She saw her life-long, girlhood friend
Shopping in the marketplace,
And caught the sight of a purpling bruise
Upon her pretty face.
“Erythia, let me take your son and
Bring him home to play with mine.
You need some time to rest yourself.
Don’t worry; your boy will be fine.”
“Thank you, Alcmene,” Erythia said,
As she wiped away a tear.
“I don’t know what I’d do, my friend,
If you didn’t live so near.”
“Don’t think about it Erythia. Get some sleep.
That man’s made you a wreck.
In a day or so you’ll be better
Then I’ll come by your home to check.”
“Iolaus, my son, would you like to go
Spend some time with your good friend?”
“Oh can I Mother! ‘Cause we’re having fun
And I don’t ever want it to end!”
Erythia kissed her son good-bye
And sent him off with a heartfelt prayer.
“Save him please. He’s such a good boy.
Are you listening gods? Are you there?”
Alcmene bought some cakes, some fruit,
And a jar of honey with the comb.
Then she rounded up the kinder
And they headed for her home.
The children ran ahead of her
Chasing butterflies, catching bugs,
Running back every once in a while
To ask her questions and to get some hugs.
“Can we stay up late tonight Mama?”
“Can we sleep in Herc’s new bunk?”
“Can you tell us some bedtime stories
About heroes and other neat junk?”
They finally reached ‘Mene’s garden.
Raced each other down the gravel path.
Then they played a game of bag ball
So they’d really need that bath.
Twas but a voice, a greeting, that met her
When they’d finally made it through the door.
Not a human form, just a brilliant light
That few eyes had seen before.
“Come Alcmene,” the deep voice rang out.
“Do not look on me with fear.
All will be well, all will be right
I will make things very clear.”
“I have great news of wonders
To share with you this day.
Though I think it would be wise first
To send the children off to play.”
Alcmene felt no fear at all
As she assessed her situation.
She shoo-ed the children back outdoors
Bestowing snacks as a small placation.
“We’re alone now, like you wanted,” she said.
“Now tell me why you’ve come.”
“I’ve been sent to you from the heavens,” the voice replied.
“About the boy who’s like your son.”
Before the apparition could speak to her
Before it uttered another word
Alcmene cut it off with a “Hush!”
“You think that’s news? Well I’ve already heard.”
“And what do you mean he’s ‘like my son’?
He grew up inside my heart.
He owns a good piece of my soul too.
Being the Son of Zeus is only one part.”
“So save your breath, if you even have one.
I know. I’ve already been told,
By a wonderful man from the future
So very brave and strong and bold.”
“He fought a goddess for my life
For the life of my unborn son.
He said my baby’s father was really Zeus
And that he’d be an heroic one.”
“As if that golden man’s message
Wasn’t nearly clear enough,
There’s that incident with the snakes
And plenty of other stuff.”
“Like my son’s super strength and how he’s never hurt
When he’s taken a nasty fall.
And there are so many other instances
That I can’t remember them all.”
“So take your message back to the heavens
And tell Zeus his son is doing well.
If he wants to be a part of it, then fine
Otherwise he can go to Hell!”
The voice from the midst of the brilliant light
Bubbled with laughter at her defiance
He really believed she would rip into him
She was a bundle of heart and fierce self-reliance.
His annunciation was not complete
His message had not been imparted
But he knew she’d take care of the special one
She’d guide the boy until his testing started.
“I will leave now. I know he’s in good hands
He’ll be loved and protected too
I beg just one more moment of your time
I’ve some warnings to impart to you.”
“Please make certain that they avoid,
Every day of their budding lives,
Encounters with the god of war Ares
And the under-god they call Strife.”
“And Discord’s a demonic menace.
Please keep them away from her too.
My blessings upon you, dear lady.
Now I will bid you all adieu.”
Then the brilliant light slowly faded
To return to the heavens, Alcmene assumed.
But she noticed it had left a feeling
Akin to bliss throughout the room.
She ran to the door to check on the kids
Then she got their dinner ready
Surprising herself, ‘cause she was a bit unnerved
And wasn’t feeling too steady.
