Christmas was drawing closer, and over at Birchwood Elementary, everyone was called to assembly. Principal Clyde stood up front.
"As you may already know," he announced. "Christmas will soon be upon us. That is why the Sparkyville Theater has organised Christmas plays, and we are all to organise different ways Christmas is celebrated, including Kwanza, Hanukkah, and the birth of Baby Jesus."
Everyone cheered.
"Oh, I hope to get the role I want." said Sally.
"I can sing some carols." Harold Angel said.
"Hence," continued Principal Clyde. "I want you all to practice what plays you want to be in."
So that lunch, Harold Angel started to practice his singing. Sally watched on with wonder.
"So beautiful." Sally sighed to herself.
Meanwhile, over at Sparkyville Middle School, one of the classes Emerald took was music class. She was to sing in a choir. The song she and her music class were going to sing was Jingle Bells.
"From the top." Mis Treble called.
The kids sang the right words… Emerald started to sing louder.
"Oooooh! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Mr. Claus is dead!
Hit his head on a sled so red, and ended up in bed…."
Miss Treble grabbed Emerald's hand and pulled her out of the choir.
"Miss Green!" said Miss Treble.
"What?!" Emerald said. "I was singing the right words!"
"You were singing about Kris Kringle being dead." said Miss Treble.
"Oh." Emerald sighed.
"If you're going to sing the wrong words, saying stuff like how Santa had died, I may have to find someone else to sing in your place."
"Oh. Alright then." sighed Emerald.
When lunch break was over, Harold Angel practiced some more of his singing. Sally listened.
"He sings so beautifully." She thought.
Harold Angel looked toward everyone else. Among the other kids was Mimi, singing We Wish you a Merry Christmas.
"Wow! Her singing is just as good!" Harold Angel thought.
"But not as lovely as yours." Sally said, remembering the time Mimi went to Linus' birthday party one year.
"Thanks." said Harold Angel. "But still, Mimi sings beautifully."
"Thank you." said Mimi. "My mom's a singer too."
When it was time to go home for the day, Harold Angel was making his way home, practicing his singing. Sally walked along with him.
"Mind if I listen to your songs, my Sweet Angel?" asked Sally.
"Not at all, Sally." said Harold Angel. "I can prove to everyone that I can sing like an angel."
"That's a wondrous idea, Harold." said Sally.
They both stopped outside the Browns' house, and there was Charlie Brown, who had also finished school for the day.
"Hey, Sally. Hey, Harold." said Charlie Brown.
"Hey, Big Brother." said Sally. "Say, you wouldn't mind if I went over to Harold's house for a bit, would you?"
"Not at all." said Charlie Brown. "Hope he does well in this year's Christmas pageant."
"Thanks, Charlie Brown." said Harold Angel. "Come on, Sweet Butterfly."
Harold Angel took Sally over to his place, and there was Isabelle, holding Angela in her arms.
"Hey, Mom." said Harold Angel. "Hi, Angela."
"Hey, Mrs. Angel." said Sally.
"Sally. Mrs. Angel is formal. You can call me Isabelle if you want."
"Okay, Mrs. Angel."
"Sally's come over to hear my singing." said Harold Angel. "I want to be in the Birchwood Elementary Choir."
"Isn't that sweet?" said Isabelle.
"Come on, Sally." said Harold Angel. "We're going to my room."
"Okay." said Sally.
Harold Angel and Sally got to his room, and Harold cleared his throat.
"Ready?" asked Sally.
Harold Angel stood up, and sang Silent Night. Sally listened with wonder, and was enamoured by Harold Angel's singing.
"So beautiful!" Sally swooned.
"You like it?" Harold Angel asked.
"Like it? I love it!" said Sally. "It's so exquisite! You'll make a wonderful singer!"
"Thanks." said Harold Angel. "Anymore songs you'd like me to sing?"
"The most wonderful time of the year." Sally decided.
"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Harold Angel began.
Over at the Browns' place, Eudora came over.
"Oh. Hey, Eudora." said Charlie Brown.
"Hi, Charles." said Eudora. "Do you know where Sally is?"
"Sally's at Harold Angel's place." said Charlie Brown.
"She must really love Harold Angel's singing, huh?" said Eudora. "Well, thanks, Charles."
