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Mary hugged Jesus.
    As her uncle and cousin alighted, she exclaimed, “Oh, Joseph, thanks be to God. You’re here at our hour of need.”
    Daniel scowled when his father told him to stay outside with Jesus while he went inside to talk to Mary and her husband. It was hard to tell that the boys were related. Jesus’s curly brown hair would never darken to match the coal black strands that fell straight from the crown of his cousin’s head. The green color of their eyes was the only feature they seemed to share. Still beardless at fifteen, Daniel was turning into a strapping young man. Although his movements betrayed the awkwardness of that age, muscles were filling out his body.
    “So, shall we make mud pies again?” Daniel asked Jesus, with something of a smirk.
    Jesus silently folded his arms.
    Daniel continued, “We heard you caused quite a commotion.”
    Mary could not stay to listen for more. Uncle Joseph was inside the house and waving for her to follow.
    In the darkened side room where Mary and Joseph shared their bed, the two Josephs greeted each other. It was a humble home, but clean and tidy. Jesus’s bed occupied one corner of the main room, which the family also used to cook and eat their meals. Joseph’s workbench sat idle. In another corner was a small oil lamp table and a chair that Jesus used when studying.
    “I’ll talk things over with Uncle,” Mary said, “and we’ll wake you before deciding anything.”
    Seemingly satisfied, her husband slumped back in the bed.
    Uncle Joseph opened his arms as he turned back to the main room and embraced her. For a brief moment they were once again childhood companions.
    “Your husband’s letter was waiting for me when I got home yesterday,” Uncle Joseph began. “I came as quickly as I could.”
    “Thanks be to God. I fear Jesus is in danger.”
    “Haven’t you told him to mind his tongue? He is far too young to be preaching on Scripture.”
    “You don’t understand what it’s like with a child such as Jesus. In most ways, he is gentle and obedient. Look at his bed. He has made it up perfectly ever since he was three; I have never even needed to remind him. When it comes to matters of Scripture, though, he is convinced that he knows the truth and must share it with the world. He cares not for any words of danger. God knows I have tried.” Mary began to weep. “The Sadducees came to question him. I told them he was away, but what can I tell them next time? Some people of the village seem hostile, and I fear they will betray us when the Sadducees return. Something must be done with Jesus quickly, but I know not what.”
    “The time is even shorter than you think,” Uncle Joseph said. “My friends among the Sanhedrin told me much in confidence. Annas is losing support among the Sanhedrin. His son-in-law Caiaphas’s influence grows, and some say Caiaphas will replace Annas as high priest.”
    “What does that have to do with Jesus?”
    “Caiaphas heard Jesus preach in the temple, and he is convinced that Jesus is dangerous. Your rabbi has been sending reports to him, too.”
    “What danger does Caiaphas think Jesus can be? He is only a boy.”
    “It matters not the reasons for Caiaphas’s fear of Jesus,” said Uncle Joseph. “Perhaps he is only using the boy to make his name as an enemy of blasphemers. Whatever his reasons, the Sadducees will come again, and they will not be put off next time.”
    How could the priests see her child as such a threat?
    “I have it on good authority,” said Uncle Joseph, “that Caiaphas has alerted the temple guards to detain Jesus if he returns to Judea.”
    “All this for fear of a child!” Mary sighed. “What are the Sadducees waiting for?”
    “Their authority is limited to Judea. They must go through King Herod Antipas to do anything more than investigate in Galilee. But even now Caiaphas has Antipas’s ear.”
    “Maybe we should get Jesus away.”
    “I have already taken steps to do that. The