Remembrance of Eve *NANOWRIMO13*

Chapter 15

The rains came. One day it was clear, bright and warm. The next, it rained, hard. It rained every day for many seven-days, requiring our Sabbath worship to be held indoors. We were thankful to have our house, our home, a place of refuge from the storm. Our herds of animals, goats, sheep, and cattle, found a refuge in the hills, beneath the trees. The cats came inside, not liking to be wet. They continued to sleep at our feet. They slipped out the door when we went out, returning when we came in. I never knew just where they went. Probably to find food.

We found things to do inside. Adam worked on whittling new things. He completed a set of new bowls and spoons for eating, even some long spoons for me to use when cooking. I turned to weaving. My body had become larger, and I knew that our little one would not delay his arrival much longer. I hoped that the rains would end before then. I knew that we needed a little bed for our child. I wove a little nest for him. Adam often stopped what he was doing to look at my work. He saw that it was becoming hard to sit on the earth, and I saw that he was thinking.

“What are you thinking?” I asked one day, as I neared the completion of our little one’s nest.

Adam smiled. “You look so lovely, working on that nest for our little one. Your work is beautiful.”

“I am? I have grown so big, the child has stretched my body in ways I never suspected. Even watching the animals, I did not expect that I would change this much.”

“I, too, am surprised at how your body has changed, but it is lovely. You are growing our child. It is beautiful.”

Adam was so kind, and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was not teasing me. He really meant it. He stood up, and pulled his cloak over his head. Opening the door, he walked out into the rain.

I was not really surprised. He did this often through out the day. I, too, went out, when necessary. It was not long before he was back with several lengths of tree logs. More whittling. I was wrong. These he did not immediately whittle. He retrieved a length of braided hemp from its storage place, and began to bind the lengths of tree logs together. I was intrigued.

“What are you making?”

“A surprise for you.”

Nothing I could say would get him to tell, so I watched him work for a while before returning to my weaving. He went back out two or three times, seeking just the right length and kind of tree logs. I could see that, as always, he wanted things to be perfect. He never did things that were not as good as they could be.

I was adding a length of braided hemp to the sides, making handles to carry the nest when Adam slipped behind me and wrapped his arms about my swollen body.

“Here, my love. I have a gift for you.”

I looked up from my work. I had almost forgotten what he was doing, I had been so absorbed in my own work. There was the odd shaped item he had been working on. It had four short lengths of tree log tied beneath a small raft of logs

“What is it?”

“A stool, for you to sit upon. It should make it easier for you. Come, try it out.”

“Is it strong enough for this body to sit upon, and not break?”

“I believe it is. Come. Try it.”

He helped me rise, and led me to the stool. I slowly allowed my weight to settle onto the stool. It was strong, and easily held my weight.

“Ah. That feels good.” I sighed.

He smiled. “I knew it would help. And, I believe you can stand easier from the stool than you can from the earth.”

I tried. He was right. I dropped my basket and threw my arms around him. “Thank you for the gift. It is wonderful. Will you make one for you, as well?”