“Papa, may I go check on my donkey?”

Papa knew there was another reason Dorcas wanted to go to the animal shed, but he only nodded and smiled.  “Of course, dear Dorcas.  Don’t stay too long.  It’s almost bedtime.”  And he continued to direct his inn guests to places on the floor.  His inn was filled to overflowing with out-of-town guests newly arrived to report for the census.  Dorcas was glad to get out of the noise and chaos and escape to the quiet animal shed.

Dorcas loved her donkey.  And he felt the same way about her.  Every evening when Dorcas brought him a treat of a little grain, his big eyes looked at her with affection.  She would stand beside him just smelling the sweet hay, listening to the sound of Donkey crunching, and feeling the warmth of his breath.  She would admire his long lashes and stroke his soft neck, noticing that his coat was a bit scruffy since putting on some extra layers for warmth this time of year.  Every evening this routine with her donkey made her feel contented and peaceful.

But tonight there was another donkey in the stable.  Her donkey had sidled up to the little donkey guest and was nuzzling her.  She seemed exhausted, leaning against the wall with her head down.

“Ah, little donkey, you are tired from your long journey,” Dorcas said softly as she approached.  “I commend you for bringing your human safely over the rough, long road from your home.  You’re a good girl,” she said as she stroked the newcomer.

The tired donkey lifted her head and took a step closer to Dorcas.

“You must be hungry,” said Dorcas softly as she offered some grain.

The little donkey guest’s soft lips delicately took the grain from Dorcas’s hand.

“You are a gentle girl,” said Dorcas approvingly.

Just then, Dorcas was reminded that she wasn’t the only human in the shed.  There was a muffled cry and the sound of low voices in earnest conversation.  She felt embarrassed that she had disturbed the couple who was camping out in the back of the shed.  They had made the best of the inconvenient sleeping arrangement.  Papa didn’t have even a small room in their family inn for the young couple.  But he had felt sorry for the wife now very pregnant who needed to rest after their long trip, so he offered the only thing he had, the animal shed.  At least it was a roof over their heads and got them off the street.  But what was wrong?  Dorcas heard the fear in the husband’s voice and the pain in his wife’s.  Should she offer her help?

“Excuse me, sir.  I came to feed my donkey and couldn’t help but overhear.  Should I run and get a midwife?”

“Oh, hello.  Didn’t know you were here.  Yes, please run and get us help.  I think it’s time for our baby to come.”

Dorcas was off like a flash.  Down the dark alley, she ran.  Pounding on the door of their neighbor who knew about such things, she breathlessly called, “Miss Abigail, please come right away.  Someone needs you!”

An older woman came to the door in her apron.  She calmly listened to Dorcas and then with a word to her family grabbed a few things and came with Dorcas.

“They’re not in your father’s inn?  They’re where?  Oh, dear, poor thing.  She’s having a baby in the stable?!”  Kindhearted Abigail was aghast.

But when she found the young wife at the back of the shed in great pain, Abigail made no mention of the odd sleeping arrangement but went to work graciously assisting her.  The young husband was greatly relieved to have a knowledgeable woman to oversee the birth, yet he hovered above his wife encouraging her and holding her hand.

Dorcas, knowing she had done what she could, retreated to her home.  But she couldn’t sleep.  Her room was occupied by guests and she was sleeping on the floor in the kitchen, the only remaining space available.  It wasn’t that she minded the floor.  It was that she was too excited to sleep.  So she got up and looked out the kitchen window for some hint about the birth taking place in the shed behind the inn.  She waited patiently as the cool air brushed her cheek.  She thought she heard a stirring in Donkey’s stall.  Then she heard it.  A baby’s cry!  She stopped breathing so she could hear the sounds.  How she wanted to go see the new little one!  But would she just be in the way?

“I know!  I could bring the new mother some soup.  She needs strength after such a long trip and giving birth in the stable.”

Dorcas fumbled in the dark kitchen for a cup and the leftover soup from supper.

“This will help.  And I’ll bring my blanket for them, too.  It’s cold on the dirt floor.”

Slipping quietly out the back door, Dorcas carefully carried the soup with her blanket over her shoulders.  She hesitated at the shed opening.  Should she be bold and approach the new parents?  Just then, Donkey made a little, happy noise in the back of his throat as if to cheer her on.

Tiptoeing to the back of the shed, she saw the newborn in his mother’s arms with the new father beaming as he stared at the Baby.  Shyly, Dorcas stepped forward and offered the soup and blanket to the young couple.  Abigail was still busy and didn’t notice, but the husband looked up and motioned to her.  He thanked her for fetching the midwife and for thinking of food for the new mother.  Taking Baby who was wrapped tightly in strips of cloth from his wife, he placed him snuggly in the feeding trough outfitted with clean hay.  Then he took the cup of soup from Dorcas and gave it to his wife and covered her with the blanket.

Dorcas thought her heart would burst from happiness.  The Baby was healthy.  The mother was safe.  And she had helped.  Then she realized she wasn’t the only one admiring the happy scene.  Two warm bodies had positioned themselves on either side of her.  The donkeys had joined the circle around the Baby!

She knew she should let the mother rest, but just as she turned to leave there was a commotion in the alley outside the shed.

To be continued next week.