She knew that there was something special about this Child! Irma was too distracted to notice as she clucked and cackled about.
The man took some of the fresh hay he had brought in and formed some soft bedding in a feeding trough; he carefully laid the small Infant down.
About that time, Bert returned. He was complaining.
“It’s not enough that people have taken over the entire village – including our stable here – but they have sent their kids out to stomp down every single blade of grass in the land. A guy can’t even find a morsel to eat around here!”
That’s when he noticed the mound of fresh hay in the trough. The hope of food set his taste buds to dancing and pushed him toward the hay. Since the man was nearby, he moved cautiously toward the trough – remembering the bump on his nose earlier.
Mabel watched to see if Bert would notice the Child – would he be taken back by the presence of God in their stable? Irma hadn’t seemed to notice, and Mabel was beginning to doubt her own instincts.
Bert stood beside the man and peered into the manger; his jaw dropped as he saw the child.
He looked up at the man in disbelief.
“Great. A baby!” he said in a language only the other animals could understand, “He’s laying in my dinner!”
The man took note of Bert’s hungry look and perceiving his intentions, for a second time, gave a tap to the ram’s nose and Bert retreated to the corner.
He had been too busy complaining and grieving over his own troubles, to notice that the Creator was in their stable!
The Baby slept.
Irma was suddenly awakened by what she knew was the distant crowing of roosters.
“That’s crowing! That’s crowing!” “ It’s my cousin, Arnie! It’s Arnie!” she began to cackle as she recognized the crow of her cousin.
“What’s he saying?” Bert inquired, “And why is he yakking in the middle of the night?”
Irma explained that her cousin was crowing because he had seen a bright light and thought it was morning. His crowing was a code that only chickens could understand. The bright light had turned out to be some sort of men in shining robes.
“He said all that?” Bert continued, “It just sounded like cock-a-doodle-doo”.
The crowing continued. Other roosters joined in. Irma became agitated.
“Bright men! Bright men!” she begun to cluck and then went into a cackle “Bright men from Heaven! –Oh my stars! – they say they have seen bright men from heaven!”
“Angels.” Mabel surmised.
“Bright men from Heaven – singing! Bright men from Heaven – singing!”
“They sang Glory to God in the highest . . .” Irma slowed her chatter and lowered her volume, “and on earth – peace.”
And with that, Irma stopped.
“Peace.” She repeated calmly now. And she moved to a perch on Mabel’s back to get a better look at the Child, “…for unto you is born …a Savior!”
Mabel careened her head back to look at Irma as she, too came to the realization that this Child was God in human form. Irma looked back at Mabel, “It’s Him!”
Mabel slowly nodded.
“What are you two talking about!?” Bert threw in, “it’s just another human, before you know it, he’ll be stealing your eggs and taking your milk!”
Outside there was the low rumbling of movement, Bert stepped out to take a look. In the moonlight, he could just make out figures heading his way – a great group of people.
“ARGH!” he cried, “Didn’t I tell you they would take over! There’s a whole mob of these people out there and they’re coming this way!”
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