Christmas Eve

Norman knelt in front of Sammy and adjusted the little boy's tie. "All ready?" Norman asked.

"I-I-I-I c-c-c-can't d-d-d-do th-th-this," Sammy said.

"Are you sure?" Norman said.

Sammy nodded his head while tears slid down his cheeks.

Norman sat on the floor. "Come here," he said to Sammy, patting his legs. Sammy curled up on Norman's lap, laying his head on Norman's shoulder.

"Do you like bugs?" Norman asked.

Sammy nodded.

"I do, too," Norman said. He patted Sammy's shoulder. "My favorite bug is the South Pacific Tree Lobster. You know why?"

Sammy shook his head.

"The South Pacific Tree Lobster's skeleton is on the outside of its body. That makes it so tough it can't be squashed. Isn't that cool?"

Sammy's eyes lit up and he smiled.

"This is what I want you to do," Norman said. "When you're speaking your part, if you get scared, you pretend you're a South Pacific Tree Lobster. You're unsquashable. Can you do that?"

"I can try," Sammy said.

"You'll do it," Norman said. He raised his arms, opening and closing his hands to imitate lobster claws. "Unsquashable."

Sammy imitated Norman's hands and laughed. "Unsquashable," he said.

Drew came into the room. "Everyone ready?" he asked.

Norman patted Sammy's back. Sammy got off Norman's lap and they stood up.

"We are now," Norman said.

Drew left the dressing room and walked to the front of the church. "Good evening, everyone," he said. "On behalf of the Washington Street Children's Home, welcome to our presentation of 'Let Heaven and Nature Sing'."

The overhead lights went off and a single light showed over the stable. Rita and Norman led the children to their positions. Drew helped Sarah climb the stairs to the platform above the stable and fastened the door securely. Sammy stepped up to the podium. Drew, Rita, and Norman sat down on the front pew. Oliver, Shane, Joe, and Bill occupied the pew behind them.

"A long time ago, a man named Joseph and a woman named Mary had to take a trip so they could pay their taxes," Sammy said. He looked at Norman. Norman nodded. The play continued.

Oliver was spellbound by the simple beauty of the dialogue. Rita had kept the same basic passages as the play he wrote for Hannah, but the words conveyed the wonder of children as they told the nativity story. Oliver reached up and wiped his eyes with two fingers. Shane slipped her arm into his and held his hand.

The pageant had a few comical moments. When Matthew, the shepherd, said "Come on! Let's go see the baby," and started walking down the aisle to the manger, the leash from the 'sheep' dog tangled around his feet and he nearly fell. When the wise men presented their gifts, Adam dropped the 'gold' into the manger.

Norman and Rita held hands and squeezed them tightly. It was time. Time for Sammy to read his poem. Sammy looked at the script and opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Norman cleared his throat gently. Sammy looked at him. Norman lifted his hands and made the lobster claws.

Sammy squared his shoulders and began. "Welcome baby Jesus. We're glad you've come to earth. Welcome baby Jesus. We celebrate your birth. Welcome baby Jesus. We have a song to sing. Welcome baby Jesus. You are our newborn King."

The entire cast started singing Joy to the World. The brightest smile among the children belonged to a small boy named Sammy, who had conquered his fear and spoke normally.

Enthusiastic applause filled the sanctuary. Drew joined the children and the clapping slowly ceased.

"We hope you enjoyed our performance as much as we liked bringing it to you," Drew said. "I'd like to introduce our players. Children, please step forward when I call your name. Mary - Carrie. Angel - Sarah. Angel Choir - Michelle, Laura, and Josie. Joseph - Danny. Shepherds - Matthew and George. Wise Men - Adam, Mark, and Robby. Narrator - Sammy.

"Our special thanks to Norman and Rita Dorman for their coaching and the costumes, and Bill Haywith and Joseph O'Toole for the stable.

"Now, for a very special announcement. We always thought that the goal of the new children's home on Bainbridge Island would take many years to achieve."

Drew paused a moment for effect.

"Thanks to the O'Toole Foundation, the home is no longer a dream . . . " Drew whipped the cover off the poster. "It's a reality."

Loud cheers and applause filled the sanctuary for several minutes until Drew raised his hands for silence.

"Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring next year," Drew said.

Drew looked at the children and then around the audience. "This is truly a blessed Christmas," he said. "For the gift of Christmas - Jesus. For these special children. Because of you, our dear friends. Thank you, we love you, and Merry Christmas!"

The crowd moved to leave the sanctuary. Oliver, Shane, and Joe slipped quietly away from the happy throng and left from a side door. They stood in the entry, putting on their coats when Rita ran up.

"Norman and I need a favor," Rita said. "Could you come to our house tomorrow at four in the afternoon?"

"Of course," Oliver said.

"What's going on?" Shane asked.

"We have a surprise," Rita said.