Chapter 32: Christmas Pageant!
ONE AND A HALF MONTHS LATER!
It is that time of the year again. The school, yet again, has organized a spectacular Christmas pageant that the Seville family is eagerly waiting to see. Tom, Vince, and Mary are going to sing with the rest of their class a few Christmas carols. This year is special, however, Mary-Anne will be singing her first solo chorus in one of the carols. There is one problem, though. She hadn't told anyone that she is completely nervous about doing this solo act.
While she was very flattered when the teacher discovered her talent for singing, she wasn't entirely sure that she could or would able to pull off solo singing in front of the whole audience. Since she didn't want to disappoint anyone she had agreed, knowing that her parents were part of the singing group, which was famous all over the world. Thus, she was aware that the pressure was on her, for performing well tonight.
The little Chipette with blue eyes and brown braided pigtails slowly looked up from the back seat. She first glanced at her father, who was driving the family car, then moved her gaze to her mother as on the passenger side talking about how well her sister Brittany is doing with her pregnancy. Her aunt had found out last week that she was carrying not one but two babies.
Mary looked over to her left to see her brothers Tom and Vincent. Both of them were as usual fighting for their own personal space in the back seat.
"BOYS! Stop that!" Simon bellowed. He can see all three of his children in the rear view mirror, very clearly. "There is enough room back there for both of you. Now, we are almost at the school, so behave."
'Almost at the school...' Mary thought to herself, 'Almost time to be humiliated on stage...' She let out a sigh and looked up at the window on her right. There she saw a familiar figure. One that has always been with her from the first moment she could remember. Mary always had been unsure where she came from, but she always pondered on it. She is aware that this image of an angel is connected to her in some way.
The face belonged to a human female she had brown hair; her eyes were also brown, in the aura of something around her, they were soft, as if they were seeking. Oddly enough she always found comfort in seeing image by her side. It made her feel safe and confident, even if it was for a moment.
Jeanette turned on the car radio in order to listen to some Christmas tunes. The station on the radio was already playing just the instrumental version of "Jingle Bells". Suddenly Vincent grins mischievously before he started to sing...
"Jingle Bells, Batman smells,
Robin laid an egg..."
"VINCENT!!" Simon crows, while Jeanette stifles a giggle.
"What?" Vincent asks innocently.
"That is an inappropriate song." Growled his father.
"Why? All the kids in class are singing it..."
Simon opened his mouth to reply, but Jeanette stopped him. "Simon, please. Just drop it."
Deciding that his wife is right, Simon let out a defeating sigh and looked up at his rear view mirror. There he saw the image of his son, Vincent grinning from ear to ear back at him. He knows cockily that has won that argument and is being quit arrogant to his dad about it. Simon shakes his head over the whole issue, but before turning his attention back to the road he notices his daughter looking quite nervous. He made a mental note to talk to her in private before she goes on stage.
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FIVE MINUTES LATER!
After arriving at the school Simon, Jeanette and the triplets met up with Alvin, Brittany, Eleanor, Theodore, and Dave, whom all drove up in another vehicle. Brittany is now looking much larger then before. She is almost as big as Jeanette was when she was carrying the triplets.
The Seville family made their way inside the school and headed for the auditorium. Once there, Simon took the triplets back stage to be united with their classmates. Simon held Mary back as Vince and Tom ran ahead.
"Mary, is there something on your mind tonight?" He asks her in a calm soothing tone.
"I'm fine, daddy. Why?" Mary replies innocently.
"Well, it's just that you seem to look a bit uncomfortable in the car. I was just wondering if you were feeling alright." Simon said, trying to get her to understand that he is here to talk about her issues.
Mary sensed that her father is trying to help, so she takes a deep breath before telling him. "I'm afraid that I might make a fool of myself on stage, and embarrass you along with the rest of the family tonight."
"Awe, sweetheart." He hugged her, "You shouldn't be afraid of such things. I will always be proud of you no matter what. And that goes the same with the rest of the family." Simon cocked his head where her brothers were. "Tell you what, I'll let you on a little secret, ok."
"Ok."
"I too was once afraid to perform on stage."
"You were?" Mary asked in disbelief.
"Yes, it's true. Lets just say my first experience on stage hasn't been at all that great." Simon shrugged off. "But with some support with my brothers and Dave, my next experience on stage wasn't that bad. In fact, I did quit well. The whole thing was even televised."
"Wow. And you weren't nervous?"
"Are you kidding? I was a complete wreck." Simon chuckled. "But with a lot of support I got from the family, I overcame my fears."
"I just hope I won't let you down tonight." Mary says.
Simon leans forward and kisses his daughter on the forehead. "You will do just fine. Trust me." He whispers to her. "Now go on. Join your brothers and your classmates. I'll be in the front row with the rest of the family. Oh, and don't forget to break a leg." Simon concludes with a wink.
"Why would you want me to break my leg?" Mary wondered in concern.
Simon shook his head and let out a chuckle. "It's an expression of the theater, Mary. It means good luck."
"Oh. Thanks daddy." Mary smiled. She watches her father leave back stage to join the rest of the family in the audience before she turns to join her classmates to prepare for their turn on stage.
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TWENTY MINUTES LATER...Bored out of his mind, Vincent found himself looking up at a picture that had Santa in his sled, with eight reindeer and Rudolph pulling it. After looking at the picture long enough he suddenly realized something.
"Man, what's with Rudolph's nose?" Cried Vincent.
"Where did that come from?" Tom replied.
"That picture, look. Don't you find something odd with Rudolph's nose?"
Tom glances up at the picture that Vince had been looking at. After a moment, Tom then looks back to his strange brother, rather strangely.
"I don't get it. Why is this such a big deal all of a sudden?"
