A House Divided 1

A Penny for Change, Part 3: A House Divided

By Amber Rookstool
I attended a funeral for a man I barely knew today. I talked to him once in the park. His
name was Abraham. We talked for hours about his sons and grandsons. He loved them all so
much, but he feared they differed too much, always arguing, never united. I listened to him talk
and we exchanged pennies. I did not realize we talked so deeply as he would feel the need have
me personally invited to his funeral.
I traveled all the way to Jeru-Salem to watch a stranger be settled in the ground next to
his wife. I received many stares from his grandson, but none from his sons. For the occasion, his
sons, Isaac and Ishmael followed their fathers wishes and buried him peacefully. Afterward, we
returned to the house and discussed how I knew Abraham.
The house was enormous, but it dwindled in size because the living quarters were split in
two. The house was designed to be a single floor living space. On the east side of the house was
a master bedroom and small room both with their own bathrooms and a bonus room. On the west
side of the house, there was a second large master bedroom, and two small bedrooms sharing a
double vanity bathroom. There was also an extra room used for studies on the west side. In the
middle, there was a kitchen with two sinks, two counters, and two dining tables. The living also
inhabited a similar style. The whole house was split in two. I was always confused as to where I
should sit, so I alternated sides and sometimes stood or sat on the middle line.
The family was nice to me when we talked and shared stories about Abraham, but they
were cruel to each other, always fighting over the slightest details. I understood almost
immediately why Abraham invited me, but it took a while for me to figure out how I would do it.

A House Divided 2

I decided to work backwards, so I started with the grandsons, the youngest of whom is Michael,
Ishmaels only son.
I asked Michael what his favorite part about the farmland was, and he told me a story.
...
The land here is rich and beautiful, he said. It comes with many magical moments if you
listen to the nature. The sky sings, the sun shouts, the wind whispers, the trees talk, the grass
grows. Every movement is an inspiration of peace and tranquility and unity with nature. One
time, I fell asleep in the field and I could see myself laying there, but my spirit floated above, as
if one with the earth and sky. I walked up stairs, a delicate, intricate staircase made of tree
branches and blooming flowers. I reached a cloud where I was able to look down and see the
whole world below me, but in the center of it all was this land. It belonged to me. I woke up with
a smile on my face.
...
After talking to me, his face gleamed at the warm memory, and he smiled for the rest of
the day.
The next youngest grandson is John, son of Isaac. I asked John what his favorite memory
growing up on the farmland was, and he told me a story.
...
My favorite memory is also the scariest memory in my life. All the animals on this farm
are friendly and like us, but there was a time when they feared us and actually tried to kill me.
Pawpaw had bought the land and built the house and started raising the cattle. When Moses was
growing up, he actually had to tend the vegetables and wheat because the animals were so mean.
Both Pawpaw and dad scared the animals and they were mean because of it, yet they never gave

A House Divided 3

the animals a reason to be scared. When I came along, pawpaw saw something in new in me that
he did not see in Dad or Moses. He decided to send me to tend the animals. Right away,
something changed. Most of the animals were nicer. Chickens made it easier to gather eggs and
cows made it easier to milk and horses made it easier to plow. A few, however, still did not like
me. Pharisee, a mare, would stomp his hooves anytime I came in the barn. Pawpaw was always
his favorite. Sadducee is the one bull who always gave me a hard time, too. There were a few
other animals that disliked me, but the majority favored me over Dad.
One day, I was eating my lunch outside in the open field, and I heard stomping. I turned
around to see Pharisee and Sadducee and few other cattle stampeding towards me. My first
thought was how did they get out and my second thought was move! But I could not. It seemed I
was nailed to the ground. Pawpaw saved me. He said he found my prostrate with my arms spread
out. Why I didnt curl into a ball, he didnt know, but he told me I was out for a good three hours,
until I got up.
This is my favorite memory because when I went back to work, I could have sworn I saw
fear in Pharisees and Sadducees eyes, like they were looking at a ghost. I almost died laughing.
...
I saw the same brightness in John, as I did Michael, when he finished reminiscing. They
both glowed with happiness.
Matthew is the oldest grandson, first born from Isaac. He stood tall and strong; he acted
like the oldest, like a leader and example for the others. I asked him what made the farmland
special, and he told me a story.
...

A House Divided 4

When I was young, I was very immature, and I had friends who were even more
immature than me. We liked to play pranks on one another. Well, one time, Grandpops, Pops, and
I were out of town. I had convinced them to let me save money and buy a good bike. My friends
decided it would be funny to spray paint the cows while we were gone, so they colored every
single cow gold.
We came back earlier than we anticipated and caught them in the act. This was when I
first realized the immaturity of twelve year old. I was furious, I didnt know why, but I was. I
was so mad that when I grabbed my bike from the bed of the pickup truck, I broke the bike. I
screamed and fussed at them for the broken bike and golden calves. Pops wanted to send them
away and tell their parents, but I understood why they did it: to be funny, although it wasnt, I
still protected them. Instead, I helped them wash the cows clean, and afterward, Pops helped me
fix my bike.
After the matter, Grandpops told me how proud he was of me. He said that was the day I
really matured, and I proved to him I would be able to take over the land when he and Pops
passes. To me, the land represents the day Grandpops showed me his pride, and that is so rare, it
makes the land extra special.
...
Following his story, Matthew walked outside. Again, I saw the same sparkle in his eyes
and smile. He stood a little straighter, too.
Dinner that night was more peaceful. Each grandson was caught up in his memory, and
Isaac and Ishmael continued to follow Abrahams wishes, until the end of the meal.
The two broke into a fight I had been waiting to happen, it was only a matter of time.
Who owns the land now?

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I am the first born, Ishmael argues.

But Dad willed it to me.
Yet the county says they are going to give me some.
Why?
I dont know. Probably because theyre scared Im going take more land.
You have barely lived here. You and Michael have live in Saint Antonia for so long, why
now?
Ishmael glared at Isaac as if it was obvious. I took the opportunity to interrupt.
Ishmael what is your fondest memory of Abraham?
What kind of question is that?
Indulge me.
It would either be when he visited me in Meckah and we built a treehouse for Michael
together. He made sure to keep the doorway facing here so we know the door is always open. Or
when we went hunting together for the first time and we caught a deer together.
Isaac looked surprised. He did not know Abraham visited Ishmael a lot.
Isaac, what is your fondest memory of Abraham?
Thats hard because I dont want to copy Ishmael, but it has to be the first time he took
me hunting and we killed my first deer.
The brothers stared at each other. Neither one had ever realized how close the other was
to Abraham. Their memories were almost identical; although Ishmael grew up away from the
farmland; their dad ensured they both had the same experience.

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The whole table stared at each other, one after another recounted the stories they had told
me. No one had realized the significance of the land to one another until then, until they shared
their stories, until they understood the others memories.
I arrived to a divided house and left a united table. I only hope they would remain
together, united under one land and one person and one family.