Sitting in the hall of the school Kate looked around to see if Mike has arrived. He had sent a text saying he was running late but he had promised he was going to make it. There were 10 minutes to go and she had to turn her phone off in line with the schools safeguarding and child protection policy.

Sending another quick text to mike she turned her phone off putting it back in her bag under her seat she hoped he would make it in time as even though Grace was not in the beginning part of the play, she was still on the floor next to the stage and would be able to see that her daddy was not there.

The head of prep walked in to the middle of the floor and began to give the safety information for if the fire alarms were to go off and where they needed to go, she also reminded them to turn off their mobile phones and filming was prohibited and if they wanted photos to wait till the end to get a photo of their child in their costume. She then went on to talk about how 2020 hadn't been the year that they had expected but since coming back to school the children had all worked so hard and shown real resilience to the global pandemic.

The door banged shut and everyone turned looking to see who the late comer was. Turning in her seat herself Kate was pleased that it was Mike. She watched as he walked quickly up the isle to where Kate was sat and had saved him a seat.

"you're cutting it close?" she whispered

"sorry, I ran in to Marshall and..."

"shhhh" a voice hissed from behind as one of the narrators walked on to the platform

Grace was sat to the left of the stage picking at her tinsel that was round her head as a crown. Realising the other stars were over the other side of the stage and she should be over their Grace began scooting in front of Mary who was just being told by the Angel Gabriel before standing up walking the rest of the way.

Covering her face Kate tried to hide her embarrassment. Grace was not the main role but she was going to make damn sure she was the star of the show. Settling down Grace sighed loudly as they had to all stand up and sing 'Little Donkey' although Kate was sure she heard grace singing much cruder lyrics about the donkey being on a main road and getting ran over by a Rover and was questioning whether the poor animal was dead or alive.

sitting down they watched as Mary and Joseph began looking for 'a place to stay' after singing a song about there being no room at the inn that was made up for the play. Next up were the Shepherds who were all in khaki shorts and dark green T-shirts. The angel walked on telling them the glorious news of the birth of the new born king and then everyone stood up singing.

This time Kate was sure of what she heard Grace Singing. "whilst shepherds washed their socks by night all watching the TV. An angel of the lord came down and switched to ABC"

Burying her head in her hands she didn't know how much more she could take. Grace was doing her dammed best to make sure this play would be remembered

"why did you have to teach her those versions" she whispered

"it wasn't me. I think it may have been Buffer last week" Mike whispered

"I'll kill him" she sighed turning back.

Graces roll was up next leading the wise men round the hall to the stage. Whilst they sang another original song. Every now and again Grace would stop and drag the poor kid playing one of the kings along trying to get them to hurry up.

Standing on a little platform behind the little stable mock up. Whilst everyone was singing 'away in a manger' deciding that she wanted to be seen Grace jumped down dragging her little stand to the front centre of the stage she climbed back on it standing right in front of Mary and the 'baby' sighing softly Kate closed her eyes. As the head walked back on in front of the stage to say a well done and to say that once the kids were changed back in to their normal clothes, they were free to go home. And the PTA were selling drinks and festive nibbles

Heading to the refreshments at the back of the hall Kate got 2 coffees and them each a festive biscuit all in all the 5 items cost almost $20 but most things that the PTA put on cost a fortune and at least the money were going back in to the school. Adding the milk to the drinks she tried to avoid the evils coming from Jasmine's mother who was in charge of the refreshments.

Heading back to where Mike was sat talking to one of the other parents, she smiled handing Mike his drink and biscuit

"so how come you almost missed it? What did Marshall want?" she asked sipping her coffee

"he just wanted to run something past me that's all and I didn't realise the time" he said

"anything you want to share?" she smiled

"he is retiring in the new year and he just wanted to tell me before it spread around the base"

"wow I thought they would have to carry him out" Kate smiled breaking her cookie in half nibbling it

"Kate" a sweet voice came up from behind her

Turning she saw it was Jasmine's mother sighing softly she tried to turn away, knowing what was happening

"Kate" the voice called again. It was the sweet voice that was about to stab you in the back

"Sonia" Kate turned forcing a smile "so nice to see you. Jasmine was a beautiful Mary"

"thank you" Sonia smiled "that's what I was hoping to talk about, I think you should have a word with Grace and remind her that the nativity isn't all about her."

"she knows that, I think maybe it was just over enthusiasm of being the shining star in the sky and she wanted to make people aware she was the star above the stable" Kate replied

"yes well I think we all know why Grace is the way she is" Sonia said

"and whys that then" Kate said feeling the anger rise. Sonia was your typical PTA mother. Spent all working from day at home and relied on her husband to provider a lavish lifestyle.

"well we all know you are hardly at home with work and it cant be easy for Grace to see her mother in a mans job"

"excuse me!" Kate spluttered. "woman have been in the armed forces for well over 50 years and as for being a man's roll, men and woman are treated as equals in the Navy. And as for being away I am protecting our countries waters so our children and future generations can experience the beauty we all grew up with" she said as Grace ran up

"Mummy" grace smiled "did you see me shine"

"you could miss you in fact we hardly saw what the story was about" Sonia muttered under her breath

"you were amazing Gracie" Mike smiled handing her his biscuit

"thank you daddy"

"right come on lets go home" Kate smiled walking up to the teacher to check Grace out.

That evening Kate was tucking Grace in.

"was I a super star" she asked

"you were fabulous although when you do it tomorrow why don't we tone down the shining okay."

"but I am the brightest star in the sky leading the kings to the baby jesus" she said

"i know but you don't need to be as bright okay"

"okay mummy" Grace yawned rolling on to her side

"night sweet" Kate said kissing the top of her head heading out,

One down 2 to go and at least the primary school had forgone the recorder recital that had been in previous years. With Grace being a over enthusiastic star Kate didn't think she would have been able to handle a squeaky out of tune version of O' little town of Bethlehem

so hope you like Graces Nativity! and Grace trying to steel the lime-light. the carols she is singing wrong are what my uncle used to sing when i was a kid. "little donkey on the M25" (the M25 is the big motorway around London) and "Whilst Shepard's washed their socks by night all watching ITV the angel of the lord came down and turned to BBC" i dont know if you in oz have crude versions of the carols but we all ways laugh about this this time of year.

enjoy