“Step aside!” cried Camille the Camel. “Step aside!” Camille pushed her way to the front of the long line of camels heading toward Jerusalem. The fancy little bells on her golden jewelry rang shrilly as she marched.

“What's the hurry?” asked the camel who led the caravan. “Are you new?”

“Yes,” Camille answered, lifting her head with pride. “My last owner sold me. I now belong to a royal princess. See the beautiful silk tent upon my back and the richly beaded embroidery? Your camel driver is taking me to Jerusalem to meet my new owner. My name is Camille.”

“My name is Sandy,” said the other camel. “It's nice to have you in our caravan.”

Camille sniffed. “You call this a caravan? Why, I've never seen more ordinary camels in my life! Where are your gold necklaces? Where are your expensive saddles?”

Sandy plodded steadily forward through the hot desert sand. She looked over at Camille's fancy trappings. “We may look like ordinary camels,” Sandy explained, “but we have very important jobs. Our owner is a follower of Jesus. Each week we go to Jerusalem, carrying fruits and vegetables our owner has grown. He shares the produce with the poor and needy living on the busy streets. He teaches them about Jesus so they will know God and be safe in His kingdom forever.”

“Well!” Camille exclaimed. “I'm too important to carry food and water. I belong to a princess now! My job will be to carry her.”

With a swish of her tail, Camille pushed her way in front of Sandy. “I'll be first in line.”

“But, Camille,” Sandy cried, “you don't know the way through the desert. WATCH OUT!”

It was too late. Camille tripped and tumbled down a sand dune.

The camel driver spent hours digging out Camille. He had to shake sand from her expensive tent, polish jewels on her golden necklace and clean her fancy straps. The caravan would be late. Finally the camels moved on.

Camille jogged up beside Sandy. “All right!” she huffed. “You can lead us through the desert. But when we reach Jerusalem, I'll be first in line as I deserve!”

It was dark by the time the caravan reached Jerusalem. As they approached the huge city gate, Camille pushed her way past Sandy again and marched proudly in front.

“Open the city gate!” Camille cried. “I'm here!”

Camille stood outside the gate, but nothing happened. It remained tightly shut.

“We're too late to go through the big gate,” Sandy explained. “It is locked at night to keep out robbers.” Sandy headed for a small gate off to the side. “We will have to go through this little gate - the needle.”

“But that gate is too small!” Camille cried. “I can't fit through!”

“Of course you can!” Sandy encouraged. “You just have to take off all your fancy things first. Then you will fit.”

Sandy knelt down on the ground. The other camels did the same. The camel driver and his helpers unpacked the camels. One by one, the camels got up and headed for the needle. One by one, they crouched down and squeezed through. It was a tight fit for each of the big camels, but they made it.

Sandy waited outside the gate with Camille. “Come on!” she said.

Camille dug her hooves into the ground. “Never!” she cried. “If I take off my beautiful tent and important trappings, I'll look like every other ordinary camel. What will the princess think?”

“But there might be robbers nearby,” Sandy cautioned.

Just then the noise of angry men and running horses sped toward the city.

“Camille, hurry!” Sandy shouted. “Robbers are coming, and they will take you away!”

Camille knelt quickly. Sandy pushed her fine jewels and coverings to the ground. Camille and Sandy squeezed through the needle as a band of robbers galloped up and ran off with the treasures Camille had been wearing just a moment before. The gate slammed shut behind them.

“They were so close!” Camille cried. “I was frightened I would not get in.”

Sandy rubbed her nose against Camille's neck. “I'm so glad you made it.” “You are?” Camille asked in surprise. “But what about my gold necklace, silk pillows and expensive saddle?”

“All your riches and fancy things are not important,” Sandy explained. “The important thing is that you are inside the city, safe from harm.”