AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Please sit.” The priest ushered us.
Oh, this was not going to be just one song.
I could feel it.
We were going to be trapped for the whole production because how could we leave when children were performing for us?
“What are they singing?” Odette asked, leaning forward.
“‘Joy to the World,’” one of the boys, dressed as a magi on stage, said and fixed his hat as it nearly fell off his head. “Mrs. Queen…I mean, ma’am.”
She tried not to laugh and then lifted her hands, giving him a thumbs-up.
“They have a little performance before the song, sir,” the mayor said to me, and I knew it!
“That’s fine,” Odette said as they dimmed the lights.
“Sure.” Whatever made her happy.
“Look, a star!” The little magi pointing up to where someone on the upper balcony held a star from a rope. “Look how bright it is!”
“It must be a sign!” said the second magi.
“It’s a sign!” a teacher off to the side whispered…very loudly.
“It’s a sign!” the boy repeated but then didn’t seem to remember the rest of his line, and I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
“They are still working out the kinks before Christmas,” the mayor whispered to me.
“I see.” I nodded as, once again, the boy was fed his line.
It went on like this. All of these little kids, who were probably only about six or seven, messing up while their parents or teachers tried to help. All the adults tried not to laugh. It was actually much more amusing. However, then this little girl with big, blue eyes and long, brown hair, dressed as an angel, stood in the center of the stage, finally getting to the song. When she opened her mouth, no words came out even with the musical cue. She just stared, and then her lip quivered as she looked at everyone around in front of her.
“Joy to the world.”
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come….” I heard not from her but Odette as she got up from her chair and walked right to the altar, offering her hand to her. “I love this song. Can we sing it together?”
The little girl stared at her as if she were the angel, nodded quickly, and held her hand. Taking her hand, Odette turned back to us all with her.
“Joy to the world
Joy to the world
Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Let Earth receive her King…”
Because Odette’s voice was so strong, loud, and good, the little girl grinned, feeling safer to sing, too… And I realized why they had chosen her. The little girl had a set of lungs. The more Odette sang, the better she sang. And soon the children were dancing on stage, even Odette. She didn’t know their choreography, so she made up her own—marching in place, throwing her hand out…and they all followed her.
“All we know is that if we go, people will follow. So we have to go with confidence.” My father’s voice entered my mind.
He was right.
“He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The light of His righteousness
