She had reached Shem's house and knocked on the half-open door. The noise coming from inside the house was something to hear. The hens and goats had decided it would be cooler indoors. They were milling around, clucking and bleating, between the feet of Shem's fat mother and his older sister, Rivkah, who were busy at the table. Three little boys were romping on the pile of sleeping mats in the corner of the room, shrieking with laughter. Among them, Miryam spied her brother.
"O, Aunt Channah, I'm so sorry Aharon is bothering you. I"ll take him home now."
Channah gave a chuckling laugh.
"He's no more bother to me than a fly, child. Why not leave him here? Are you going somewhere?"
Miryam nodded.
"I have to fetch the midwife for my Imah.'
Channah looked up quickly from the dough she was kneading.
"Has Yochevet's time come then? Yes, I see it has. Well, I'm coming over to help. Rivkah," she turned to her daughter, "carry on with this bread and keep your eye on these small ones. If you need me, send Zak up to Miryam's house."
She wiped her hands, put her arm round Miryam's shoulders and hurried her from the house.
"Run quickly and find old Shifra. I will go on to your Imah meanwhile."
Miryam nodded gratefully and took to her heels. If only old Shifra were home and not busy!
Shifra was home and wasted no time when she heard Yochevet needed her. She grabbed the bindle of things she would need and hobbled down the road after Miryam.
It was cool and quiet in the house. Yochevet lay on her sleeping mat, her eyes closed. Now and then she gave a low moan. Channah was busy putting pots of water over the fire. Shifra knelt down beside Yochevet and talked to her in a quiet voice. Miryam, who had gone to sit in a corner of the room, watched Shifra's face anxiously. She was relieved to see her smile.
"All well," she said, "it won't be long now." She looked over at Miryam.
"You are worried, my child?" Miryam just bent her head.
Channah spoke up: "She's afraid, that's why. Afraid it might be another boy!" She grinned at the girl, trying to cheer her up. "She thinks one boy is handful enough."
Shifra understood. She got slowly to her feet and went across to the anxious Miryam.
"No need to worry, my dear. Boy or girl, it makes no difference to Shifra. The baby will be safe."
She patted Miryam's head, then went back to sit beside Yochevet.
And they waited.
She had reached Shem's house and knocked on the half-open door. The noise coming from inside the house was something to hear. The hens and goats had decided it would be cooler indoors. They were milling around, clucking and bleating, between the feet of Shem's fat mother and his older sister, Rivkah, who were busy at the table. Three little boys were romping on the pile of sleeping mats in the corner of the room, shrieking with laughter. Among them, Miryam spied her brother.
