Augustus's Decision

Parchment

Augustus hurries to find his wife and she is, like usual, in the kitchen. Yet she sits on the floor leaning against the mud brick wall. The wood ceiling shakes and cannot hold up any longer. It collapsed, but by a miracle, Augustus and his wife weren’t harmed from the crash. 

Choices: <a href="bookcreator://page/FFpMGwHnSdujg1lA39wLkw/left">Run out of the house- Go to page: 28</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/XlTIX6syQb2gROEiKCA4Cg/left">Stay in the house- Go to page: 30</a>

After Augustus’s death, his wife choose that the best decision was to move&nbsp;in with her family in Rome. She took all her important belongings and took her son and newborn daughter to Rome where her family was. Not long after they moved to Rome, they were turned into slaves for the emperor causing them to lead miserable lives from then on out.&nbsp; The End

Augustus calls his son off and explains, “Son, this work is urgent and I cannot allow a minute of my time to be wasted for your means.” His son leaves after the continued yelling, but Augustus feels something amiss. He continues to care for the barley and wheat. Yet a few moments later, he could hear a noise coming from the direction of his house. It sounded somewhat like a scream or yell…

Choices: <a href="bookcreator://page/-LahNCLSSMqlv7FbttXV8w/left">To Investigate the noise- Go to page:&nbsp;26</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/A0_qsuOUTKGx_VYJDV4JHQ/left">Ignore the noise- Go to page: 10</a>

Augustus peeks his head through the window and shouts in hope that his neighbors would reply or at least hear his cries for help. Though he doesn’t see a single figure out the window. Only debris and dust could be seen. He continues to call for help over and over again, yet unfortunately he receives no reply… His attempts to find help fails him and his unborn child dies. The END

Soon after Augustus’s death, once the baby was born, Augustus’s wife went to the temple to make a offering to the Goddess Levanna. His wife offered their finest crops to the Goddess in exchange for well being.

A year later during the baby’s first birthday, they all celebrated. Not only for the fact that it was the baby’s birthday but also because they managed to survive without much help. But they also remembered Augustus and his contributions to the family The End

By Cheyenne Vieira (Blue), Alena Ngo (Purple), Naisha Chaturvedi (Red)

Illustrated By Cheyenne Vieira, Alena Ngo

Augustus is curious about the noise, but not enough to make him stop with his work. Yet he certainly feels that something is wrong… After a few minutes of work, he continues to ponder if there’s truly something urgent. Maybe his son was being serious… Augustus ends up going home in a hurry.

Augustus comes home to find his wife carrying a baby wrapped in a white blanket. She sits on the bed leaning against their mud brick wall. His wife has a tired look on her face. Augustus worries greatly for his wife but also for his new born child.&nbsp;

Choices: <a href="bookcreator://page/EbT9Zb1yTH-fOPkL3V6xGA/left">Go find a doctor to check on baby- Go to page: 16</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/nCdmzIRBSCqFqPl6bdo2xQ/left">Stay home with wife- Go to page: 20</a>

Augustus hurries back home with his son. When he enters the house, he finds his panicked wife laying on the bed. Seeing that she's in a lot of pain, he calls out for the midwife. “Hello! Is there anyone here to help?”&nbsp; No response. Augustus’s wife looks up at him with pain in her eyes and says, “The midwife hasn’t come today.” His face turns pale.

Choices:&nbsp; <a href="bookcreator://page/qbPqBelpSLOzu-ok55mcBw/left">Head to the temple to pray: Go to page: 8</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/WhZPX6KTR3OzFR7xt-fQqw/left">Head to the midwife’s house: Go to page: 12</a>

Augustus decides it would be good to offer some of their crops to the goddess Levana. She did help with the delivery of Valentina and for that he was very grateful. He takes his son with him to the barn and harvests some barley and wheat. Carrying the heavy sack on his back and holding the hand of his son, he makes his way up to the temple. When they finally reach it, they offer the crops, placing them at the feet of the goddess. The two of them whisper a prayer of thanks and start to head back home. On the way back, Augustus felt a wave of relief wash over his body. He picked up his pace happily running and playing with his son on their way back home.

A year has passed from that day and Augustus and his family find themselves celebrating Valentina's first birthday. As he looks at his family’s smiling faces he thinks to himself how having a family isn't always easy but it was everything to him.&nbsp; The End

Augustus worries for his new born daughter and quickly goes outside to find a doctor. He can hardly see a thing in the dark of the night. He trips on a branch and can hear growling from behind. Augustus looks back but it’s much too late to react. He gets attacked by a pack of wolves and his life flashes before his eyes. The END

In his attempt to run away safely, Augustus trips on a wooden slab. He collapses in a weird angle against a stone brick. Ouch! He breaks his leg from the fall which hurts greatly. From his house’s wall, a wave of bricks fall on him. The pain is severe and all too much for one man to handle. Augustus dies from the impact. The END.

