Chapter 1

Have you heard the messiah? I met him in personal. Don't worry I'm not his disciple- well in a way I am, but I had a terrible life let me explain. My name is Deborah and I am about eight years old. I don't really know where I was born but I know that it wasn't nice. Need any proof? I asked father where I was born and he just sighed and told me to give him something. I asked mother and she went red and ran off. I asked Mary, my sister but she told me to stop being nosy. So there, I don't know. I do know that I live in the palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest. He my father- well, he says he is and no-one can contradict him. I certainly can't! Today I went to the fields, to collect some grain for the bread I was making. I wanted to make some bread before Passover so that I can rest on the Sabbath. That's the day of rest for Jewish people. I wish I wasn't a Jew. It has so many rules and regulations that I wish this Messiah would hurry up and come. I can't go near dirt and have to time which is quite annoying because I just want to get home and go to sleep. I daren't tell father that though. He'd probably cane me. He says that all the time. He does it as well. I've had proper marks all over my body. They still sting. Mary is quite a rebel and Caiaphas threatens to get rid of her. I don't know what that means but I know it's not going to be good. Mary just scoffs at him and growls when I say yes father to him. She refuses to say father and shouts at him back. Father thinks she is from the devil and he brutally punishes her on purpose but she still stays rebellious. I don't see why he still keeps her because the law says that any rebellious child should be stoned- which is the reason why I hate being a Jew! I was in the grain fields, when I met my friend from a long time ago.  

"Hiya Deborah!" she called to me. I turned around and saw her waving frantically, a basket full of grain in her hand. I looked up and waved eagerly at her. She ran to where I was going and began to talk eagerly but I dint really catch much of what she was saying. I packed a talent of grain and carried it on my head as I walked home. It wasn't harvest but I needed to get some grain from last harvest which haven't died and trust me it's not easy when you have a chatty girl on your side. I don't see why she's even in this field. It's supposed to be ours and I said she could for one harvest but she took it as a ticket to do it any time she wanted. She was probably doing it at the same time as me on purpose- she always does that. She likes to copy me, which is why I was so happy when she moved. Don't say I'm being mean- I'm just expressing my feelings to a girl who annoys me. I like her, yes but I don't like her attitude and her hyperness-if that's even a word. Trust me I didn't really weep when she moved house. You probably think I'm being mean to her but she is so annoying. Then again she was probably the best person in the village. All the others were real snobby or boring. She did give me a laugh sometimes and she helped me sometimes when my parents are mean. She is a good person but she needs to be quiet sometimes and stop following me all the time as well as copying me. Today was her last day here so she decided to take something to remind her of being here, before she goes to away. Her parents got a raise to work for King Herod so they are going to there to work for him. To be honest, I feel sorry for her because I heard he is evil. Today I went to my field and she came to me. She told me about a man who was 'baptizing' people in a river. I wondered what she meant so she showed me.

I went to the Jordan and found a man wearing animal-skinned garments. He looked like a rough man and he sounded mad. He kept going on about a man who was to save the world and free us and we were to prepare a way etc and he began to drown people in the water. That was baptizing?

"He's mad!" I scoffed.

"No he's not!" she answered angrily. "Don't you realise he's talking about the messiah! The man who came to save us! We're going to be free from the Romans at last!"

"Yeah right..."

"A voice crying in the wilderness..." she began. I looked at her in bewilderment and wandered off slowly. That didn't stop me from wondering what she meant. Maybe he was the man prophesied... he can't be! I mean he does fit in with the prophesies but.... I need to stop thinking things. I went home feeling puzzled.

"Deborah! Have you got the wheat?" father called. I jumped when he called because he seemed angry. I've been away for a long time and didn't get enough grain. The grain isn't really ours but we take the things from offerings for others. This man gave his livestock and field so basically it's ours. I quickly sneaked out and went to find my basket in the field. It was gone. Someone had stolen my things. I wept bitterly as I had no other basket and father was expecting it by now. The only on e left was Mary's and that was in her room... That was near father's room. I felt lost when a man came to me. He looked really clean and holy so I curtsied to him politely.  

