Originally posted at J’s Journal
Taken from “Lamb - The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal” by Christopher Moore (note: remember that Jesus is hebrew for Joshua)
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all men. For on this day, in the city of David, is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” The he hovered for a second, waiting for his message to sink in.
Joshua uncovered his face and risked a glance at the angel.
“Well?” the angel said.
It took me a second to digest the meaning of the words, and I waited for Joshua to say something, but he had turned his face skyward and seemed to be basking in the light, a silly smile locked on his face.
Finally I pointed a thumb at Josh and said, “He was forn in the city of David.”
“Really?” said the angel.
“Yep.”
“His mother’s name Mary?”
“Yep.”
“She a virgin?”
“He has four brothers and sisters now, but at one point, yes.”
The angel looked around nervously, as if he might expect a multitude of heavenly host to show up at some point. “How old are you, kid?”
Joshua just stared, smiling.
“He’s ten.”
The angel cleared his throat and fidgeted a bit, dropping a few feet toward the ground as he did so. “I’m in a lot of trouble. I stopped to chat with Michael on the way here, he had a deck of cards. I knew some time had passed, but…” To Joshua he said, “Kid, were you born in a stable?” Wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger?”
Joshua said nothing.
“That’s the way his mom tells it,” I said.
“Is he retarded?”
“I think you’re his first angel. He’s impressed, I think.”
“What about you?”
“I’m in trouble because I’m going to be an hour late for dinner.”
“I see what you mean. I’d better get back and check on this. I you see some shepherds watching over their flocks by night, wouldyou tell them - uh, tell them - that at some point, probably, oh, ten years or so ago, that a Savior was born? Could you do that?”
“Sure.”
“Oky-dokey. Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.
“Right back at you.”
“Thanks. Bye.”
And as quickly as he had come, the angel was gone in a shooting star and the olive grove went dark again. I could just make out Joshua’s face as he turned to look at me.
“There you go,” I said. “Next question?”
The book’s due out in March, read it, it’s good. How’d I get it now. MWA HA HA HA HA!!! That’s my little secret. (Actually, Jenn works in a bookstore and grabbed the advanced copy they were sent, she’s the bestest girlfriend in the whole wide world, yes she is.) Until then, get anything by Christopher Moore, Island of the Sequened Love Nun is pretty damn good. Great reads, all of them.
