Christmas Revised
Part of the Countdown to Christmas collection
A re-telling of a short story by Dina Donohue.
Mary always attended the annual Christmas pageant but this one was particularly special to her. This one had Billy in it.
She shifted in her seat. The church was too small, so it was held in the Grain Exchange. She looked around apprehensively. The room was filled to capacity.
Billy was playing the Innkeeper.
She had asked Josiah about it. "Don't you think he's a little young for this? Couldn't you give him something without any lines? One of the Wise Men, maybe?"
But Josiah was insistent. "He'll be fine, Mary. Besides, I got all the Wise Men I need. There are a lot of parents who feel as you do, but I can't cast all of the children as Wise Men, now can I?"
So she'd worked with him for a whole week. Every night, after supper, she'd made sure he remembered the few lines he had and when he was supposed to say them. They'd even discussed why. She'd brought out the Bible and read him the story of the Nativity. Billy knew his role was an important one and he had been very excited about it.
She saw Chris move through the crowd to take a seat beside her.
"I didn't think you were going to come," she said in surprise.
He grinned ruefully. "Billy insisted. How could I turn down an invitation like that?"
She smiled and turned toward the makeshift stage. The play was about to start.
It was as all children's plays are. There were those who knew their lines and those who didn't. Those who loved being on stage and those who were scared green.
Mary watched as the children playing Joseph and Mary crossed the stage to the 'inn.' The wood and canvas door swung open and there stood Billy.
Without her being aware of it, she placed a hand on Chris's arm as she watched her son's big moment arrive.
Chris glanced down but didn't move.
The little Joseph spoke. "My wife and I need a place to stay for the night."
"The inn is full," said Billy.
"But my wife is with child," insisted Joseph.
"Go away," replied Billy.
Looking saddened, Little Joseph slowly started to lead Little Mary away. There was a pause. A long pause.
Tell him to go to the stable, she thought urgently.
"Mary," whispered Chris. "You're digging your nails into my arm."
"Oh! Sorry," she blushed. She put her hands in her lap and squeezed them together nervously.
Suddenly Billy brightened. "No! Come back!"
Little Joseph and Little Mary turned to him, waiting.
"You can take my room!"
Out in the audience, Mary looked down at her lap in embarrassment. From the corner of her eye, she could see Chris trying hard to suppress an amused grin. She waited for the play to end.
As everyone was leaving, Mary sought out Josiah. Chris was by her side when she found him.
"Josiah, I--"
Just then Billy came bounding up to them. "Hi, Ma! Chris, you came! How was I? Was I good?"
"You were just great, pard." Chris picked him up with a grin and took him outside.
Mary turned to Josiah. "I'm sorry. I worked with him, but--"
Josiah smiled, and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Mary, he was fine. In fact, I think some folks will tell you that was the best Christmas pageant there ever was here. Maybe I should have cast him as a Wise Man because the words might not o' been there, but the spirit of Christmas sure was."
The End