"Is this yours, child?" he asked me, giving me a basket full to the brim of grain.

"I don't know I don't think I collected that much..." Then I saw the inscriptions on it. "Yes sir," I said thankfully and curtsied to him. He smiled at me, and then he went off. Who was he? I wondered. He doesn't come very often. Maybe he was new. I called God bless to him and he turned and smiled. I ran back before father called again and brought the wheat to him.  

"What do you think I'm going to do with it? Give it to your mother and prepare for Passover! We need to have the bread ready before midnight!" I ran out of the room and took the wheat to my mother, who was with Mary, preparing the meat.  

"Mother," I said and she jumped.  

"Deborah! Don't do that again," she said in shock but she wasn't upset. I apologised and gave her the basket. She smiled and we got ready. Mary did the swan and made it look beautiful. It was our food because Caiaphas refused to let us have any of his shares of the offerings. I got the bread ready and we decorated it. I had to hold myself not to eat it as it was so tempting! It was time to get the temple ready for the Passover service so me, Mary and mother, walked to the place. We weren't allowed in the Holy Of Holies but we cleaned the place and made sure the seats weren't dirty. We got the place, which father was going to talk, perfect and we didn't realise it was midnight so we quickly got out so we weren't caught. Caiaphas came in just as we were leaving, washed his feet and made himself clean. We got to the house and changed into our clothes, and then we set off to the temple. Luckily it wasn't so far or else we would have gotten really punished.  

The service seemed so long that I got a bit fidgety, but mothers flick on my ear settled me down. He sacrificed the ram and said all the blessings and so on. I was so happy when it finished and I jumped up and went out. Mother corrected me for doing that but I could tell that she was as tired as I was. Then I saw him again, the man in the grain field.  

"Hello child." He said to me. I looked at him in fear and I curtsied to him. He smiled and held out his arm. I knew that meant a hug so I walked into his arm.  

"You have great talents child" he said. I looked up at him. He smiled and tapped my nose. "Use it." Then he let go of me. I said happy Passover to him and curtsied to him. He called me a polite little angel!  

We got home and I went to bed, but I couldn't sleep. Who was he? I've never seen a man so kind before! Normally they ignore me or look at me down there nose. What did he mean by talent? I know I have talent but what did he mean and why would I care. I decide to leave all these questions behind me and try and sleep but his lovely voice rang in my head, it was as if I could hear him calling me. Eventually I fell asleep but woke up in a start. The first thing I thought was the mysterious man. I went to mother's room and lay on her bed. She was still asleep as it was still dark, and I whispered that him to her. I don't think she heard but at least I shared it with someone.

After the Passover, I got to work again. I made breakfast for Caiaphas and swept the floor. I made a lot of food and I began to stitch my dress I was making. I love to sow and I sew all my garments but I sell some of them. I don't tell father as he says he will give me some of the clothes from the offering. Normally they don't fit because I'm so skinny but they fit Mary and she gets all the good clothes when I only get the boring ones. I wish I had some food but I never get enough as Caiaphas eats a lot and normally takes most of the food I cook. I love to cook as well as climbing trees and running. I'm not allowed to do any of them but no one knows that- except God. The only reason that I still do it is because I haven't been struck down yet, though I'm cautious just in case God gets angry because I've heard about what God did to the people who disobeyed him. I began to sow my new garment in my room when I say a woman come to the house. She was begging for food but Caiaphas told her to go to market. She was old and had no sight and she looked so unhappy. I looked at my bread by my side which I saved for if I got hungry. I could hear screaming and cursing. So I sneaked out and gave her my finished garments and my snack. She thanked and blessed me, and then she said to me that she wanted me to take her to Jesus. I wondered who it was.  

"Jesus! The messiah! How can you not know the messiah!" she cried as if it were God I didn't know.  

"No I'm sorry ma'am. I've never heard of him," I said awkwardly. Then she began to babble about him being the messiah and how he healed people. I just nodded as she talked.  

