers and Readers Club) hosted a flash fiction contest that I finally put pen to paper, or rather, fingertips to keyboard, to write this story.  

Unfortunately, I didn't finish this story in time to enter it.  But I did continue writing it.  

It took longer than I thought it would, and it ended up being several pages long.  Thus, it's less flash fiction and more short story.  I've divided it into two parts because of it's length.  

The title was also changed.  Originally, it was called 'A Little Bit of Faith' but as the story grew, I decided that 'Israel's Messiah' was a better fit.  

It is completely unedited as well, so bear that in mind.  I hope you enjoy it!  

"Have you heard?"

My mother leaned a little closer to our neighbor. "No?"

"The Miracle Worker, Yeshua of Nazareth, is coming up by Capernaum tomorrow!"

My fingers stroked the puppy that was in his lap as I listened. When my fingers slowed, the puppy's head looked up and nuzzled me, demanding that I keep going.

I looked down and smiled. "Sorry Zundel."

My smile twisted as I ran his eyes over Zundel's shaggy body, wincing when I came across the dirty cloth wrapped around the dog's hind leg.

I bit my lip. It'd been a week since Zundel's hind leg had been crushed by falling wood in Abba's workshop. The pup had bravely borne his pain, but the leg had only gotten worse as time went on. Now it was infected.

Averting my gaze, I went back to listening to the conversation going on above me.

"I'm taking Naomi to see Him." The neighbor's voice had gone lower, she didn't want to be heard.

My mother grabbed her elbow. "Adah, do you think you should? You know He's most likely a charlatan. What will the others say?"

"I have to try. Besides, everyone else is going to see him too."

The mention of Naomi made my mouth water, because Naomi was always making delicious things and sharing them with the children. That was about all she could do, for a twisted leg kept her from venturing outside often. It was the result of an accident in her youth.

Like Zundel. If this Yeshua could heal Naomi, couldn't he heal Zundel?

"I'll come with you." Mother finally said, seeing that she wasn't going to persuade her friend.

"Could I come, Ema?" The question leapt off my tongue.

Mother's gaze told me I shouldn't have been listening. "You'll have to ask Abba, Benaiah. Now, stop petting that dog and go help him."

Sighing, I gently placed Zundel down by the fire. "I'm sorry you can't come with me." Zundel wagged his tail at the sound of my voice.

As I left the room, Ema whispered to her friend. "He loves that dog, but I'm afraid that he won't live much longer."

I jolted to stop outside the doorway. Zundel is going to die?

I shook my head hard. No, no, Zundel couldn't die. He had to get better.

My eyes stung as I trudged to Abba's shop.

I'm afraid that afternoon I wasn't very helpful in the shop, distracted by the thought of Zundel dying. Because of that, Abba had been clear: No, I could not go to see the Healer with Ema. Instead, I would spend the afternoon in the shop with him, working on paying better attention.

To me, this was extremely frustrating. This Yeshua might be Zundel's only chance to get well, and now I couldn't go see if that was true.

But I also knew that was a sin against Hashem to disobey my Abba and Ema. And sin, Abba had taught me, was the reason that things happened like Naomi's twisted leg, or Zundel's crushed one. Whenever I sinned, I perpetuated and added to the fallenness of the world.

So I stayed in the workshop. Besides, mother would come home, and she would tell all that would happen to Abba. I could hear it for myself then.

I ran down the street, weaving in between neighbors and friends who were chattering excitedly. But today I didn't have time to stop and listen like I usually did. Zundel was waiting.

I banged through the wooden door, calling out, "Zundel! Zundel! I'm home!"

The pup raised his head and whimpered, wagging his tail wearily, and then let his head fall back down on the mat.

My joyous spirit withered up like a leaf when I saw that the pup hadn't eaten the bit of goat meat I'd left out for him. Now it was covered by a swarm of flies.

"Zundel, you were supposed to eat that." I scolded him as best as a little boy who was concerned about his dog could.

He flapped his tail again, knowing I wasn't really angry with him. Ema would be, though, when she heard that he'd wasted some perfectly good goat meat.

Zundel's ribs were showing through his coat. His eyes were glassy with fever and inward pain.

I knelt down beside him. "Oh Zundel." My little voice cracked.

He whimpered and licked his nose at my voice, closing his eyes as I stroked the soft part of his cheek. His crushed leg was letting out a faint, but growing putrid smell.

Even I couldn't deny that my dog would die soon.

Ema was late coming home, Abba arrived before she did. But it was clear that she had some very exciting news to tell.

