The Modern Nativity

True King

The Shepherds arrived at Pret a Manger and politely asked Joseph if they could see the baby.

"Let them in," Mary said. "He is a special baby, we shouldn't deny the world."

"Thank you," Jessie said, already getting her phone ready for the Instagram snaps.

"How did you find us?" Mary asked. "We've only been in here a few minutes."

"Hashtag, Away in a Manger," Joel said. "Started out longer, Pret a Manger, but you know, word counts. Something had to go."

Mary smiled, at their warmth and how they both had lots of white curly hair. Brother and sister, she thought, probably twins.

"He's known as the Miracle Baby online," Jessie said.

"He is," Mary said and nodded to Joseph. "He really is."

"May we enter too," a man's voice asked from behind the Shepherds. It was Maurice of the Three Wise Guys.

"Who are you?" Joseph asked with an air of distrust.

"We mean you no harm," Casper said.

"We are well travelled to see you," Maurice said. "We bring gifts for the Miracle Baby."

"And a warning, innit," Baz said.

"A warning?" Joseph asked.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Maurice said. "You are aware of the man that runs these streets? King Harry."

"Yes," Joseph said.

"He sends this gift," Maurice said as Casper laid out a brown brick-shaped block wrapped in Clingfilm.

"Is that what I think it is?" Joseph asked.

"Yeah, an H-bomb," Baz said. "Some pure horse. Street value, five-K."

"And a trap," Maurice said. "We believe he intends to let the services know you have it so you lose the baby, have it taken into care. We are supposed to report back to him but we are cancelling our plans here and returning down south."

"Why would you risk that for us?" Joseph asked.

"We want the best for the baby," Maurice said. "As such, take our gifts. Credit cards that will keep you in money for the foreseeable future, clothes for the baby and some more money in the way of gold."

"Thank you," Mary said.

"Have you named the baby?" Jessie asked.

"Yes," Mary smiled. "Tell them, Joe."

"Well, any Man City fans here?" Joseph asked.

All five guests nodded.

"Then we've all had the messages from Gabriel so it seems fitting we call him Jesus."

They all smiled in appreciation.

"Make sure you keep baby Jesus safe," Maurice said. "Many will attempt to cause you harm."

"Where should we go? For how long?" Joseph asked.

"Across the border to Wales perhaps? Or Scotland. And leave it for a number of decades," Maurice said.

"Yeah, nobody needs to hear about this boy until he's into his thirties," Baz said.

#TrueKing