And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for
them at the inn. -Luke 2:7
Yeah, sure, I remember 'em. How could an innkeeper forget? Even without you
reporters coming by years later and asking all kinds of questions. There was
just something about 'em. Like they was always standing in a light or
something. I don't know. All I know is that they needed a place to stay, the
house was full, so I did the best I could. I sure didn't turn 'em away. Put
that down: I didn't turn 'em away. Everybody seems to
forget that, ya know.
If you're gonna tell the story, tell the full story, for God's sake. This is
a respectable inn, always has been, always will be. We don't put guests up
in any stables, but what can you do if you're full up? You gotta make do.
I guess I could've just turned 'em away, and you people would've left me
alone. Instead I try to do the right thing, and have to answer all these
questions every year. What do they say - no good geed goes unpunished?
They seemed a nice enough couple - from somewhere up north, I think. Not
used to the big city. Something about having to pay their taxes and the
husband's coming from around here. Joe Something was his name; I forget.
Hers? You got me, buster. We get so many folks coming through this time of
year. And everybody's always complaining about taxes. I know, believe me I
know. Mine are too high, too.
Still, there was something unusual about the lady, so quiet, so gentle, like
she knew something. I think this was her first. She was worried, of course,
you could tell, and just about worn out. Traveling ain't easy. Not on these
roads. Her husband was in even worse shape; men take these things harder,
you know. So, like I said, I did the best I could. And they did all right,
didn't they? A healthy baby boy. You can't beat that. I was glad about it.
No liability.
You feel better seeing a happy family. You always do. Next morning they was
anxious to leave. All concerned about what they had to do next. That's the
thing about happy families. They never know how happy they are at the time,
busy as they are.
The only thing I was told, mister, was that the lady needed a place for the
night, and what was I supposed to do? Like I said, all the rooms were taken.
Kick somebody out? I could lose my license. It wasn't as if they had a
reservation. So I sent 'em out back. It wasn't till those other guys, the
ones in limos, came by all dressed up and with those expensive gifts from
the East, that I figured something was up. But by that time it was a little
late, ya know?
I'd done the best I could. It wasn't like I'd known who they was. They
looked like everybody else except maybe that business with the light all
about 'em.
What's that, you say? Do I have different standards for different folks?
Of course not. We know the law. No discrimination. First come, first served,
and all that. Still, looking back at it, there was something special about
that night, not that I noticed it at the time. A bright star. And a kind of,
well, hopeful feeling.
But that's the way you feel whenever a baby's about to be born, isn't it,
that the whole world's gettin' to starting all over again, and how this
time, by God, we just might get it right, ya know?
Maybe that's why I had such a good feeling when I saw the baby. Cutest thing
you ever saw. But they all are at first, don't ya know, before the world
gets to 'em. And to all of us, I guess. I didn't figure the kid would turn
out any different, but you never know, there was a special kind of glow
about Him. Good health, I suppose. They say his folks came from good stock.
You never know who you're gonna meet on the road. No tellin' what a boy like
that could become.
But it wasn't just the baby, it was something in the air that brought
everything out. That sky. That star. The moon. And a kind of, I don't know,
music. Like the angels were singin' or something. Probably just the night
wind. It'll play tricks on you this time of year. Unseasonable, the weather
was. Like it is right before a change. Before a storm comes through and
changes everything. Makes you kind of uneasy, like something's about to
happen any minute. Like the whole world's waitin' for something.
Maybe I'm imaginin' it, 'cause I didn't notice anything special at the time.
That's how things go in this business, ya know, you get so busy, what with
the fresh linens and touchy customers and tryin' to find good help, that
before you know it, it's all over, and it's only when you're lookin' back at
'em that you see how things really were at the time.
When something's actually happening, you can miss out if you're not looking
real close. There's no Signs and Wonders and all that unless you're lookin'
for 'em. Hey, who knows, maybe something's happening right now we should be
paying attention to, huh? Whaddya think?