然后,多丽丝打开第四个鸡蛋。她惊呆了,这个蛋竟然是空的!她确信这是杰里米的,她想,他一定是没明白她的要求。要是没忘记给他父母打电话就不会这样了。她不想让杰里米尴尬,就把空蛋放到了一边儿,伸手去拿另一个。突然,杰里米大声说:“米勒小姐,难道你不打算谈论一下我的蛋吗?”多丽丝不安地说:“可是,杰里米——你的蛋是空的呀!”杰里米望着老师的眼睛,轻声说:“是啊,但耶稣的墓也是空的呀!”
此刻时间似乎凝滞了。许久多丽丝才回过神,问杰里米:“那你知道耶稣的墓为什么是空的吗?”“当然知道了!”杰里米喊道:“耶稣遇害后葬在那儿,后来圣父把他救了出来,使他复活了!”
下课铃响了,孩子们都兴奋地冲向操场,多丽丝哭了,她内心冰冷的感觉彻底消失了。
三个月后,杰里米去世了。去墓地送葬的人们惊异地发现,他的棺材顶上放着19个蛋,并且都是空的。
Jeremywasbornwithatwistedbody, aslowmindandachronic, , 'sElementarySchool.
Attheageof12, Jeremywasonlyinsecondgrade, , DorisMiller, , , hespokeclearlyanddistinctly, , however, Jeremyirritatedhisteacher.
Oneday, ', Dorissaidtothem, "'tfairtohimtobewithyoungerchildrenwhodon', thereisafive-yeargapbetweenhisageandthatoftheotherstudents!"
."MissMiller," hesaid, "." Dorissatforalongtimeaftertheyleft, , ', ?
Assheponderedthesituation, guiltwashedoverher."Oh, God," shesaidaloud, "hereIamcomplainingwhenmyproblemsarenothingcomparedwiththatpoorfamily! PleasehelpmetobemorepatientwithJeremy."
Fromthatdayon, shetriedhardtoignoreJeremy', dragginghisbadlegbehindhim."Iloveyou, MissMiller!" heexclaimed, , andDoris', "Oh, Oh, that'sverynice, ."
Springcame, , andthentoemphasizetheideaofnewlifespringingforth, shegaveeachofthechildrenalargeplasticegg."Now," shesaidtothem, "?"
"Yes, MissMiller!" thechildrenrespondedenthusiastically—; 'deathandresurrection? Didheunderstandtheassignment? Perhapssheshouldcallhisparentsandexplaintheprojecttothem.
Thatevening, Doris', shestillhadtoshopforgroceries, 'sparents.
Thenextmorning, 19childrencametoschool, laughingandtalkingastheyplacedtheireggsinthelargewickerbasketonMissMiller', itwastimetoopentheeggs.
Inthefirstegg, Dorisfoundaflower."Ohyes, afloweriscertainlyasignofnewlife," shesaid."Whenplantspeekthroughthegroundweknowthatspringishere." Asmallgirlinthefirstrowwavedherarms."That'smyegg, MissMiller!" , .", thatisnewlife, too." LittleJudysmiledproudlyandsaid, "MissMiller, thatoneismine."
, too, ."MyDaddyhelpedme!" hebeamed.
! SurelyitmustbeJeremy's, shethought, and, ofcourse, , ."MissMiller, aren'tyougoingtotalkaboutmyegg?" Flustered, Dorisreplied, "butJeremy, youreggisempty!" Helookedintohereyesandsaidsoftly, "Yes, butJesus'tombwasemptytoo!"
, Dorisaskedhim, "Doyouknowwhythetombwasempty?" "Ohyes!" Jeremyexclaimed, "!"
, .
ThreemonthslaterJeremydied.Thosewhopaidtheirrespectsatthemortuaryweresurprisedtosee19eggsontopofhiscasket, allofthemempty.