Two thousand and fourteen years ago a grey bearded man, famed for his ability to tell a good story, sat surrounded by children who gazed up in wonder as he continued his tale:
Without being challenged these two young people rose and walked back to the main doors and then after pausing to wrap their coats tightly round them, they walked off along the white carpeted paths. The wind blew strongly in their faces and it had a bitter coldness to it. They had been walking just a few minutes when a new pain started and began to build in the belly of poor May. She squealed and grabbed hold of Joe who held his breath and stared intently into her eyes. The pain was more intense and overwhelming than those before and at that moment both youngsters realised that this had to do with the baby that May had been informed she would have.... Joe resolved not to desert May again. No longer did the origin of the baby concern him.
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As Joe reassured May that he would stay with her, tears of relief trickled down her cheeks. They turned as though to head back to the crowded Accident and Emergency department, but after no more than three steps the pain began again. May pulled up and began to pant. She squeezed Joe’s hands till he thought she would crush his bones. Joe looked round the deserted paths for help, but there was no-one.
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May Ray became aware of the snow settling in her hair and the cold melting snow trickling over her face and down her neck and under her clothes. She shivered. Joe then notice they were standing next to a door that had been left ajar and inside a light was on. There were a few inches of path around this door that were wet but not covered in snow. A humming noise was coming from within the room. Joe pulled back the door and saw large tanks and pipes crowed around the back wall of this building. A warm breeze of air washed over his face for a moment. “Look, May, its warm in here. Let’s wait here until the snow eases.” May read the sign above the door - ‘Plant Room’ - and was expecting some greenery, flowers or little bushes, but this was better. It was really warm and though the walls were not painted, nor the floor tiled it was spacious and tidy.
Scared, May tried to smile at Joe. Joe faked a smile back. “I can’t go back there, Joe. Nobody will believe me about the baby.” Joe was silent and May began to tell him how she was visited as though in a dream. Not by somebody of this world, but somebody more formidable, somebody mysterious, somebody with a glow that could reassure you even when you were petrified. That somebody had told her she would have a baby and no man would be its father. As Joe’s jaw dropped, May quickly added, “I could not argue with him, Joe. I did not understand, but he made me believe.”
Joe saw May was glowing and he knew she told the truth. His previous presumptions disappeared, like the snow disappearing from May’s hair and he was now filled with respect for her. They both realised that what would happen next was inevitable and not in their hands. With this thought they felt calmed and strengthened.
A few sheets, oil stained, were found, and the couple established a base in this plant room. The pains that came on May were no longer frightening, though they were fierce. Each one made the couple think they were closing in on something special and after each they would exhale fully and then laugh together.
Joe saw May was glowing and he knew she told the truth. His previous presumptions disappeared, like the snow disappearing from May’s hair and he was now filled with respect for her. They both realised that what would happen next was inevitable and not in their hands. With this thought they felt calmed and strengthened.
A few sheets, oil stained, were found, and the couple established a base in this plant room. The pains that came on May were no longer frightening, though they were fierce. Each one made the couple think they were closing in on something special and after each they would exhale fully and then laugh together.
Come and see the Cribs at St James Church Chipping Campden Tuesday 2nd December to Saturday 6th December 2014
Chapter 8
Chapter 8