[Storiesmaniac]

"I'm wiped," Mike yawned as he stretched and put his boots up on the table before him at Caribou. It was six p.m., the winter sun already disappearing behind the mountains that surrounded the sleepy Colorado town, the bright lights stringing the small and barren trees that lined the quiet city streets.

There was still the feel of holiday cheer in the air, the smell of chestnuts roasting and of turkey's baking, however more like that of cracked cans of Planters Peanuts and leftovers a few nights before. There were twelve days of Christmas for a reason, to make sure all the food was gone.

"You've been back at work for forty eight hours," Robin rolled his eyes. "You're not tired, you're just whining."
"Thank you Capitan Obvious," Becka picked up her mug of coffee.

The glowing Nativity outside St. Peter's Church across the street caught her gaze. Snowflakes doused the blue shroud that covered the shoulders of the Virgin Marry, and the thick purple velvet robes that draped majestically over the arms of the Wise men blew in the cold night air. The gold paint, slightly chipped with age, on the halo above the head of the young Savior glimmered under the reflection of the streetlamp ten feet away, and the thick coating of synthetic fibers that covered the resting camel began to gather frost.

Becka thought back to her childhood, and how her mother had a nativity set. Lenox had made a fine one of porcelain with blue paint and real gold accents. It had been an absolutely beautiful collection, one her mother had pieced together for years. Becka recalled driving to the Lenox outlet in Denver, browsing through the many aisles and displays of sparkling porcelain, glass, and silver. She had been dazzled by the brilliance of the glow.

When she found her mother's collection, sitting at eye level in a glass case she had been awestruck. Every piece was so pretty, so delicate, so fragile. She recalled the kneeling Joseph, hands carefully clasped, the detail so fine you could see is nail beds. The young shepherd with a darling lamb over his shoulder shed a single tear of joy down his cheek at the salvation, a gift brought to the world. The drummer boy's drum had gold strings securing the porcelain canvas, and the warm and opening arms of the Angel Gabriel brought so much comfort.

There had been an elephant too. She remembered asking her father why there was an elephant at the birth of Christ, so confused as to why an animal she only knew to be found in the wild savannahs of Africa was placed at such a calm and peaceful gathering. He had attempted to explain; rambling on about how possibly one of the Wise men had ridden it from the East or how maybe it had been a descendant of one of the few in Europe that hadn't died when Hannibal stormed from Carthage. Becka then asked what a Hannibal was, and her father laughed and patted her on the head. There was no Elephant at the nativity outside.

"Becka," Alex waved a hand in front of her face. She recoiled, breaking her long locked gaze. "You okay?"

"Huh?"

"Oh," Mike laughed to himself. "I see what's caught her attention so quickly."

Coming out of the large carved doors of the chapel, was Father Joe, hands shoved deep in his pockets, scarf wrapped tight around his neck.

"Why don't you go talk to him?" Mike poked Becka in the ribs.

"What?" Becka blushed mildly, confused she finally found out who he was talking about. "Oh, no."

"C'mon Becka," Alex pulled her to her feet. "Just go say hi to the guy, you've been colder than ice to him since February.

"No, really," Becka shook her head. "I couldn't."

She turned around and bumped right into Robin who was standing behind her, holding her hat and coat in his hands.

"It's now or never," he thrust the articles into her arms. Becka looked at her coat, and then turned her attention back outside. Father Joe was still standing on the stairs to the church. She looked at the three guys she was with, all smiling at her with a look that told her she had no choice of staying here.

"How long is never?" Becka bit her lip.

"Go," the three told her in unison.

Brusquely she pulled on her coat and topped on her hat, and headed out the door. The chill of the night air, a chill that seemed to haunt their sleepy town from November to April, hit her hard, her lungs stinging on impact. She hurried across the street, and walked up the stairs to the young clergyman.

"Becka," he laughed, looking at her as she came up the stairs. "What a pleasant surprise. Is something wrong?"

"Nothing at all, Father," she nodded politely.

