Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges
I just returned from Luxeuil with the good news that I had spoken with our son. He is now Brother Gabriel, keeper of the birds. His duty there not only fits his gift of caring for the creatures of earth, it also sets him in a place where information comes and goes. I brought one of the Luxeuil birds today so Ana can send him her own little words of encouragement and he will surely see the message first.
Today a child came running up from the hunter’s village to get Ana to help an ailing grandmother. And now she goes off with the donkey Jack to the village, before we have a chance to send the bird back to Gabe.
She hurried off without taking Hannah either, who is a bit miffed that her mother doesn’t need her to assist with a medical case. She assumes she was left here for the night because Ana doesn’t trust me doing all the chores and caring for the younger children as well. So, this eight-year-old orders me to fetch the water and bring in more wood while she milks the goats and readies the evening supper for Layla and the boys. I do understand little Hannah feels burdened with the responsibility, particularly when she has no imagination for my place as the parent while Ana is away. It’s been a while since I’ve been very useful around here.
I set some of the gruel Hannah has prepared in a clay bowl by the fire for it to warm.
“Hannah, I will feed Layla this evening. I so rarely have the chance to do that.”
“But Papa, you don’t know how.”
“Don’t you remember when you were a little baby and you sat on my knee for your own bowl of gruel?”
“No, Papa. When you feed a baby she sits on the chair with the pillows. You have to be so careful that she doesn’t fall.”
“Well, Hannah, I think I have a good plan here. Come over here, and you check to see if it is safe. Sit here on my knee and you can see for yourself if it is good enough for little Layla.”
Hannah giggles. “That would be silly Papa. I’m already an eight-year-old.” But she tries it anyway, and she finds that mine would be safe arms for the baby, so with Hannah’s permission, Layla sits on my knee and I spoon the gruel for her.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 