I don't own Home Alone

Enjoy!


The drive over to school had proven to be a bit of a challenge. Peter McCallister hadn't expected for there to be a lot of traffic, but he was glad that they were going to make the pageant in time. Becky had been looking at the time on the car's radio nonstop, hoping that eight o'clock was not going to strike anytime soon. She trusted her father's navigation but she was feeling a bit impatient. She needed to give the backstage and the lights a second check before the show started. She was glad that she was able to have finished the check-up the week before and she hoped that everything stayed in its place during that time.

"Here we are," Peter announced to his family as he parked at the school's parking lot. Next to them, Uncle Frank and Aunt Leslie parked their car and the families headed into the school.

Becky and Kevin slipped away from the group and headed backstage where the other students were gathered. They wore a dark red and yellow garment and held electric candles in their hands. "Let's get you settled, Kevin," Becky said as she helped her brother get into the garment. She fixed his tie and hair and lastly handed him the electric candle. "Nervous?" she asked with a smile upon her lips.

Kevin didn't want to admit it, but he felt a bit of hesitation. He didn't want to make a fool out of himself in front of his parents, let alone a bunch of strangers that had come to see their children perform. "A little," he said to her, "when do I begin singing again?" he asked her.

Becky had a feeling that Kevin would ask her this. The choir had practiced this plenty of times but it was normal to get stage fright and forget your part. "You will begin singing the moment Mrs. Hayes looks over to you. Just remember that and you will do great."

Just then, the school's choir conductor, Mr. Fueller, hurried over to the group of students and reiterated to them about the flow of the music and what they were supposed to be looking for when he conducted. In the meantime, Becky was rechecking the backstage lighting and making sure that all of the props were in their proper places. She gently shook a fake cardboard Christmas tree and ensure that it was tightly in space. The last thing the school needed was a catastrophe to happen after all of the hard work that they had put into the pageant.

"Alright everyone," Mr. Fueller said to the group, "get in your places. Becky make sure that the light is on everyone," he said to her before he made his way out of the backstage.

As the students found their places, Becky fixed the headlight fixture and the light shined on everyone that stood on the bleachers. Everyone faced forward and held the electric candles in front of them. "Ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Fueller's voice announced as he looked at the audience. "Thank you for coming to tonight's Christmas pageant. Through the amount of weeks it has taken to put on this show, I am proud to say that our students are looking forward in presenting their rendition of 'My Christmas Tree.'"

Upon those words, Becky pulled onto the stage rope next to her and the curtains were pulled apart, presenting the row of students that stood proudly on the bleachers. Megan had asked her why she hadn't considered being part of the pageant. Becky had replied that she was, just only backstage. She didn't want to think of the idea of singing in front of an audience and she wasn't as harmonious as the others were. Before long, Mrs. Hayes began playing the gentle melody of the music and Mr. Fueller began to conduct the choir.

Christmas Tree, my Christmas Tree

Lit up like a star

When I see my Christmas Tree

Can loved ones be far?

Christmas Tree I'm certain, wherever I roam

The glow from your branches will light my way home

So far so good Becky thought as she looked from backstage. Everyone was saying the right lyrics, the group was harmonious, and the lighting beautifully shined upon the group. Just then, Mrs. Hayes looked up from her piano and over to Kevin. "Come on Kevin," Becky whispered, "you got this."

Christmastime means laughter

To buckets in the snow

Becky would have started cheering backstage but she knew that it would cause a disturbance with the music. She was just so happy for Kevin who nailed his part. He had been so hesitant before but now that he was doing it, she wanted to run up to him and give him a hug. Just then, laughter from the audience made its way to Becky's ears. What was so funny? Kevin was doing a great job! Looking up, she noticed Buzz had taken a student's electric candle and was holding it behind Kevin's ears and then using his head as if he was playing drums.

Caroling together

With faces of love

Poor guy was confused on what was happening and why the audience was laughing at him. Kevin knew that he was singing the right lyrics. So what was the audience laughing at. Just finish this and hope that it will be over soon he thought to himself.

Stockings on the mantel, a wreath on the door

And my merriest Christmas

Means just one thing more

That was over, but Kevin had his suspicions. Turning around, he caught glimpse of Buzz moving the electric candles away from him and looking forward. Enraged, Kevin pulled his arm back and gave Buzz a hard push. Kevin was surprised that the force of the push caused not only Buzz to fall down but it also created a domino effect and caused all the other students to fall.

Backstage, Becky pinched the bridge of her nose as she watched what was happening. So much for the school's Christmas production to finish on a good note. Before she knew it, the cardboard Christmas tree fell forward and hit Mrs. Hayes, causing her to fall out of her chair and onto the floor. "Geeze!" Becky yelled.

"KEVIN!" she heard her mother yell from the audience and at that, Becky quickly pulled on the stage rope as the curtains hid Kevin from the audience.

Kevin quickly climbed down the bleachers and ran over to Becky. "You saw what happened!" Kevin defended himself against Becky, "Buzz started it!"

Becky gave him a gentle pat on his arm and nodded her head. Buzz had provoked Kevin to the point where he was going to retaliate and knowing Kevin, he wasn't shy on doing that. "Let's get out of here Kevin," she said to him and taking him by the hand, the two of them slipped away from backstage and into the school's hallways. Before the show had started, Becky had noticed Allison in the audience and from the catastrophe that had just happened, Becky was looking forward to see what she had written about the pageant.

However, the only priority right now was to get Kevin away from Buzz before another fight broke out between them.