Mary, did you know?

Imagine yourself as a teenage girl, 15 or 16 years old. You live a rather normal life: going to the well with your mother, harvesting food with your entire village, or giggling with your friends. You might even have your eye on a certain boy.

With your light, olive skin, long black hair, and brown eyes, you are pretty, but not beautiful. You dream of falling in love, having a family, and living in a fine house. Life seems just about perfect.

One day, you and your friends are playing tag. Just as you are about to get tagged, you hear your mother's voice. Her tone is sharp and her voice tense. Puzzled, you follow her home.
As you cross the threshold into your house, your father and another man rise to greet you. As you walk toward them, you see it Joseph, the town carpenter. Your heart stops. Joseph has been coming around quite a bit lately, you realize. And sometimes he would just happen to be at the well with you, where he would insist on carrying your jug. you can feel your face get hot as you remember the old women pointing and whispering.
Surely Father would not betrothe me to Joseph, you think frantically.
Mother pushes you forward, toward the men. Josph smiles at you, but you keep your eyes fixed on Father. Please God, you pray, do not let Father say it!

Your worst fears are soon confirmed.
'Mary, Joseph has asked for you to be his wife. And I have accepted his offer."
Time seems to stop. You raise your eyes to meet Joseph's. Dark and majestic, they stare at you from beneath thick eyebrows. His mouth opens. "I do hope you will have me, Mary." His voice is deep and warm, but you cannot stand it. This man wants to snatch you from your happy home and make you his wife?
Your turn and run from the house.

To be continued.....