Eudora left the Browns' house, and was on her way to the Angels' place. When she was almost there, Eudora heard some beautiful singing.
"Wow! That song is so beautiful!" Eudora said to herself.
Eudora snuck in, and walked up to Harold's room, where Sally sat, swooning to Harold Angel's song.
"Wow! So beautiful!" Eudora exclaimed.
Harold Angel heard the voice.
"Thanks….."
Harold Angel turned to see…..
"Eudora? What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for Sally." said Eudora. "Charles told me she'd be here. I have my own part in a Christmas play."
"Oh. Well, here I am." said Sally. "Listening to the beautiful songs sung by my Sweet Angel here."
"I came to see if you're ready to practice for your part." Eudora said.
"Let Harold Angel sing one more song for today, then I'll come." Sally decided.
Tommy was making his way home. He was going to decorate his model train set with fake snow to make it look Christmassy.
"Jingle Bells, Emerald smells, Scarlet flew away.
Their automobile broke a wheel, Tommy's come to play, hey!"
As Tommy arrived, there was Katie the Little Pigtailed Girl.
"Hey, Cuz." said Katie.
"Oh. Hi, Katie." said Tommy.
"What were you singing there?" asked Katie.
"Just getting ready for the Christmas pageant that's coming soon." said Tommy.
"Oh, I hope you do well there, Tommy!" said Katie. "And I hope to watch you in the play."
"Thanks, Cuz." said Tommy. "Now, I have some decorating to do."
As Tommy had said this, Emerald had arrived home, telling her folks all about what she was going to do.
"Miss Treble said I wasn't singing the right lyrics to Jingle Bells!" huffed Emerald.
"Exactly what words were you singing?" asked Anya.
"I was just singing Jingle Bells, Mr. Claus is dead." Emerald explained.
"Those aren't the right words." said Anya. "You won't get any Christmas presents if you sing the carol like that."
"The truth hurts sometimes." said Riley.
"Take it from the top, Emerald." said Anya.
"If I must." said Emerald.
Anya handed Emerald a page from the daily newspaper that day to show her the true lyrics to every Christmas carol that has ever been sung.
"Okay. I'll give it a go." said Emerald.
The next day, at Birchwood Elementary, Harold Angel was ready to practice some more of his singing. Just before it was time for class…..
"Let's hear it." said Sally.
"Okay." said Harold Angel.
Harold Angel started to sing, but his voice rasped, and took away his ability to sing.
"Harold?" Sally asked. "What happened to your voice?"
Harold Angel tried to explain, but his throat was too sore for him to do so.
"Good grief!" cried Sally. "Looks like a trip to the nurse's office for you, my Sweet Angel."
So Harold Angel took his stuff and made it to the nurse's office.
"If it isn't Harold Angel." said Mrs. Schaffel, the school nurse. "What seems to be the problem?"
Harold Angel opened his mouth and pointed to his throat.
"Let me see about that throat of yours." said Mrs. Schaffel.
Harold Angel sat on the chair, and Mrs. Schaffel looked into Harold Angel's throat.
"No. It's not tonsillitis." she said.
"What seems…." croaked Harold Angel.
"By the looks of it, it's just swollen." said Mrs. Schaffel. "See if you can sing."
"La…" Harold Angel croaked. "LAAAAA!"
Good grief!" Mrs. Schaffel exclaimed. "It's swollen. I'm afraid you'll have to miss a week of school."
"Will I be able to sing in the Christmas pageant next week?" asked Harold Angel.
"I don't know. I really don't know." said Mrs. Schaffel. "You'd best go home. I'll tell your mother to pick you up."
"Oh….." Harold Angel groaned.
After Mrs. Schaffel called the Angel residence, Harold Angel stood outside Birchwood Elementary, and waited for his mother to pick him up to take him home.
"Harold Angel?" Mrs. Cooper called.
Sally looked out the window and saw Harold Angel waiting outside as a car pulled up to take him home.
"He's going home." Sally said.
"Oh." said Mrs. Cooper. "I'll put him down as absent."
"I hope he feels better before this year's Christmas pageant." Sally thought.
That afternoon, when school was over, Sally and Eudora went together.
"So Harold Angel went home early, has he?" asked Eudora.
"I told him to see the school nurse." said Sally. "So we'll stop by to see how he is."