He examined the options he had and quickly came to the decision that going back home would be the best option. He ran back home and entered his home to see his wife crying in pain. He ran to her when he noticed the ceiling shaking unsteadily. He ushered his son out of the house quickly before picking his wife up and leaving her outside where she would be safer. He went back in the house and looked around the house for any important items he should grab. His son and his wife told him to get out of the house before the ceiling fell but he felt as if there was something important he should get before leaving the house. Out of sudden the ceiling collapsed and Augustus was crushed. His wife screamed for him but he was no longer living. He managed to save his family but not himself. After a few minutes, his son stopped calling him because he heard no response, leading them to believe that Augustus was officially dead.

The baby was born soon after Augustus’s death.&nbsp; His wife and son could not stop grieving over the loss of Augustus, but they tried their best to continue help around the&nbsp; house and provide for the family

Choice: <a href="bookcreator://page/7FbN26rUQduJRwH15H3ydw/left">Head to the temple- Go to page: 36</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/0HemgRdpQHC3_L5lthaiNQ/left">Leave Pompeii- Go to page: 34</a>

After Augustus’s wife's death, he grieved a lot. He was only left with his house, his farm, his newborn baby, and his young son. Augustus got so desperate to get his wife back that he went to the extent to going to the temple and offering his newborn daughter to the Gods to get his wife back. But he only angered the Gods by trying to sacrifice his daughter for his wife. The Gods punish him by causing a earthquake and ending his life. The END.

In a panic, Augustus runs out of his house and down the street to the nearby village, where the midwife lives. In that moment, Augustus looks up at the dangerous gray sky. His heart drops as he starts to feel the earth begin to shake. His legs drop from under him and he tries to crawl to safety to the nearby houses. After the moment the shaking stops, he crawls out from where he was hiding and uses all the power in his body to stand up and look around. There were fallen houses and debris everywhere. Augustus looks towards the direction of his house and notices puffs of smoke coming from the area of where he lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Choices: <a href="bookcreator://page/wdaDGIABQ16yrxmUuQWayg/left">Hurry home to protect your wife- Go to Page: 32</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/_M0m9UyETQm6wifPoODbGg/left">Continue searching for the midwife- Go to page: 22</a>

Their fallen ceiling blocked the exit and trapped them both inside their home. Dust filled the air and his wife seemed to be struggling. Augustus soon realized that his wife was in labor. He had to act swiftly.&nbsp;

Choice: <a href="bookcreator://page/tmoq1-_XTKStYOP9gTXcmg/left">Help Augustus wife deliver- Go to page: 44</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/5lBcCMskQza5Gfi_ft4G1g/left">Yell for help- Go to page: 46</a>

Augustus chooses to continue his way to the temple. When he reaches the temple he sighs in relief and closes his eyes to pray. But as soon as he closed his eyes, a mob attacked him, believing that Augustus angered the Gods and caused the earthquake. The mob took Augustus’s life, leaving his wife and his son alone at home with no help. The END.

Augustus grieved over the loss of his wife but he knew he couldn’t hang on to it forever otherwise he wouldn’t be able to take care of his kids. He thought about sacrificing his baby to get his wife back but he decided against it and kept the baby. He took the baby in his hands and looked at her. He recognized that she had his wifes features and smiled at the baby. He promised to take care of the baby forever and give her unconditional love. The End

Augustus sees the puffs of smoke over the area where he lives but he is not sure if it's his house. He remembers how his wife needs the midwife badly and continues forward. Augustus moves debris as he walks through the village, searching every building he comes across. As he approaches the center of the village he hears a faint voice yelling for help.&nbsp; “Help! HELP! Someone please help me!” A voice echoes through the fallen rubble.&nbsp; Augustus follows the noise to the right of him until he finds the midwife’s house. Inside, the midwife was injured, still having a pile of rocks piled on top of her.&nbsp; “Please help. My leg is hurt!” Says the midwife desperately.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He rushes towards her, dragging the big boulders off of her legs. As Augustus continues to help he explains, “My wife.. she’s gone into labor back at the house. You must come and help.”&nbsp; “I am in no state to walk. Go and find my horse, he ran down the street when the earth shook.” said the midwife.&nbsp; Augustus takes off, running three houses down searching for the midwife's horse. In the distance he spots it, frightened and hiding between two destroyed buildings. When he gets closer he notices a cart attached to the horse. He rushes back to the house with the horse as it starts to rain. Carefully he picks up the midwife and places her in the cart and takes off back towards his house.

Augustus was very happy that his baby girl Valentina was born, but he couldn't afford to give any crops. I would love to give some of the crops to the goddess Levana but we don't have much to eat already, plus we have another mouth I need to feed now, Augustus thinks to himself.&nbsp; Days pass since his daughter’s birth and Augustus tends to his crops. On his way back from the barn he hears a cry from the house. Rushing through the door he sees his wife crying at the table. “What is wrong, my dear?” He asks sitting next to her and trying his best to console his wife.&nbsp;

“I think the goddess Levana has abandoned us. Our daughter suddenly got very sick with a high fever.” She sobs.&nbsp; Augustus stands from the chair and peers into his daughter's crib. There he sees his lifeless daughter layin with her eyes closed. Shaking, Augustus reaches in to take her hand and notices she is no longer breathing. He cradles her as he starts to cry, his newborn baby is dead.&nbsp; The End

In the city of Pompeii, where fields are many, Augustus is working on the farms. Wheat and barley fill the fields creating massive yellow and slight brown lands across the bottom half of the horizon. The sun peeks over the yellow-full land and the air is hot and humid. His face full of sweat, yet he must continue working for his family's survival.