They ate and bathed, hugged and kissed
And then the kids went to bed
Falling asleep to the soft sweet sounds
Of her voice as Alcmene read.
She looked upon them as they slept
All innocence and peace divine
She vowed to love and guide them both
These children the Fates had entwined.
She bent down to kiss Iolaus once more
And to wipe the blond curls from his face.
Her son might be the son of a god
But this other was filled with special grace.
She knew Iolaus was god-sent too
He would be the heroic one
That would grow to be the golden man
Who’d come back in time to save her son.
Up and away past the sun and the moon
Away past the farthest star’s heat
The brilliant light blended into the heavens
It’s mission to earth now complete.
“Gabriel,” came the rumbling voice from the throne.
“I trust your assignment went well.”
“Quite well, in fact Michael, seems she already knew
So, you see, it wasn’t such a hard sell.”
“Although it seemed to me she really believed
I was talking about Hercules, her son.
I didn’t have the heart to tell her
That he wasn’t The Chosen…The One.”
“Michael, I know that she’ll care for Iolaus
I’ve seen how she is, and don’t have to assume.
Her love is as fierce for this friend of her son.
It’s as if he were born of her womb.”
“Her son is a half of the one that is two,
But the origin of the great love
Must come from the man of the mortal world,” Michael said,
“Not the one from Olympus above.”
“And believe me, Iolaus’ life won’t be easy
He’ll be more sorely tested than Job.
But if he can keep his heart and humanity intact
He’ll be the most blessed man on that globe.”
“It is written that first, he’ll lose faith in his dad.
He’ll lose his home, a wife and his boys.
He’ll fight to keep his heart and soul together
Retaining few of life’s usual joys.”
“He’ll experience torment and temptation
At the hands of a dark demon too.
And, believe it or not, he’ll be here with us
In the Light for a while. It’s true.”
“Then the greatest decision will await him
To give up the place in the Light that he’ll win.
But to him it may not feel like such a loss
If he stays true to his heart and conviction.”
“Iolaus will have a burning love for life
And a feeling of kindred for all men
Because he himself is Everyman
It’s that fact that his partner must ken.”
“And he’s the only mortal with half a chance
To defeat the plagues when they’re set free.
His love for his friend must stay perfect
And be returned fully at the end to succeed.”
“Then will he become a Guardian like us, Michael?
Will he stay in the Light to impart
The experience, the joy and the feelings
Of what it’s like to have a heart?”
“A Guardian? No, Gabriel. He’ll get better
Because he will have the choice to serve.
If he succeeds in all the trials before him
The Light will bestow the reward he deserves.”
“So, let us bide our time for now, Gabriel
But keep your eyes on them, for their own good.
Watch them play now at being heroes.
Help them grow together in true brotherhood.”
“Hey Herc! Did you hear that!
Did you hear what ‘Mene said!
About how Zeus is your real dad
Not that soldier-guy who’s dead!”
“Is that possible, Iolaus?
Could it really, really be true?
I’ll have to ask my mother
It would explain a thing or two.”
And then the young son of Zeus
Got a frightened look in his eye
“Will we still be friends, Iolaus?
Will I have to live up in the sky?”
Iolaus thought about it.
And began to be afraid.
“I don’t want to be without you, Herc.
You’re the best friend I’ve ever made.”
“I mean, it’s cool that you’re a demigod
That’s not the thing that makes me sad.
It’s just…Do you really think they’ll take you
To live on Olympus with your dad?”
They hugged each other for a minute
Then Herc said, “Even if they take me to the sky
We’ll still be friends forever
And I’ll come back for you bye and bye.”
“Because we really have to practice,” Herc added.
“To be the heroes we promised to be.”
“But I could be all grown up by then, Herc.
How will you know it’s me?”
“Iolaus silly, because there’s a light in your eyes
Shining out for everyone to see.
It looks exactly like the light that was just in my house
Talking to my mom about Zeus and me.”
“That’s how I’ll know it really is you.
We’ll be together until the end.
You and me playing heroes
Fighting back to back, my friend.”
Then the two went back inside with Alcmene.
Since they had settled on their path.
“Can we stay in now Mom? We’re hungry!”
“Yeah, and do we really need a bath?”
The End
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