22 Comments
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Feb 11
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Ellis Elms's avatar

Too many giveaways. Noted.

I'll try better next time.

Cailin's avatar

I don't know what the name means but I know I felt this all the way through......kinda reminded me of a birth 2000 years ago that the husband and wife may have had this same exact argument....beautifully written will there be more? She says with great hope.

Ellis Elms's avatar

This is exactly what the name means, lol.

Cailin's avatar

sorry I wasn't sure and didn't want to assume thank you for the clarification

Ellis Elms's avatar

You did perfectly well. To answer your question "will there be more?" – yes.

There will be a full novel in the second part of this year, towards the end of it.

Cailin's avatar

Looking forward to it very much thank you

Cailin's avatar

I'm such an idiot just went back and re-read it....Wifes name is Mary and she calls her husband Joe.....duh....so sorry it's a great re-write for modern day I love it....

Alicia's avatar

Whoa! I did not see that ending coming. Masterful!

Gan's avatar

End got me, great story

Kim Williams, M.Div.'s avatar

I like this. I’ve often thought about how they would have dealt with this. The biblical canon just doesn’t allow for much humanity. There’s that one story about the child Jesus in the temple and we get a bit of Mary and Joseph’s honesty there. That’s about it.

Well done. 👍🏻

Ellis Elms's avatar

Thank you!

M. Majeris's avatar

Haha, couldn't wait 319 days to post this? I also think that the story would be better without the last explanatory birth scene. "You know how it ends" is more than enough. Awesome otherwise. I'm sure a lot of people imagined how this shit went down for Joe's manly pride.

Ellis Elms's avatar

319 days away it would be just… blatantly obvious, haha.

In February, I still have a chance.

Laura Teodorescu's avatar

I just finished watching Jane the Virgin yesterday, so this feels quite topical for me lol. Loved their exchange, very poignant!

Mancee Elendew's avatar

Wowww!

Also: Your dialogue is sublime.

Jessie Laverton's avatar

What a rewrite! And your dialogue is seamless. This had me on the edge of my seat, I only realised at the end what I just had read.

Ellis Elms's avatar

I believe, this story has not been told.

Thank you!

Jessie Laverton's avatar

Haha yes sorry, it's much more than a rewrite! I always felt that "Joe" was way too understanding and easily convinced the "original version".

Andrea (Andy) Curran 🌄's avatar

Aaaaaaaah! Was not expecting that! Fantastic!

✨Beautifully Broken✨'s avatar

Gosh my mind was spinning. I thought this can't be Jesus. I was thinking "did she go to a party and get roofied?" Then I thought it was cute she named her baby that, but then she was named and I remembered the line about a carpenter. Then I saw HVR's comment about Joe and it clicked for me, but I did not have it figured out like he did.

Ellis Elms's avatar

Nobody wrote that conversation in the texts. So I did.

Thank you!

Aaron Martinez's avatar

This was a great spin on the story! Just ambiguous enough to sell it. Well done!