The Adventures of Mantei Tebow, Ch. 2

On the third day after the apparation of Emmanuala appeared to him, Tebow saw a crowd gathering around the entrance of the Noble Amazon's bookstore down the street from his flat.

On the front of the store was a banner stating that Emmanulana, "Tebow's wife" was appearing for a book signing promoting her new book, "My life with Tebow."

Using all the speed and agility he could muster, Tebow scurred back to his flat hoping to avoid being seen.

Frantically Tebow called his best friend who was what the foreigners call "an agent."

"Jerry, this is Tebow, have you seen that women calling herself Emmanulana is having a book tour?"

"I know, isn't it great!"

"But you don't understand!"

"What's there to understand?  Her ratings are through the roof.  Quick, turn on your television, you can catch her interview"

Tebow turned on the television to see a dark haired women being inteviewed on Oprah.  She was showing Oprah childhood pictures of what she was explaining were her and Tebow together.   Tebow looked on with horror as the camera focused on pictures of a teenage Tebow with his arm around a younger version of this women."

Oprah:  What  was it like growing up with Tebow?

Emmanulana:  It was an absolute paradise.  He is the kindest most devoted man a women could ever hope to meet.

Oprah:  But was it always a paradise with him?

At this Emmanulana teared up.

Emmanulana (through sobs):  I've never told anyone this, but before the attack, he was a different person...He was so cold...It hurts to remember how he (sobs)....

Oprah:  Emmanulana, you are among friends.

Emmanulana:  Its just that after we were on the boat and he fell in the water and the shark....

Oprah puts her hand on Emmanulana's forearm and pats it

Emmanulana:  He was frozen and couldn't move, I don't know if he was afraid, but I knew he was in trouble.  I knew I had to act.   I don't remember what possessed me, but I jumped in the water with the spear, and kept  stabbling and stabbing the shark so it wouldn't get Tebow.

Oprah:  You are an inspiration to us all Emmanulana.

Emmanulana:  After that he was different, he's like you see him now.  That's why I love him so much.

Oprah:  We'll be right back with more from Emmanulana...

"Did you see that Tebow?"  said Jerry.   "I'm telling you, your wife is awesome.  She'll have even better rating than you do with that story.   You are such a lucky man.  I'll tell you what, we need to have you two together for a photo session as soon as possible.  I'll call People magazine to have it set up."

Tebow continued to stare blankly at the TV screen.

End Chapter 2

The Adventures of Mantei Tebow, Ch. 1

From an early age, Mantei knew he was special.

He could run faster, swim longer, and was stronger than any other boy in town.

And on the nights when the the people gathered in the circle at midnight to protect against the demon Kuahana, Mantei broke the circle and went back to his home, boasting that he was not afraid of any being, mortal or immortal.

So it went until the eighteenth year of the Lakakane festival, when it was ordained that at the celebration dance, each of the young men would be paired with one of the young women.   And together, the couple would perform the Boom Chicka Bow Wow ritual in honor of Kuahana, hoping that Kuahana would be pleased and the town spared of any further mischief.

But Mantei scoffed at the old hag who led the protective circle, and while the rest of the town participated in the ritual, Mantei went to the land of the foreigners and participated in games of strength and agility.

After the festival was over,  the young women named Emmanulana whom the old hag selected to Bow Wow with Mantei became violently ill and her soul was devoured by Kuahana.  At this, the old hag became so enraged that she banished Mantei from the circle, telling him never to return until Kuahana was satisfied.

So Mantei went to the land of the foreigners and settled down.   In order to assimilate, he changed his name to Tebow, in honor of their gods.   And by and by Tebow participated in the foreigner's rituals where they immerse themselves in water to atone for the sins of the elders.

Tebow's fame soon spread far and wide among the foreigners as he excelled in their games of strength and agility.

But as fame invariably begets envy, there became talk among the foreigners questioning why Tebow was not pared with a woman, as is the custom of their people.

Tebow, perhaps being too preoccupied with the games of strength and agility, or perhaps not wanting to be with a women, let it be known that he could not be paired with a women of the foreigners as he was already paired with a women named Emmanulana in his hometown.

And the foreigners were satisfied with Tebow's explanation, and Tebow's fame became even more widespread among their people.

And such was the state of events until one midnight, Tebow's normally dreamless sleep was interrupted by an apparition of Emmanulana performing the ritualistic dance that often proceeds the Bow Wow ritual.  Tebow awoke in cold sweat and was horrified that the mark of the totem, the most profane mark of Kuahana, was upon him.

The next morning, compounding his growing unease, Tebow read in his favorite entertainment weekly magazine that a women named Emmanulana, purporting to be his wife, was making routine appearances at public events among the foreigners.

And for the first time in his life, Tebow would soon learn the limits of his strength and agility.

End Chapter 1