"Oh come on. Don't you find a tad bit unnatural?" Vince asked.
Tom raised his eyebrow; giving him the look his father uses often when speculating something. "You do realize you're over reacting about a cartoon character, don't you?"
"Tom, I'm being serious."
"So am I. You've gone nuts."
"I saw this medical program on TV once and the showed this guy with this huge tumor on his nose. I swear he looked just like Rudolph..." Vincent let in a loud gasp after he connecting the two together. "What if the reason Rudolph's nose shines so bright is a result of a tumor?"
"That's it! I'm telling dad. No more medical shows for you."
Vince was about to say something, but didn't when he heard their sister letting out a nervous moan.
"Are you alright, Mary?" Vincent asked.
"No. I'm so nervous. I never sang on stage in front of so many people before. W-w-what if I freeze, a-a-and I'm unable to sing my lines?" Mary quivered; even the talk with her dad hadn't helped at all.
"Don't be nervous, Mary, we will be right there on stage with you." Vince said with a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Vincent's right Mary. We will be there to back you up." Tom added.
"Besides, I wouldn't worry Mary. You have the best voice in the entire class." Vince complemented.
"Really? You won't abandon if I suddenly humiliated everyone on stage?" Mary inquired.
Tom stepped up and placed his hand on her other shoulder. "Mary, the only person I would abandon is Vince here, whom apparently now thinks that Rudolph has a health condition on his nose." He finished by giving his brother a grim look.
"Hey, I'm only conducting theory's on why his nose is so big and red, not to mention why it glows all the time." Vince shrugged innocently. "Hmm, maybe it has something to do with radiation..." He adds in a pondering thought.
"Vinc-ent!" Tom growled.
Her brother's words brought some comfort to her uneasy feelings, even though she has no idea what they are talking about between Rudolph and his nose. Her ease suddenly turned into fear once more as soon as she heard the teacher's voice.
"Alright class. Line up, were next."
Mary swallowed a large lump in her throat; she could hear her own heart beating a mile a minute. 'The moment of truth.' She thought to herself.
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ON STAGE...The young chipmunks and their classmates walked on stage and got into position. The teacher sat at the piano. With a nod to her students, she began to play the music.
Rudolph the red nose reindeer,
had a very shiny nose,
and if you ever saw it,
you would even say it glowed.
As the class start singing, Tom suddenly couldn't keep his mind off of 'poor Rudolph's nose'. He looked over at his brother Vincent, who is singing the song with no problems.
All of the other reindeer,
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph,
join in any reindeer games.
Vincent realized Tom was looking at him and turned to face his younger brother. With a big grin, Vincent is able to tell Tom without words that he had got him. The whole thing about Rudolph having a tumours cancer on his nose was all a trick to get under Tom's skin.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Tom glares at Vince before continuing singing the song. Vincent, feeling mighty proud, raises his arms up and places his hands behind his head.
In the front row, Alvin looks puzzled. He leans over to his brother Simon. Simon is already shaking his head in disbelief.
Alvin then whispers, "What was that all about?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure after this is all over I'll find out." Simon answers in a monotone voice.
Then all the reindeer loved him,
as they shouted out with glee:
"Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,
you'll go down in history!"
"I'm going to hurt you for this, Vincent..." Tom mutters to his annoying brother while the audience cheers. Vinnie replies only with a chuckle.
Mary was hoping that their first song would have gone on a bit longer, but it ended far too soon for her. Timidly she took a step forward, her breaths quickened, and she could swear her heart was about to bust right out of her chest. Regardless of the pep talk she had with her father and brothers, she still felt uneasy with her first solo.
True it was only going to be a few lines, but it would be a few lines that could mean her reputation. Not to mention her family's reputation. Nervously, Mary looks down at her parents sitting with her Aunts, Uncles, and papa Dave. She was defiantly coming down from a popular family tree. The infamous Chipmunks and Chipettes sat proudly, waiting for the song to begin.
Her Aunts and Uncles, Theodore, Eleanor, Alvin and Brittany all held up their thumbs to her. With a nervous chuckle she raised her thumb back at them. Her papa Dave grinned proudly at his beloved grandchild. He wasn't surprised that at least one of his grandkids might follow in of his son's footprints as a child-singing star. Already he was thinking of maybe cutting her a record deal if she would be interested after this concert.
Jeanette beamed a smile from ear to ear. She couldn't wait to hear her daughter sing on stage. Lastly, Mary looked at her father. He can sense that she is still very nervous and is about to freeze. With a confident look, he mouths the words 'you can do it' at her.
Mary smiles at her father, knowing that he believes in her. But that wasn't the only reason why she is smiling. A ghostly image of an angelic spirit appears in front of Simon. It is apparent that only Mary can see this spirit, but it is an image she has always felt comfortable with. Feeling more confident now, Mary hears the music and begins to sing:
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in Heavenly peace!
sleep in Heavenly peace!
The audience cheers for the young Chipette's solo performance. Mary looked down once again at her family. Her mother and Aunties all have tears in their eyes. For Aunt Brittany it is more likely she is crying due to her hormones from the pregnancy. Her Uncles and father all smiled with pride as they clapped in sync along with her papa Dave along with the rest of the audience. She looked at down at her father again he gave her a confident wink.
Mary takes a step back to rejoin her classmates in singing the rest of the song:
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, Love's pure light
radiant beams from Thy Holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.
Finally, the class is ready to sing the last song before leaving the stage:
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer.
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some, so bring some right here.
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
As soon as the kids finished the song, the whole auditorium gave them all a standing obviation. Vincent and Tom both put their arms around their sister Mary to let her know that they are proud of her as well for not freezing up during her solo performance. She couldn't believe that she did it, all on her own. With a smile plastered on her face she joined her family.