A Christmas story according to a passerby

It had been long since the fowls had crowed, their sound announced the victory of the sun over the moon, humans called it day. It was a peaceful afternoon, except for the intense hammering sound that emanated from one end of the street. Joseph was the source of the sound, he was working on his carriage. He and Mary were leaving Galilee for Bethlehem to participate in the ongoing taxing exercise. Joseph was a hardworking carpenter and was in the constant habit of facing off with his neighbors over the noise they believed he intentionally created to disturb the neighborhood, they often forgot it was their furniture he was usually working on. A few neighbors peeped from their windows to see what Joseph was working on, they wanted to be sure it wasnt their furniture he was working on. A Pharisee ranted discriminately from his house over the noise that was disturbing his evening sleep, Joseph smiled after his eye caught the initials of the Pharisee boldly appended on the table he was now working on. No one approached him, they couldn't speak to him and the same attitude was extended to the rumors that were being peddled around town about him and his wife. There were quite a number of rumors about them, there was one about his wife getting pregnant out of wedlock, the most prominent being the one about Joseph and Mary engaging in premarital sex and now Mary was pregnant. Joseph had nothing to say to anyone as no one had asked or said anything to his face, one does not go about debunking gossips when none of it had been said to him, this was his usual concluding thought on the subject. Even if they did asked him, He knew how ridiculous his angel story sounded, frustrated he hammered on. 

 It didn't take time for the couple to load up their carriage after Joseph had slotted the wheel on to the carriage, they waved a few neighbors goodbye promising to be back as soon as possible, fewer replied him. On their way out of town, Zachariah the prophet waved them goodbye as he proceeded into the temple for his prayers. Joseph and Mary both laughed immediately Zachariah disappeared into the temple, Mary made a gesture of someone writing something which sent both of them spiraling into more laughter. During the couple's last visit to Elizabeth and her Husband, Zachariah played dumb, Elizabeth claimed it was a punishment on him by an Angel till she put to birth. Funny enough, after Elizabeth had given birth Zachariah stopped his act.

 Joseph often wondered what sort of family his betrothed was from, his wife was pregnant and a virgin at the same time while Zachariah his in-law suddenly became dumb, the idea of Zachariah being dumb sounded funny because he was a very eloquent man as he was a prophet.

There was a lot of people travelling as most were going for the taxing exercise. They travelled as a caravan, they believed it reduced the risk of them being attacked by road bandits, Mary and Joseph joined late hence they were positioned with many others at the rear of the caravan. The journey was peaceful except for the occasional road bumps which caused Mary great discomfort. On getting to the venue for the census, the caravan was attended to in the same order in which they arrived. Immediately it was the couples turn, they made their way to a man playing with a little boy.  He was known as Alpheus, he was tried playing with his son whom everyone in the registry had become fond of while he also dispensed his duty. The boys name was Mathew,

"Dad, you said we were going to work today" The little boy stuttered

"Yes, Matthew this is also work" Alpheus replied

"But we're not counting any money today, all you have been doing is asking and writing names" Matthew said

Everyone around them who heard Matthew's voice burst into laughter, everyone in the registry knew Matthew wanted to become a tax collector like his father.

“Yes? Please!  Alpheus signified to Mary and Joseph to approach him. 

Joseph went on to register his name and that of his wife, it didn't take much of their time while Mary chatted with Matthew. Their arrival at Bethlehem and absence of road bumps didnt rid Mary of the pain her bowel picked up from the journey. Joseph was able to read Marys body language and could feel her discomfort so he hurried with the registration but there was a problem they hadnt envisioned. Being at the rear of the caravan put them at the disadvantage of being attended to late, it also meant everyone before them got to settle in inns and guest houses before they reached their full capacities and closed. They hurriedly left immediately they were done with the registration, Mary bided Mathew farewell but he was fast asleep already. 

"Is there any inn we could lodge for tonight?" Joseph asked a passerby.

"Ah!  , during this taxing time? Everywhere is full my friend" she replied

The couple was frustrated at the accommodation problem and the pain Mary was in, Joseph in his last resort decided they try the inns at the outskirt of town. The journey to the outskirt of town wasnt fun as the darkness and Marys pain worked against them, she grunted at every breath she took. They were at the towns outskirt when Mary lost all the restraint she had on herself and started grunting in pain

"The baby, it's coming" she shrieked

Joseph wasted no time in heading to the only structure in sight, on getting there he knocked the front door frantically but no one answered the door. He ran to the back of the edifice from which a light medium was glowing, heaps of straw littered a section of the abode while a flock of sheep and shepherds lay round the fire with their family, it was a manger. Joseph returned shortly with two women who helped Mary into the manger, the women helped Mary with her delivery. She was delivered of a baby boy,

"Jesus" she said while hugging and rocking the baby who was fast falling asleep while munching and holding on to her finger. 

The moon spared no effort in showing off all of it light that night as shadow laminated everywhere, the shepherds played their music in the background. The women offered Mary some food and water to take before they left. It wasn't long after the women had left that a series of knock rocked the front door that Joseph had knocked earlier, the knock persisted for a while before one of the shepherds went to check on the door. He returned with a caravan of Merchants.

"We are looking for the King" the leader of the Merchants asked.

"You are a long way from Herod's palace, it's just me, my Wife and our new baby here" Joseph answered.

And us A shepherd added

The baby cooed.

"A King was born and he is in the manger"

All these the Merchant said with a smile on his face.