Short Story

STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

It’s time once again for
The Unicorn Challenge.
This is my response
to the photo prompt below.

© Ayr/Gray

And so the time came to pass that the young woman was too heavy with child to continue the journey. They had traveled many miles with still more land to cross and she knew her time had arrived to deliver her babe.

She told her husband she could endure no more of this pilgrimage and, reluctantly he agreed; while it was important for them to return to their hometown, the safety and comfort of his wife and their unborn baby were of the utmost concern. But they were strangers in a strange land and knew no one. The husband stopped at the first house they saw.

The couple waited patiently, the young woman suffering in silence as her baby wrestled inside her, anxious to make an appearance. Finally, the owner of the house answered the door and, holding up a lantern for a better view, quickly assessed the situation. He knew this young couple needed his help.

Quietly the homeowner informed the husband that he had no room in his house for them; the disappointment on the face of the husband was obvious, even in the darkness of the late hour. The young woman tried to maintain some propriety but could no longer stifle her pains of labor and let out a deep, low moan. Both men knew the time for her to be delivered was imminent.

The homeowner hesitated only a second, then led them to a lowly cellar. Apologizing, he offered them this place and they gratefully accepted…..

NAR © 2023
250 Words

The Unicorn Challenge-15/12/23

This is “Once In Royal David’s City” (Full HD Libera Boys Choir)

35 thoughts on “STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND”

    1. Thanks, Glyn! That’s what’s so cool about these prompts;
      most of the time, each contributor sees something different.
      When I saw the image, this was my first thought & I went with it;
      it’s been a challenge staying with my Christmas theme this month. 💫

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