Sister of Jesus

CHAPTER ONE: JESUS IS MISSING

Four year old Anna walked with her older brother James and her parents, Mary and Joseph. However, something didn't feel right. She kept looking for her oldest brother Jesus. She scanned around her but could not see his familiar skinny silhouette anywhere.

"Momma!" Anna cried, "Where's Jesus?" 

"He is around here some where, My Love." Replied her mother. Anna clutched her wax doll tightly to her chest. It was the most expensive item she had and she cherished it the most. The cloth around it's body was worn and dirty, but Anna didn't care.

"It's ok, Adva. He will find us." Anna whispered to her doll. 

"I hope he is lost." snickered James. James didn't like Jesus very much. Probably because James would constantly get in trouble and no matter how many times James tried to get Jesus in trouble, it would always back fire. 

"Do not say that James! That is not nice. You love him too!" Anna scolded. James rolled his eyes and kept walking.  Anna decided to try to find Jesus instead of waiting for him. She saw three of her cousins ahead of her.

"John, have you seen Jesus?" Anna asked.

"No, I have not." John answered, "Do not worry Anna. I am sure wherever he is, he is fine." He tried to comfort her.

"How do you know?" Anna questioned.

"There is something about him that is different. I cannot quite explain it but every time I am around him, I feel like God is close." 

"My parents said that Jesus is not even Joseph's son." Dovev added.

"What do you mean?" Anna asked in alarm.

"They said that when Mary was engaged with Joseph, she slept with someone else. Joseph said it wasn't true but that Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit. I think Joseph was just making an excuse just so they can still get married." Dovev commented. 

"My momma said that Mary fell in love with a Roman solider." Lea said. 

"That's not true!" Anna began to cry. "Momma would never do that."

"Think whatever you will. The truth will be revealed sooner or later." Dovev shrugged. 

"Do not listen to them, Anna. I believe what your Papa and Momma said." John whispered in her ear. She looked up at him in trust.

When nighttime came, Anna became really anxious. Jesus still had not appeared. 

"Papa, Jesus is lost!" Anna declared. Joseph set his plate down by the fire and took her into his lap.

"I am sure Jesus is with some relatives. This is a big caravan. Do not worry, Anna. He is ok." Joseph gave her a hug and set her next to him. 

"Maybe Jesus fell into a pit full of snakes and ate him alive!" James teased Anna. Anna screamed and cried to Joseph.

"Papa! James is scaring me!" 

"James!" Joseph scolded. "Don't scare your sister and do not lie!" James crossed his arms and pouted. He hated getting into trouble. 

"Joseph, perhaps we should go find him." Mary urged. Joseph nodded and they began to search for him in the huge company. Twenty minutes passed until they came back to where Anna and James sat, waiting. 

"Anna and James, go to Elizabeth now please." Joseph instructed. Anna and James obeyed as they went and sat with Elizabeth. Anna knew something was wrong if Elizabeth had to watch them. Jesus was truly missing. Anna cuddled Adva and began to cry.

"Do not cry, Anna." John soothed. "God is with him."