Sally stopped outside her house to see Charlie Brown, who had just come home.
"Hey, Sally." said Charlie Brown. "Hi, Eudora."
"Hey, Big Brother." said Sally. "We're going to Harold Angel's house again."
"He's got a sore throat as Sally told me." said Eudora.
"Well, hope he'll feel well in time for the pageant." said Charlie Brown.
As Sally and Eudora left, Charlie Brown went out back to feed Snoopy.
"Hey, Snoopy." said Charlie Brown.
"Huh?" quizzed Snoopy.
"Sally's gone to Harold Angel's house again." said Charlie Brown. "He's got a sore throat."
"Hmm….." Snoopy pondered.
Snoopy ate up his meal and went into his doghouse to dress as a surgeon.
"There goes the World-Famous Surgeon." sighed Charlie Brown.
Fifi saw the World-Famous Surgeon and agreed to become a nurse and follow him to wherever he was going. Heather Wold saw this, and wondered what her dog was up to.
"There goes the World-Famous Nurse." Heather said to herself.
"What are you talking about, Big Sistaw?" asked Henry.
"The nurse is following the World-Famous Surgeon." said Heather.
Sally arrived at the Angels' place and went up to see Harold Angel.
"Hello, Sweet Angel." said Sally. "What did the nurse say?"
Harold Angel got a whiteboard and wrote on it.
"Oh, just a sore throat." said Sally. "I know just the thing for sore throats."
Harold Angel was worried.
"After all," Sally said. "I've always wanted to be a nurse when I grow up. I like the white shoes the nurses wear."
As Sally was about to start on Harold Angel, Snoopy and Fifi arrived.
"Here they are." sighed Sally. "The World-Famous Nurse and the World-Famous Surgeon. What are they up to now?"
Snoopy got out a stethoscope to check Harold Angel's heart rate.
"Hmm….." Snoopy thought.
"Heart rate seems normal." Sally said to herself. "It's just a sore throat. I'll leave you to it."
Sally left the Angels' house to go on home. On her way, Sally wondered what to do if Harold Angel couldn't sing in the choir.
"I might have to fill in for him." Sally thought.
As Sally got home, she saw Charlie Brown practicing what he wanted to do in the Christmas play.
"What are you doing, Big Brother?" asked Sally.
"I've been a director for too long." Charlie Brown said. "So I'm going to try and be every animal in the play."
"Just like Snoopy was once." Sally remembered.
Charlie Brown started to waddle like a penguin, moo like a cow, and baa like a sheep.
"Just like our dog." Sally thought.
Snoopy checked on Harold Angel some more, and Fifi fluffed his pillow.
"Mm hmm." Fifi nodded.
Snoopy and Fifi decided they'd done enough work on Harold Angel for one day, and made their way home.
"Thanks, Nurse and Surgeon." Harold Angel rasped.
The next day, Sally came to visit Harold Angel just before she could go to school.
"Feeling any better, my Sweet Angel?" asked Sally.
Harold Angel shook his head.
"If you can't sing in the choir," Sally said. "Then I'll have to find someone else to sing for you."
Sally decided to try and sing herself.
"Jingle Bells, Lucy smells, Sally's on her way." Sally sang.
Sally arrived at school, and much to her surprise…
"The ones who'll be singing in this year's Birchwood Elementary choir are…" Mrs. Cooper said.
"Please be me!" Sally begged.
"Lydia Schaffel, Eudora Holtzman, Tapioca Pudding, Harold Angel, Trinity Melendez, Russell Anderson, Mimi Forsyth, Clive Davidson, and…."
"Come on!"
"Cormac Roberts!"
"What?! Oh, good grief!" groaned Sally. "I wanted to fill in for Harold Angel!"
"Sally!" said Mrs. Cooper. "I have a part for you."
"Don't tell me…." Sally feared.
"You have to be the angel with one word; Hark."
"Oh, good grief!" groaned Sally.
Sally remembered to pluck up courage.
"I'd like to fill in for Harold Angel." Sally said. "Unless he gets better in time for the Christmas pageant."
"That's a wise decision, Sally." decided Mrs. Cooper.
"Yay!"
When Sally got home that evening, she told Charlie and Wally Brown all about it.
"Brothers! I got a part!" she cried.
"What part, Big Sistaw?" asked Wally.