I tried to be extra helpful to Ema, putting all the dishes neatly in their places. I knew the sooner we started eating, the sooner Ema would tell her story.

It seemed to take forever, but we were finally seated and ready to begin eating. I fidgeted restlessly throughout Abba's blessing over the food, and felt guilty for it, but I couldn't help myself. I had to know!

"So, my wife, you are nearly about to burst with your news," teased Abba.

"Yes, and it's no idle gossip, husband!" Mother leaned forward, more excited than I'd ever seen her in my short life.

Abba smiled at her, not quite convinced, but still intrigued. "Alright then, what is it?"

"He healed Naomi's leg!"

Abba stopped bringing the bite of food to his mouth. "What?"

"Yeshua! He healed Naomi's leg! It's as straight and smooth as the day she was born."

Abba put the piece of bread back down on the table. "Are you... sure?"

She looked up to the roof in exasperation. "Yes! Naomi's been lame for years, how could I not be sure?"

"Tell me how it happened." Now Abba was getting excited as well.

I shifted where I sat, shivering with anticipation, the food in front of me completely forgotten.

"Well, as you know, we left in the morning. It was a long trek, because there were other people on the way to see Yeshua. They crowded the roads, so we had to go slow. Which is just as well, Naomi couldn't go very fast."

Abba nodded, I could tell he was impatient and wanted to urge Ema onward.

"There were so many people around Yeshua when we arrived. Naomi and I were worried we might not get to see Him today, so many wanted to be healed and to hear Him teach."

"But Adah was determined. She pushed and shoved, making space for Naomi to come behind her. Some people helped us, but for the most part no one wanted to give up their place." Ema sniffed with disapproval.

"But despite all of that, we finally arrived at the edge of Yeshua's circle. His disciples keep the people back for him, see?"

Abba nodded jerkily. Ema was never fast when it came to telling her stories.

"He-Yeshua, that is- spotted us. He waved for us to come to Him, and told one of his disciples-Thomas, I think it was-to help Naomi. Which is good, because I was worn out from helping her all that way."

"Well? What He'd do?" Abba's impatience finally got the best of Him.

Mother would have been offended, had she not been so excited. "He touched her, laid His hand on her leg, and he talked to her. Nothing seemed to happen for a while, I was starting to think it was all a sham when-" Mother leaned forward so far she looked like she might tip over. "He took His hand away and the twist was gone!"

Squeezing it in excitement, I gripped the cloth of my clothes. Yeshua had healed Naomi! Surely then He could heal Zundel.

Abba's grin was the biggest I'd ever seen. "He healed her? Completely?"

Ema nodded. "Yes! She danced all the way home!"

Abba put a hand to his chin. "I wonder if He's... If He could be..."

"The Messiah?" Ema's voice was shrill with hope.

Abba held up his hands. "No, not that! I was thinking that He might be a prophet of old."

Ema sniffed, but didn't say anything else. I knew she'd already made up her mind that Yeshua was Messiah.

I myself didn't care which He was. I just knew He could heal Zundel, if I could bring my dog to Him.

"Did you see any other healings?" Abba asked as he remembered the bread.

She nodded. "A few others, but we had to leave if we were going to make it back here in time." Her eyes shone in a way I hadn't seen before. "He just touches them, and they're whole again. And He says all the time, "Go in shalom, your faith has made you well."

Ema and Abba continued talking, but I didn't hear it. I was staring across the room at Zundel, and wondering how I could bring him to Yeshua.

"Benaiah?" The sound of my name startled me. "Yes, Abba?"

He nodded towards Zundel. "Is your dog any better today?"

I shook my head. "No, Abba. He didn't eat his goat meat."

Ema pressed her lips together. "That's a waste of good goat meat. I can't give it to you if he's just going to waste it, Benaiah."

"You may not have to worry about it much longer." Abba's voice was soft. "Benaiah, if he doesn't start eating or drinking tomorrow... It'll be too late. Son..."

I shook my head fiercely, knowing what Abba was going to say and not wanting him to say it. "No! Yeshua can heal him."

Ema and Abba shared a glance I didn't know how to interpret. "Son, you heard your mother. Lots of people are coming to him everyday. People, Benaiah, who need healing. He probably won't..." Abba trailed off at the look on my face.

"But Abba, just one touch and Zundel would be all better," I pleaded.

"Benaiah, he probably won't even see you," Ema said gently. "It'd be better to put the poor pup out of his misery."

Zundel's whimper came across the room and broke my little boy's heart. I clenched my teeth against tears. I was too old to cry. "Please... Abba."

Abba hesitated, at war within himself. "Alright, you can try, Benaiah. But don't get your hopes up."