Excerpt: Bekkah, Daughter of Eve: A Celebration

And so it continued. Bekkah opened each gift, one after one, guessing whom the gift was from and thanking the real giver. She was amazed at how much time every person in the family had put into making her day special. By the time she had opened the last gift, she had over thirty ribbons, three necklaces, a bracelet, four hair pieces, a bouquet of flowers, a small collection of pottery, the small straw people that Jeremiah had mentioned, at least ten drawings and at least twenty odd trinkets.
She looked at all of the gifts, a large smile spread across her face. "Thank you, thank you all!" She exclaimed, wishing she could give them all a hug at the same time.
"Wait. I have a gift. Did you miss one from me?" Cain suddenly spoke.
Bekkah looked around her gifts. "I do not have one from you do I?"
"No you do not. But that is because my gift is very special, and very best of all. I shall go retrieve it for you."
"That is odd Cain. I have a gift I have yet to give her also. I shall go retrieve that one too. What do you think of that Bekkah?"
"I am excited." She answered.
"Then I shall return."
"So shall I." Cain said, and both boys left the dining place, each turning and walking the opposite direction to retrieve the mysterious gifts.
Bekkah bent to start refolding the cloths that had bound the gifts. She gathered the ribbons and stuffed them in the clay container that held the other ribbons that Jeremiah had made. "It truly is beautiful. All of it. I shall remember it forever and ever!" She said happily to her entire family.
"We think that you deserve it all and more." Diane said.
Bekkah was sure that this could not be true but smile to Diane, accepting the compliment.
"After you receive the boy's gifts you may leave Bekkah, to put your things away." Eve said.
"I wonder what the gifts could possibly be. Have you heard anything of them Mother?" Cara asked.
"No, it was a surprise to me as well." Eve said.
"What about you Diane?"
Diane said nothing for a moment, and it was strangely quiet. "I am not sure what Cain has in mind, or Abel for that matter." She finally said.
"Oh." Cara answered, and then began chattering to clear the strangeness from the tent.
"I think it will then be time for the little ones to take a nap." Eve said. "Come, Little Samuel, Little Ava, we will soon go take a little rest. I trust you can handle the midday meal Cara and Diane?"
"Yes, of course." Cara answered.
"Jeremiah, I will need you for something too." Adam said.
"Yes sir." Jeremiah answered.
"Will I be free to go put my things away?" Bekkah asked. "And to write these things in my new recording papyrus?" Bekkah asked, thinking of the beautiful new collection of papyrus that Cara had ingeniously tied together with small strips of leather. Bekkah held the recording papyrus to her chest. She was very excited to begin recording the days events. And she hadn't even seen the special things that her brothers were planning to bring to her. She waited anxiously, trying to help clean without thinking of what they could be bringing. It only made her more impatient. Julie was getting impatient. She fussed to the point that Eve had decided to miss the surprise and turned to the tent o retire. Just then, Cain came into view. She started to say something to Bekkah when a loud bellow of excitement called from behind.
Bekkah turned just in time to see Abel step in from the side flap, holding a lamb. It was a small, frail, black lamb, who looked as innocent as they come. Bekkah dropped every thing and gasped. She could not take her eyes off of the beautiful little creature.
"This is the lamb that ** had, the one that I was afraid to let you near. Well, he has recovered, and now... now he is yours." Abel said, holding the lamb carefully out for Bekkah to take.
Bekkah rushed to the lamb, her arms outstretched. Just then she heard the sound of another, older lamb baaing.
The family turned toward Cain. Bekkah's eyes first fell on her Mother who was standing, already facing Cain, her hands on her mouth, shaking her head slightly. Bekkah let her eyes move to Cain who was standing, his eyes angry and his jaw clenched. His hand was wrapped tightly around a rope. Bekkah let her eyes follow the rope to the ground where a lamb stood. At first Bekkah was confused. Where did Cain get a lamb? Then it struck her. It was the lamb that Cain was to sacrifice. Bekkah felt as though she had a rock in her throat, and her mouth went dry. She dared to glance at her Father.
Her father also stood rigid, staring at Cain. Cain looked around, a mixture of anger and fear as his eyes roved the faces of his family. He knew he had made a serious mistake. Everyone in the room knew it too. The only sound that could be heard in the tent was Julie fussing and the lamb grazing on the grass.
Bekkah tried to swallow. The feeling was only getting worse as the seconds crept by. Cain's eyes were now fixed on the lamb that Abel had cradled in his arms.