IT IS 1961. Tensions between Cuba and America are at an all time high and an Englishman and his heavily pregnant Cuban fiancée flee New York for their lives. The Cubans just want the baby. The Feds just want the Englishman. Who knows what the CIA want …
I’ve written this ‘modernisation’ of the Nativity in a biblical style to give it a more ‘genuine’ feel. It is not a political tale and is not pro-this or anti-that, so don’t be put off by the revolutionary backdrop, which is necessary to the story in its symbolism.
It’s more ‘realistic’ in biblical format here.
CHAPTER SIX
MIDNIGHT came and the babe left its mother’s womb to utter its first cry and to the sound of much rejoicing.
From her belongings, Eva took a headscarf bearing the single star on red of her motherland, and in it she swaddled her newborn.
Then she laid her in a drawer filled with hay and blankets, saying “For unto us a daughter is born. And her name shall be called Emanuelle, for she entered this world on the same day as our Lord Jesus Christ.”
And Agent Young pulled a gold coin from his inside coat pocket and pressed it into the infant’s hand.
And Rodriguez drew from his pocket a cigar but pressed it instead into Percy’s hand.
Then Special Agent Armstrong took from his coat pocket a small flagon of whiskey and pressed it into Eva’s hand, saying “Verily, that is the best I can do.”
Percy and Eva thanked them for their gifts. Then Percy whispered to Eva that he would raise the babe as if she were his own.
And Agent Young said “But she is your own.”
And Rodriguez said “It is true. Behold her eyes. And behold her nose.”
Then Agent Armstrong said “While you were away, our eyes were on your house. If she had deceived you, we would have known it.”
Young and Rodriguez voiced their accord, for all he had said was true.
Knowing for certain now that he had falsely accused his beloved, Percy wept.
Then the three agents conspired amongst themselves in order that they might tell their masters the same story.
Before the three men bid Percy and Eva farewell, Armstrong said to Percy “You do know that this is not over”.
And Percy said to him “Indeed.”
And within the hour an ambulance came to take mother and child to the safety of a fine, warm hospital bed.
THE END
Copyright (c) M K MacInnes 2017
M K MacInnes, writer 