A CHRISTMAS CAROL
CHAPTER 1
Astrid Sabroe and her classmate Maja Flink walked fast along the corridor of the school ground floor; Maja prompted Astrid to move.
"Come on, I want to find seats in the front rows!"
"Why it's so important?"
"The principal will tell us the Christmas play we're going to put in scene."
"But it's the beginning of November."
"It takes time, Astrid, you don't imagine how much, we students of last grade do the play all by ourselves, it's the big event of the year!"
Maja was so excited Astrid was soon infected by her enthusiasm.
After two months at her new school she was learning new things every day.
She and her father had some difficulties in the choice of the institute, Henrik wanted a friendly environment, a nice place and an interesting program. Astrid was again fluent in Danish so they decided for a school in her home country, then they would evaluate again.
Their selection was a school a little far from home, but Henrik didn't care the quarter hour drive every morning and afternoon.
He was acting as Lillian Larsen replacement ad interim, since Lillian took a six month pause, including a long tour of the United States with her new prosecutor fiancée.
Henrik was happy to leave the field, he had a family to think about and didn't want to risk his life again, like it happened when he got a bullet in the leg last February.
The new position meant regular working hours, free week ends and a lot of time to spend with Astrid.
The girls entered the school great hall and found two free seats in the second row.
Soon they were surrounded by fellow students talking and laughing and the teachers had to ask silence more than once when the principal arrived.
Mrs. Nilsson jumped on the stage and took the microphone.
"I know what you're waiting for. But I wont tell it now!"
A chorus of disapproval followed.
"Before, all the newcomers of the last grade must know how we manage the Christmas play."
Maja touched Astrid in the ribs.
"This is for you, listen."
"It is our own production, we'll have the big Friday evening for families and friends and then a performance for the other students on Sunday afternoon before Christmas. Each student who want to act can have a part, those who like to sing join the choir and the young set designers, directors and costume designers all will work together."
She paused and called the other teachers on the stage; each would have a role in the setting of the play and in helping the students.
"In your classes the teachers will give you forms to apply to the various roles and I expect you to fill them and by Monday morning give them back. You'll have the week end to think about it. For the acting roles, there will be auditions and the choice must be accepted without complains, understood?"
The principal passed the microphone to the music teacher who explained this time the chorus had to be bigger, around 30 singers were needed to perform traditional songs. He went on with the rehearsal program and fixed the dates, soon loosing the audience interest.
One of the literature teacher, Mr. Henlund, would act as the director of the production, with the assistance of the English teacher
Maja whispered to Astrid that it had to be a foreign work.
"How do you know?"
"They will make us study the context of the English or American writer, trust me. Last year it was French, my cousin told me so."
Mrs. Nilsson took the microphone again.
"And now the big moment. Do you want to know?"
She used to tease the students a little and everybody knows it
"Do you really want to know?"
They shouted a general yes.
"A Christmas carol by Charles Dickens."