"I get to say 'Hark' as an angel, and sing in the choir." said Sally.
"That's good, I suppose." said Charlie Brown. "But may I ask you, Sally. What makes you think you'll sing like an angel?"
"Well, Big Brother." Sally said. "Do you remember when Snoopy almost married Genevieve?"
Snoopy overheard and sulked.
"I was the singer of the songs." said Sally. "While Schroeder was the music player, as you expect."
"I remember all too well." said Charlie Brown.
Soon came the day before the Christmas Pageant. Sally was making her way to school, and she came to see Harold Angel on her way.
"Feeling any better?" asked Sally.
Harold Angel shook his head.
"Not to worry, my Sweet Angel." Sally said. "If you don't feel any better tomorrow, I'll take your place in the choir."
Harold Angel looked delighted.
"Well, I'll see you again soon, my Sweet Angel." said Sally.
The evening of the Christmas Pageant arrived, many students from Birchwood Elementary and Sparkyville Middle School were there. And Sally was getting herself ready. She was dressed as an angel.
"Hockey Stick!" Sally shouted.
"That's not your line!" shouted Eudora. "Your line is Hark."
"Oh yeah." Sally said, remembering when she messed up her line.
"Don't worry, Sally." said Eudora. "All it takes is practice."
"If only Harold Angel hadn't gotten that sore throat." worried Sally.
Among the other performers were Charlie Brown, who was to be a penguin, Polly as the sheep, Floyd as the shepherd, Shermy as Joseph, Violet as Mary, Linus as another shepherd, Janice as the shepherd's wife, and Lucy as director.
"At least I'm not a shepherd this year." Shermy said to himself.
"Are you comfortable in there, Lambcake?" asked Floyd.
"I'm alright in here." said Polly. "At least the fleece on this sheep costume is keeping me cosy."
"That's good, Lambcake." said Floyd. "We'll be ready."
Everyone who wasn't attending the Christmas pageant was taking their seats. Frieda sat in her seat next to Katie.
"Your cousin is part of our middle school's choir." Frieda said to Katie. "I'm not taking part of this, since Lucy never told me whether or not the innkeeper's wife had naturally curly hair."
"I hope my cousin sings well here." said Katie.
At last, it was time for the first act. The act was the choir from Sparkyville Middle School. Among the choir were Tommy Halverson, Scarlet, Emerald, Pierre, Violette, Lila, Heather Johnson, Mary Jo, Mary Stewart, Thibault, Patty Swanson, Lindsey, Franklin, and Pig-Pen.
"Oh! He's on!" Frieda cried.
The song the students were singing was Jingle Bells.
"Aw, Emerald sings like an angel." Riley said to Anya.
"Right now, she is." said Anya. "I hope she keeps up this good streak."
But she didn't. Emerald started to sing out loud.
"Ooooooh! Jingle Bells, Tommy smells, Rita flew away!
Sniffy and Fluffy broke their legs, and Violet got awa…."
Emerald was immediately snatched by her left arm and taken out of the choir.
"Hey!" shouted Riley. "What did they do to our Emerald?!"
Thibault started singing something insulting too.
"Jingle Bells, Robin smells, Batman laid some eggs!
Lost his pants down in France, leaving him bare le…."
This got Thibault pulled out of the choir too.
"Darn it!" grunted Theodore, Thibault's father.
Soon, Jingle Bells was complete, and everyone applauded.
"You did wonderful, Tommy!" cheered Frieda. "Frieda loves you!"
"Except for that girl who likes picking on him." Katie feared.
"And Mr. Thibault." added Frieda.
After the Christmas choir from Sparkyville Middle School, it was time for Peppermint Patty, Marcie and Roy to portray the different holidays that were Celebrated in December. Peppermint Patty portrayed Hanukkah, Marcie portrayed Christmas, while Roy portrayed Kwanza.
"Are you ready for this, Marcie?" asked Peppermint Patty.
"I've practiced a good amount, Sir." said Marcie. "Did you memorise your lines?"
"I sure did, Marcie." said Peppermint Patty. "How about you, Roy?"
"Yes. I have." said Roy.
"Come on, Sir, Roy. Let's get on stage." Marcie said.
"Marcie. For as long as we're doing this play, don't call me 'Sir'. It's Hanukkah." Peppermint Patty said.