"Out for a stroll?" he asked kindly, looking at her as she rubbed her pink nose.

"Not really," she sucked in her breath. This wasn't going to be easy, nothing ever was. She stood on the same step as Father Joe looking out into the empty night, looking for something, but not knowing what.

"Is there something I can help you with?" he offered with a smile, not really understanding why she had come out here in the cold empty darkness if all she was going to do was stand in silence.

"Um," Becka bit her lip, she was about to say no when a thought hit her hard. "The youth lock in, the one on New Years Eve, what time is that supposed to be starting?"

"Our doors open at seven but children are welcome to join anytime during the evening," Father Joe answered, caught slightly off guard by her question. "I don't suppose you plan on attending. You're more than welcome, though slightly over the age range we had in mind."

"Oh," Becka laughed nervously. "No, it's not for me. I have a niece and nephew ages six and eight, I thought maybe they may be interested in attending."

"We'd be pleased to have them" Joe smiled. The awkward silence ensued again. "Well, I think I'll be heading off now-"

"Elephants."

"What?" Father Joe looked at Becka oddly.

"And Hannibal. Hannibal had elephants."

"Are you feeling all right, Becka?" Father Joe stepped closer to her.

"Is the cold air getting to you?"

"No," Becka shook her head. "I mean, yes, I'm fine, but don't you think..."

"Don't I think what?"

"Is there any possibility that there could have been an elephant at the
Nativity?"

Father Joe stared at her blankly. "An elephant?"

"Yes, possibly brought over by one of the Wise men, I mean, we don't really know too much about them. One could have been a European King, one who when Hannibal passed through Europe got an elephant. Or perhaps maybe one came from the east, or even the west, I mean, Africa wasn't too far away, or maybe there was a circus in Bethlehem at the time!"

Father Joe laughed at Becka's nervous ranting. "An elephant, eh?"

"Yes," Becka nodded. "Your Nativity, it doesn't have an elephant."

"It doesn't?" Father Joe raised a brow and stepped down of the stairs. He walked down the street and stopped in front of the glowing nativity, the life sized statues looking almost human under the starry night sky. "I suppose you're right. I am noting the lack of elephant here. I shall have to talk to the church council and see if they're willing to put funds forward to purchase one."

"And while you're at it, maybe a monkey or two?" Becka suggested as she came down and stood next to Father Joe under the glow of the street lamp.

"A monkey?" he laughed and looked at her again as if she had several heads.

"I always did fancy the idea of there being a circus in town the night Christ was born," Becka shrugged with a laugh. Father Joe couldn't help but chuckle at the one too. The two stared at the Nativity together, and again a quiet befell them.

"Becka," Father Joe broke the silence.

"Yes?" she piped perhaps too eagerly.

"Would you like to go get noodles with me?"

"Noodles?" Becka laughed.

"Yeah, there's a lovely little restaurant down on the corner. I mean pasta really, but they advertise as noodles. I hoped you'd like to accompany me?"

"I don't know," Becka shrugged with a coy grin. Her cheeks were bright pink with glee. "Is this a date or something?"
Father Joe offered another grin, "Yes, I think. But if anyone asks we're merely planning the Nativity for next year and what foreign animals we can contribute to make it more fantastical."

"And what about the clergy?" Becka suggested. "I mean, don't they generally disapprove of these things. A life of celibacy and all?"

"As far as the clergy is concerned, we're merely planning the Nativity for next year and what foreign animals we can contribute to make it more fantastical."

"Lying now?" Becka chocked with laughter. "And vanity! Those are some quite hefty sins you're suggesting."

"I know," Father Joe looked at his feet, not really ashamed. "They are evil, these sins."

"Yes," Becka laughed as she grabbed his hand. "But sins are forgiven, so let's begin."

[angel]

brilliant work maniac i have been reading these other the last few days so this comment is about all 16 chapters. this is just wow i like this alot mate keepit up

[Storiesmaniac]

Hahahah thanks i'll post the rest one day!