"You are much kinder than your master, who is your father child?" 

"Caiaphas ma'am," I replied and she laughed. I felt deeply hurt and through laughter she explained.  

"Caiaphas has no children. He must have lied to you so that you can be kind to him. He sees a lot in you, girl. We all do." She stroked my chestnut-brown silk hair and touched my cheeks, "remember child, that he is a liar and tries to convince others in his burdened laws!" 

"Yes ma'am," was all I could say. I was so gobsmacked that I could barely get any words to my head. Then I what I came for and asked her another question. "Where can I find Jesus?" 

"My daughter, just follow the crowd and you will see him! Any crowd will have Jesus in it." I went to the market place but I heard a whole crowd of people but none of them talked about Jesus. I decide to ask about him but I seemed to be some sort of hated criminal.  

"Excuse me sir, do you know where Jesus is?" I asked someone.  

"Be off with you, child, back to the high priest! You don't deserve to be around us and Jesus doesn't want you!" Everywhere I turn was a vile comment, and I began to get depressed. I eventually was told that he was in Cana. I got my donkey from my stable and we travelled long journey there. We arrived in Cana and I began the search all over again. Eventually I heard someone calling for Jesus and I went over there, the old woman holding on to me. I walked to him slowly as the old woman wasn't the quickest walker, and I called for Jesus. (She couldn't walk so I had to carry her most of the way.) He didn't answer. Then he turned around and I saw him. The man in the synagogue! The eyes were correct. The voice- ooh the soothing voice that put me to bed every night! It came back to me. I knew who he was.  

"Jesus!" I screamed but he didn't turn around. I was deeply hurt when he did that and didn't realise that it was the woman who was looking for him and not me. She had let go of my hand and was crawling through the crowd calling his name. Eventually she got to him and touched his garment.  

"Who touched me?" he said and the whole crowd kept started to murmur. One of the people following him said, "There are many people who are here, Master. There are many who touch you!" 

Jesus just replied sternly, "I felt my power drain from me, someone touched me." I just wanted to go and tell him it was the woman as she was so small and old, that she won't be noticeable. I began to get into the crown when I saw the woman call to him.  

"Rabbi forgive me, for I believed that if I touched you I will be well!" and Jesus answered saying, "go and you will be well." Immediately she was well and she sang rejoicing as she ran along. Then she spotted me and told me not to worry, that he can cure everything, and then ran away singing. I was amazed as I watched her go away. She was healed just like that! I looked at him and wondered, 'who is he?' I began to follow the crowd when I spotted Caiaphas standing by the temple murmuring something. I ran quickly so he wouldn't see me and followed the crowed. We got to a man's house and we weren't allowed to go in so we wouldn't disturb, well I wasn't any way! A few minutes later there was rejoicing as a girl came out with her father jumping for joy. I couldn't believe this! We all watched them go down the street telling everyone and I was about to follow them, when I saw Jesus and some other men walking away. I followed them and called to Jesus. He turned around and smiled. I wanted to run into his arms but I didn't have to urge to. It was just then when I realised that I didn't know what to say. Or do! He smiled at me and asked me what the matter was. I had to quickly remember the conversation with the elderly woman earlier.  

"Jesus!" I called again and stopped at his feet. I didn't know what to do the so I just asked him the question. "Who is my father?"  

"I tell you the truth the son of man has no father except the one who is in heaven." He replied. I was completely confused so he explained, "God is your true father."  

"Am I and orphan?" I asked.  

"No girl you mother still lives..." 

"And my father?" I asked. He looked at me and his eyes softened. He looked like if he was about to cry and knelt down to my level.  

"You father isn't on this earth. He was brutally killed by some people, for some doing wrong and he now..." his began to cry. I knew something wrong was happened and wished I never said anything about it.  

"I'm sorry Lord," I blurted out.  

"It's ok child. Caiaphas is waiting for you. I'll take you home now." He walked along the dark road in silence. Then, at my door he gave one last word.  

"Caiaphas is not your father."