"Okay, Sir Hanukkah." Marcie corrected herself.
Peppermint Patty rolled her eyes at this.
After Marcie and Peppermint Patty had finished their performance, it was time for the birth of Baby Jesus to go on.
Meanwhile, over at the Angels' place, Harold Angel felt a miracle happen.
"I hope Sally's doing well without….."
This was where Harold Angel made the realisation.
"Good grief! My throat! It's all better!"
Harold Angel jumped out of bed.
"Mom! Dad! Angela!" Harold Angel cried.
"Harold?" Isabelle exclaimed.
"You sound much better!" added Kenneth. "It's a miracle!"
"A Christmas miracle at that!" added Harold Angel. "That means I can sing!"
Harold Angel started to sing It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
"That means I can….."
Harold Angel made another realisation.
"Good grief! The Christmas pageant! I gotta get going!"
And Harold Angel put on his coat and hat, and darted for Sparkyville Theater.
Just as the Jesus story had finished, Sally, dressed as an angel, was held by a fishing rod, and was ready to utter her line.
"Don't mess it up." Sally thought.
And then, Sally took a deep breath, and uttered…
"Hark!"
Everyone was surprised. The same girl who had messed up her line some years ago had said her line correctly.
"That was wonderful!" came a voice.
Sally looked among the audience. The voice belonged to…
"Harold Angel! You've made it!"
"That was fantastic!" Harold Angel cheered.
Sally was lowered down, and Harold Angel stepped on stage.
"My Sweet Angel! You've made it!" Sally said. "How are you?"
"I feel much better, thank you!" said Harold Angel. "I can hark, I can talk, and I can SIIIIIIING!"
The choir from Birchwood Elementary stepped out, and were also surprised to see Harold Angel.
"Harold Angel! You're better!" cried Mimi.
"I sure am!" said Harold Angel.
"Now you can sing with us!" said Lydia.
"I sure can….. whatever your name is." Harold Angel said.
"Well tonight, I'm Jemima. Yesterday, I was Dulcie, but I also like Roxanne."
"Good grief!" groaned Linus from out back. "She's at it again!"
"Well, count me in…. Jemima!" Harold Angel cheered.
Harold Angel looked out towards the crowd, and among them were her parents and sister.
"Do it for your folks, Son!" called Isabelle.
So Harold Angel joined the choir. He then stood out front.
"Join the choir, Sally." Harold Angel said.
"Sure thing!" said Sally.
Sally stood right beside Harold Angel and the choir began to sing.
"Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With th' angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Christ, by highest heav'n adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail th' incarnate Deity
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel."
After Harold Angel had sung, it was time for Sally sing her line.
"Hark! The Harold Angel sings
Glory to the newborn King!
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that we no more may die
Born to raise us from the earth
Born to give us second birth
Hark! The Harold Angel sings
Glory to the newborn King!"
Everyone applauded. And the entire school bowed.
"Thank you! Thank you, everyone!" Harold Angel called out. "I couldn't have done it without my sweet butterfly!"
Sally just blushed at this.
Some days later, Christmas Day had arrived. Sally found something exciting under the tree.
"Oh, I wonder what Harold Angel got me!" Sally said as she opened the gift.
It was….. a plush of Harold Angel as a literal angel.
"Aw! My sweet angel!"
As Sally said this, and before Charlie Brown could open his gift…
"Merry Christmas, Sweet Butterfly!" Harold Angel called.
"Oh, Harold Angel!" Sally said. "Thank you so much for this!"
"No. Thank you, Sally." said Harold Angel. "If it weren't for you, our choir would've been a bust."
"Oh, My sweet angel!" Sally said as she got up, and leaned towards Harold Angel. What neither of them realised was that Woodstock was flying above them, holding mistletoe in his talons.
"Kiss him, you blockhead!" shouted Charlie Brown.
"You got it, Big Brother!" smiled Sally as she tickled Harold Angel's chin, and kissed him right on the mouth.
"Happy Christmas, Sweet Angel!"
"Happy Christmas, Sweet Butterfly!"
Janice was making her way to Linus' house to spend Christmas with him. She peeped through the Browns' window and noticed Sally kissing Harold Angel.
"Oh, Linus will love this!" Janice thought.
And then she spoke out loud.
"Happy Christmas, everyone!"