The Carpenter’s Son

The room was dimly lit by a shaft of light that entered through a small crack from the roof. Particles of dust gently danced fluttering in and out of the beam.

The sliver of light bathe a sapling that had barely sprouted. Its fragile green leaves brilliantly sparkling under the light.

Ariel could not take his eyes off from the scene that entranced him. Every day he contemplated the spot where the sapling came from.

“That was the very spot where he sat,” he mumbled to himself.
“Is that why you don’t want to repair your roof?” Shemal asked.
“If I did, then the young tree would die,” Ariel said.
“Surely, you are not thinking of having a tree grow right through your house, my friend? What will Marian say?”
“I don’t know. But Marian doesn’t seem to mind after all that has transpired these days,” Ariel shrugged his shoulders.
“Indeed, so much has transpired these days,” Shemal agreed.
“Do you still remember that day, Shemal?”
“Yes.”
“I just bumped into him and his disciples through the narrow street…,” Ariel recalled.
“What did he say again?”
“He wanted a place where he could preach alone to his disciples.”
“He couldn’t have chosen a better place,” Shemal laughed.
“Yes, but the whole town got wind of it and everyone started pouring in. Imagine, this poor house!” Ariel contemplated the interior of his dwelling place.
“At the most, it could fit twenty, but the whole town?”
“He only wanted some time to be alone with his disciples, but the people would have none of it. The crowd grew and in no time he had no choice but to address them as well.”
“Even the Pharisees and the Sadducees,” Shemal added.
“Yes, even they came just to spy on him,” Ariel recalled.
“And the best part happened!” Shemal snapped with excitement.
“I couldn’t believe what was happening. There was that grating sound and then dust started falling from the roof. Some of the people screamed thinking it was about to collapse. But someone’s voice from above calmed them down.”
“Did you even get to know who they were?” Shemal asked.
“No, they were from another town. After everyone had left, I did not have time to ask who they were.”
“And they left the stretcher as well, the ungrateful lot!” Shemal smirked.
“Perhaps, only too excited that they forgot to even thank him.”
“Imagine, curing a paralytic!” Shemal was bewildered.
“But forgiving him of his sins before that!” Ariel reminded his friend.
“True. In fact, I was stunned to hear him say that to the sick man. I thought, who could he be to say such a thing, when ‘only God can forgive our sins’.”
“My friend, there is something more you ought to know,” Ariel said.
“What is it?”
“As the crowd began to leave, he noticed my angry expression. It was not really anger, but more of exasperation.” Ariel knelt down and gently caressed the sapling.
“The gathering ended way after sunset! Marian had not yet prepared our dinner. I was hungry, and there was a huge hole in the roof gaping down at us.”
“What did he do?”
“He rolled up his sleeves and said he was going to fix the roof. After all, he said, he was the son of a carpenter.” Ariel smiled to himself as he recalled the scene.
“Son of a carpenter you say?”
“Yes, I don’t think any of his disciples were familiar with the trade. So they helped him get up the roof. And he slowly repaired it under the faint oil lamp that the youngest amongst his followers held beside him.”
“But what about the crack?” Shemal asked.
“He was just about to cover it, but I don’t know why I interrupted him and asked him to leave it as such.”
“How did he react?”
“I was surprised he didn’t say anything. He just smiled, cleaned the dust from his hands and got down.”
“And you say he and his disciples spent the night in your house?”
“Yes, it was already too late for them to travel elsewhere. Sadly, Marian and I could not even offer something for him and the others. We were totally caught unprepared. They made do with whatever little provisions they had.”
“You said that it was one of the most unforgettable moments of your life,” Shemal said.
“Yes, indeed it was! He slept right there on the spot where you now see the sapling growing.” Ariel pointed at the spot.
“For many months, I would see the crack and be reminded of him and that day.” Ariel said.
“And when did the sapling sprout?” Shemal asked.

Ariel stroked his beard. “I only noticed it early this morning. And if I’m not mistaken, this is the third day since the day He was crucified!”