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The sun shone in a cloudless sky as Dad’s caravan approached the lake. Abban and I could see Amrit’s camp already set up near the water, but Dad would not let us run forward so I could greet Jesus and Abban his own dad. He said it had something to do with protocol, so I stifled the urge and elbowed Abban to do the same. Actually, Abban seemed to know about protocol already and didn’t need any urging, but it gave us an excuse to elbow each other as we walked at Dad’s side toward the camp. We elbowed each other a lot these days, almost like he was one of my brothers.
When we had come within a respectable distance, Amrit called out, “Greetings, my friend. I hope fortune has smiled on you since we last met.”
Dad bowed as he held his hand out toward Abban and me. “Indeed, fortune has come to my family in the form of your wonderful son. We have nurtured him as his arm has been made whole. And he has blessed our home with his charm and intelligence.”
Amrit beamed at the sound of Dad’s words, and held his hand out to indicate my brother at his side. “Your son, too, has brought great pleasure to our camp. He is a good student and learns quickly. Jesus will make a fine trader some day.”
Our two groups approached each other.
“Let me see your arm,” Amrit said. He tried to keep anxiety out of his voice, but we could hear a quiver in his tone.
Abban proudly pulled up his sleeve to show his arm. “Father, Judas’s mother performs magic on the human body. And I believe his sisters must be angels sent by the Lord our God to minister to the sick, especially the one they call Susanna.”
Amrit raised his eyebrows. “Angels from the Lord our God? I sense a deepened awareness in you, though it might be on several different levels and certainly on at least two completely separate topics,” he said, showing the hint of a grin.
Jesus stood before Dad gazing levelly into his eyes. Neither of them flinched, though I thought I detected just the very beginnings of a grin on the corners of Jesus’ mouth. But he remained unmoving, looking back into Dad’s eyes.
Dad was the first to break. “What — no smart remarks?”
Jesus expanded his hint of a grin into a bare smile. “The best offense,” he said quietly with a minuscule nod, “is a good defense.”
Now it was Dad’s turn to smile. “I sense a deepened awareness in you as well.” He wrapped his arms around him in a hug and laughed in surprise. “I also sense some muscles that were not here before. I see that you have not been idle.”
After Dad had turned him around a few times to get a view of the new and improved Jesus, I stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder. Yikes — Dad was right! Not so soft anymore. “It’s g-good to s-see you. I’ve got a lot to tell you. But for now I m-must say it’s going to be easier for people to tell us ap-part from now on.”
Jesus wrapped his arms around me. “Judas Thomas, you will always be my Twin.”