Charles crowed loudly, waking all the other animals.
'Must you be so noisy, Charles?' grumbled the hens.
'And so early too!' came the very annoyed voice of the farmyard cat as she slowly stretched herself.
'It's the best time of the day' insisted Charles the Rooster as he strutted around. 'Come on, get up everyone.'
Henry the horse opened a sleepy eye and yawned. 'Charles' he said. 'Please be quiet, I need my rest, I have a lot of work to do today.'
'The trouble with all of you' answered Charles huffily, 'Is that you don't appreciate the good work I do. I think I just may go and visit my cousins in Jerusalem - they do appreciate me.' And he stalked away across the farmyard.
So Charles went to Jerusalem and he had a very happy time with his cousins and friends. They visited many interesting places, and Charles also helped his cousin Mark.
Poor Mark had a very sore throat, and was quite unable to crow loudly to tell everyone that morning had come. So Charles was happy to do this for his cousin because this, after all, is the work of a Rooster.
When Mark's sore throat began to feel a little better, Charles said to him 'It's about time I was thinking of going back home, Mark. I've been here quite a long time.'
'Yes, I suppose so' said Mark rather sadly. 'I'll be sorry to see you go though Charles. I shall miss you. We have had some happy times together, haven't we?'
'Yes' Charles agreed. 'I shall miss you too, but I'll come again very soon.'
‘Could you do me one more favour please Charles before you go?' Mark asked his cousin.
'Certainly' agreed Charles. 'What is it?'
'Well, it's my turn to go to the Courtyard where the High Priest lives, but I don't think my voice is strong enough yet.'
Charles agreed. 'No, a few more days rest, and you will soon be well enough to take up your duties again.'
Mark continued. 'So could you do this for me Charles, please?'
'Of course, I shall be delighted' Charles assured him.
It was dark when Charles set out the following morning, but he knew his way, and as he drew nearer to where the High Priest lived he could see a warm glow.
'They have lit a fire in the courtyard' he said to himself. 'That's good, I shall sit there for a while, it's very cold - after I've finished my work, of course.'
So Charles sat on the courtyard wall and watched everyone below him. He heard the soldiers talking about their capture of a man called Jesus.
'Jesus' said Charles, and he shivered. 'Oh no, they haven't captured God's Son, surely. That would be terrible. What can I do?'
He was very upset, and as he sat there he saw a servant girl taking hot drinks to the soldiers sitting around the fire.
'I know you' Charles heard her say. 'You were with Jesus.' And Charles turned his head to look at where the girl was pointing. The man seemed to be frightened and upset.
'I don't even know the man' he shouted.
Someone else seemed to recognise the man too, as he looked closely at him. 'You are one of the men who follow Jesus' he said.
'I am not one of them' the man answered angrily.
'Strange!' thought Charles. 'He certainly doesn't want to be known as a friend of Jesus. Is he scared of being captured too?' He stared hard at the man, and just then a flame shot high into the air, and Charles saw the man's face clearly.
'It's Peter' he said in amazement.
'Peter! What are you doing by denying you know Jesus. Tell them He is God's Son.' He could have wept.
It was when Peter denied he knew Jesus the third time that Charles could take no more.
'Peter don't' he shouted. But it just sounded like the ordinary crowing of a Rooster to those who heard.
Except to Jesus, who came into the courtyard just then.
He looked at Charles and smiled.
'Thank you, Charles' he seemed to be saying.
And Charles, his heart full of love, puffed out his chest,

Elizabeth Aynsley ©

Luke 22 vs. 54 - 62