there was a space of five minute quiet time
where the two reflected on nothing,
just into their surroundings.

mary got up and jesus grabbed her hand.

she looked at this young boy-man and thought
he is still my child.
no matter where he goes
or does he is and will always be my child.

jesus squeezed mary's hand
and mary squeezed back.

the two walked into town.

zenath saw them coming and ran up to the pair
hi jesus, where have you been, we were looking for
you yesterday to play some ball.

sorry, i missed you said jesus i was visiting my cousin.

he had slid his hand out of his mother's grasp and was
putting his arm around his friend's shoulder.

okay, where's the rest of the guys.

well, they are over at joe's getting ready for tonight.

oh, the bon fire right, said jesus, that should be exciting.

it was saturday night
and saturday night was bonfire night.

jesus turned to his mother,
is it all right if i go over to joel's.

yes, jesus, it's all right, go along and have some fun
but be home for dinner at sundown and then you
can go over to the binfire in the square tonight.

ok, thanks, mom, you're a treasure.

i'm a treasure.
more like you're the treasure and you or nobody knows it yet.
but mary didn't say it out loud,
and she kept what she was thinking to herself.

mary and jesus parted at the community well and mary made
a right and jesus went straight ahead.

mary turned and watched him until he turned to the left and
was out of her sight.

she was experiencing a slight uneasiness
with all that was going on
and sometimes she thought to herself that jesus
was a stranger and she didn't know him.

other times he was as close as her skin and she knew
him like the thought in her mind.

she was almost home and joseph came to greet her.

mary, mary he said with a warn smile and grabbed her
around the waist
so glad you are home.
how was your visit.
what is new with elizabeth.
has john grown.
is elizabeth and john coming to their cousin's wedding
next month.

joseph wait a second
let me catch my breath.

her edginess caught joseph's ear
and he turned a worried look in her direction.

what is it, mary