While Augustus is working on the fields, he spots his son running towards him to tell him that he must come home immediately. "For it is urgent, Father!"

Choices:&nbsp; <a href="bookcreator://page/CIssuo8AQTGVuaaozWYAwg/left">Come home - Go to page: 4</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/1sDHDZG4TTOzp-rxZt6tbw/left">Continue on with your work - Go to page: 6</a>

Speeding through the village remains the rain starts to pick up, making it hard for Augustus to see. Finally they arrive at his house, he jumps off the horse and carries her into the house to his wife. He paces back and forth for what seems like hours. He stops when he notices a small child’s cry. It’s faint at first but then fills the room loudly with screams. A knowing smile forms across his face. Slowly he opens the door to see his wife and a new baby girl in her arms.&nbsp; Looking down at the child his wife says, “We can call her Valentina, the name meaning brave and strong.” She smiles and looks up at Augustus. “I'm so happy. I wonder if we should give thanks to the goddess Levana. She's a goddess who protects newborns, you know. We don't have many crops but I want our child to be healthy and happy.” Augustus thinks to himself.&nbsp;

Choice: <a href="bookcreator://page/CMJwAmq4RRSEzFpCaqEsYg/left">Offer crops to the Goddess- Go to page: 40</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/c3V85ZnxRh-9hV74Xu6pwA/left">Save your crops- Go to page: 42</a>

24

Augustus worries deeply for his wife, and decides to stay home to check on her. He tries speaking to her yet her words are weak and simply mumbles… Her eyes fall out of gaze and Augustus’s heart gets a thump. He checks on his wife’s heart beat, but nothing can be felt or heard… His wife’s pulse has come to an end and so does her life.&nbsp;

Augustus is heart broken over the loss of his wife. He is torn for the love of his new daughter but also the anger of the loss he just suffered. Augustus looks at his son and wonders can the two of them take care of this new little girl. Augustus asks, "Son how will we take care of her?" "Maybe we can give her to the Goddess and she might give back my mother." said the son. Augustus had a choice to make.

Choice: <a href="bookcreator://page/G45vz7VcQwiEoAw24fcpXw/left">Offer the baby to Goddess- Go to page: 38</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/ZqIw-gCCQbiCYwS1zIwx5A/left">Keep the baby- Go to page: 48</a>

Augustus feared for his wife and thought we need help from the Gods.&nbsp;“I should go to the temple for the Gods right away and ask for their help!” he told his wife.&nbsp;He ran out his door and ran as quickly as he could into the city. Augustus was so focused on his running to the temple that he thought the roaring he heard was just from his heavy breathing.&nbsp;But soon he found himself being pushed back and forth on the road as if the Gods themselves were playing with him as a child would to a toy. “What is happening here, have I made the Gods angry?” exclaimed Augustus. It was then he realized the earth itself was quaking beneath his feet.

As the earthquake started, Augustus stopped in his tracks and panicked. He didn’t know whether he should continue&nbsp; his way to the temple or go back to his house to protect his family.

Choices:&nbsp; <a href="bookcreator://page/Fv56WpA8QJabgqTdDDkuTg/left">Hurry home to protect your wife- Go to page: 18</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/Z4gJnECmTpKxd66wX2skzQ/left">Continue to the temple- Go to page: 14</a>

He is frantic but tries his absolute best to stay calm while he helps his wife deliver. Augustus does whatever he can in their dust-filled house, dirt floor, and rough walls.

Augustus worries that calling for help would waste immense time. The Earth stopped the rumbling and all was calm but dust-filled. Augustus prayed to the Goddess Levanna for assistance. She is indeed known for being the goddess of childbirth. Moments later, a baby’s head pokes out! Their child was successfully born thanks to Augustus and possibly the Goddess of childbirth… Maybe she did hear Augustus’s calls for help… After all that, their neighbors find them through all the rubble and debris. The End.

That smoke is coming from my village! Augustus thinks to himself. Worried, he rushes back to where he came from. As he arrives at his house, he sees flames dancing off the roof and peeking through the windows. Without thinking, Augustus runs into the burning house with no hesitation. The smoke was a thick blanket making it hard for him to see anything. Blinded by the thick smoke in the air, he drops to the floor and sees the room that his wife and his son are in.&nbsp;Fighting against the flames he runs in but it is too late. The smoke and fire beat Augustus to his family. Standing over them he turns towards the exit as a support beam from the roof breaks loose and falls on top of him. Augustus is unconscious as the fire burns the rest of the house up.&nbsp; The End

Name

Safari may block some audio or video from playing automatically and ‘read to me’ will skip these. You can configure this in Safari’s preferences.