Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Parent (11/16/06)
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TITLE: Stacey's Nativity Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Maria Catterick
11/22/06 -
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Stacey’s boyfriend, Luke, had broken up with her six months earlier. She had been so depressed after her mum’s recent death that she became a bit of a loner and was flattered by his interest. She realised later that the very fact that she was a loner was the reason for his interest. He had only gone out with Stacey half a dozen times. It had been great at first. But every time they had met, he had put more pressure on her to get serious. He told her that everyone slept together now. Eventually she agreed. She figured there was no harm in it if everyone did it.
Luke had dumped her only two days later. Said she wasn’t much fun. Said she wasn’t cool enough for him. He had told everyone at school she was easy and she had suffered from the sneers and pointing fingers of her class.
Stacey had concealed her pregnancy thanks to the cold weather and the need for large sweaters. She had not had any morning sickness or even much of a bump. She had ignored the kicks and the twinges. She couldn’t let herself get attached could she? Stacey had found a box containing her baby clothes wrapped neatly in tissue paper. Her mum had gone to a great deal of care to preserve Stacey’s baby clothes for her grandchildren. She couldn’t help thinking how disappointed her mum would have been in her.
On Christmas Eve, Stacey found herself in labour. Her dad was at work. She had researched about giving birth on the internet and had made appropriate preparations. She had filled a hot water bottle to ease her back pains, collected her CD player and extra towels and made herself comfortable in the bathroom. She had never felt so lonely in her entire life. She thought about Mary, a young girl like her who was in labour with Jesus on the same night over 2,000 years ago. But Jesus was the baby so wanted by generations of people to bring hope and joy to the whole world. She was giving birth to a baby that was not wanted and would not be bringing hope and joy but pain and sorrow.
Five hours later Stacey gave birth. Although she was still feeling weak, her mind was very clear. She clothed the baby. She had come to a decision during her labour. When she first considered her options, she had been too late for an abortion, but her mother had been a Christian and wouldn’t have approved of abortion anyway. She didn’t want an adoption as she would have been recorded as the baby’s mother and could be tracked down in future years. The final option had become the only option, but during labour she had had an idea.
She wrapped her coat tightly around her and put on a hat and scarf to protect her from the chilly night air. She closed the front door behind her and set out along the frosty road. The houses lining the streets had their curtains open to allow the Christmas tree lights to twinkle merrily to passers by. Through the windows she could see stockings around fireplaces and tinselled decorations. Extra cars were lining the streets from relatives and friends entering into the festive spirit.
Carol singers were clustered on the corner of the High Street singing songs of cheer and goodwill. Stacey entered the side entrance to the hospital and stole past the lounge where the Salvation Army band was playing to the patients who would be spending Christmas on the wards. She took her delicate bundle gently out of the sports bag she was carrying and stroked the blanket tenderly. She crept up to the Nativity display and moved baby Jesus over and placed the precious bundle beside him in the straw lined manger. She looked one last time at the figures of Mary and Joseph keeping watch over both babies. She picked up her sports bag and walked swiftly along the corridor and out into the cover of darkness on that cold, bleak, Christmas night. Salty tears warmed her cheeks as she headed towards home and the rest of her life.
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I loved her original decision of what to do with her baby, as well as how this ties in with her personal identification with Mary. Hope a lot of caring people came by to view that Nativity Scene!