Skip to main content

Advent Calender - Day 6

Nativity play

Rosie looked at her brother. “Is Daddy here yet?” she asked.

Darren shook his head. “Course he isn’t. He never is. It’ll be work or the traffic or some other excuse. When will you realise he just doesn’t care enough to be here?” he told her sharply.

“But he promised he’d be here,” Rosie said, her bottom lip trembling. “I get to be Mary and he promised he’d be here to see.”

Darren put his arms round his little sister. “Don’t cry Rosie,” he said. “I’m here. I’ll sit in the audience with Mum and watch you.”

“Want Daddy,” she said, pushing the white cloth off her head. She started to cry. “Don’t want do it if he’s not here.”

Her teacher, Mrs Edwards, looked at her and then went and found Lou. “I’m sorry Mrs Williams, but Rosie is rather upset. She’s refusing to do this. Perhaps if you had a word?”

Lou nodded and left her coat on the chair. She followed the teacher to the back of the stage.
Darren looked at her. “Mum… I tried but…”

Lou smiled, gathering her sobbing daughter into her arms. “It’s okay Darren. Thank you. You want to go sit out the front and I’ll be there in a few?”

Darren nodded and went out front of house.

Lou drew Rosie onto her lap and rocked her singing softly to her to calm her down. Then once she had, she convinced her to go out on stage and be the best Mary she could be because the baby Jesus needed the best mummy he could have.

Rosie looked at her. “But you’re the bestest Mummy,” she said, her face wet with tears.

Lou kissed her and wiped her face dry. “And you’re the bestest Rosie,” she said. She picked up the headdress and arranged it on Rosie’s head. Then she went back out to the front and sat with Darren. Her husband’s seat was still glaringly empty.

The lights went down and then the stage ones came up. The children stood there nervous and shifting slightly until the music began and they began to sing.

One of the problems of this line of work Jeff reminded himself as he flew up the path to the school hall is never being around. Duty shifts over ran or he got called to an emergency somewhere at a minutes notice. The hall was in darkness, the performance started. He made his way to his seat, apologising as he trod on toes.

Lou gripped his hand as he sat down. “You’re late,” she hissed. “The first song was wonderful.”
“Sorry, but I’m here now.”

A Christmas tree twinkled at the edge of the stage as the nativity play unfolded. Seven year old Rosie sat by the manger, the doll cradled in her arms. You could have heard a pin drop as she suddenly, totally unscripted decided that the baby was crying and started singing ‘Little Jesus sweetly sleep’ as she rocked it.

Comments

Delia Latham said…
Very sweet! Where do you come up with all these different ideas???
Donna B said…
I'll second that - SWEET! Bet you're having a ball with these shorties!
Clare Revell said…
I am :) Really should be doing the requested rewrite of Rescue Dawn though ;-)

and the idea come from a prompt list on Live Journal.

Popular posts from this blog

Falling Forever by Katherine Robles

  Blurb Hillary is stifled by an entry level IT job in the Virginia suburbs and longs to move to Washington D.C. where she can make a difference in the world. When Javier comes to her rescue in Great Falls National Park, Hillary likes everything about him except for the gorgeous fiance hanging on his arm. But things are not as they seem and he enlists her help to renovate a homeless shelter. Romance blossoms over paintbrushes and pipes until a career launching opportunity arises. Hillary can chase her dreams, but they might cost her Javier’s heart.       Excerpt Javier cast a shadow over her placemat as he delivered her glass of water. He rounded the table, apparently unaware that the whole family was watching him with interest. When he got to the other side of Mom, Hillary willed him to make eye contact and gave a little wave in greeting. “Hi,” she said. Javier retracted the hand that was lowering Coryn’s water. His lips parted like a curtain to reveal his pearly whites. “Well, if it

Author interview - Nicola Beaumont

Today we have author Nicola Beaumont with us. Nicola has written several books including The Lighthouse which I am spotlighting today. BLURB: DANGEROUS LIAISON... Rachel is in love with her best friend, but when Malachi doesn't seem interested, she turns to an international stranger whom she meets on the internet. At first, conversation is just a pastime, but soon, romantic fantasies form in her mind. Why not consider a man who travels across an ocean to meet her-a man who makes her feel wanted? After all, Malachi might as well be a world away-even if his concern does seem genuine when he warns her about the intriguing Frenchman. RESCUE ON THE WAY... Malachi has sworn not to interfere in Rachel's relationship, but he's in love with the head-strong woman who is determined to continue her budding romance...Yet, Malachi senses something isn't right about the playboy who has suddenly consumed Rachel's time, so he vows to save her from the stranger-and herself-even

Wooing Gertrude by Jodie Wolfe

  Blurb   Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he's the right man for either job. Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller's life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she'll find peace and happiness. Will either of them ever be able to find peace?   First Page Peek   Burrton Springs, Kansas August 4, 1877   Gertrude Miller’s life couldn’t get any better. She grinned, patting her pocket. Her fingers traced the two skeleton keys. After months of planning and preparing she finally had moved into her own place a week ago, away from the overbearing reach of he