One Christmas Eve

A flurry of snow floated into the church with Emmeline as she stepped over the threshold. Shaking off the cold, she hung up her coat in the lobby and entered the sanctuary. The room was a mess of decorations and props for the Christmas musical.

“Ah, Emmeline,” said Linda as she lifted her head from over a box full of Christmas decorations, “What brings you here?”

Emmeline smiled and shrugged as she approached the older woman. “I came to help.”

Mary came in as she said this and gave Emmeline a friendly pat on the shoulder. “I was praying we would have someone else help us,” she spoke with a twinkle in her eye, “Someone young who can climb a ladder if need be.”

Emmeline laughed softly. “I’m great with a ladder. What would you like me to do?”

“You know, sweetie, I’d love some music playing, if you know how to work the sound system,” replied Linda, as she worked at untangling a string of lights.

Emmeline nodded and slipped into the sound booth. The church was small and the sound booth just a cubby in the back corner. Emmeline knew her way around the volume controls, mixing panels and DVD and CD players well. She popped a Christmas album into the player and hit the play button.

“I tell you, Emmeline,” said Linda as soon as she emerged from the sound booth, “It sure is nice to have a young person so interested in helping out here.”

“Hm-hm,” agreed Mary, “There aren’t many, are there?”

“Well, you know the Joneses have those young kids,” Linda continued, “And Paxton kids are all in school aren’t they? Here, Emmeline, help me set this tree up.”

Emmeline quietly helped Linda sort through fake tree branches as the ladies continued their commentary on the young people. Most of the church’s congregation were middle aged and older. Many of the church’s children were grown up and not around much anymore.

“How’s your schooling coming along Emmeline?” asked Mary, as she fluffed up an angel’s wings.

“Um.. very well,” said Emmeline, then laughed, “I graduated in the spring, remember?”

“Oh, yes,” said Mary, laughing as well, “You’ll have to forgive an old lady’s memory, hon.”

Emmeline smiled as she hooked a branch into the trunk of the tree. “You’re not old, Mary.”

Mary laughed heartily. “Thanks, dear, but I’m nearly sixty-five.”

Emmeline shook her head. For someone who thought of herself as old, Mary was spry and lighthearted. Mary was the one who had organized this church decorating day. Pastor Gordon came out of his office a moment later and entered the sanctuary, his arms full of boxes.

“It’s looking good already ladies,” he said, unloading his arms into the back pew, “Emmeline, nice to have you. I have more lights here; you can set them up with the trees and trim the platform… whatever you think is good.”

Pastor Gordon left for the storage room to grab a ladder. Emmeline opened the boxes of lights.

As Pastor Gordon hung the decorations in tall places, the ladies worked on the small trees, wreaths, angels, bows, and a plethora of other decorations. Emmeline set up a beautiful nativity scene in the foyer. After the scene was put in place, she carefully weaved a string of lights through it to light up the faces of all the figurines. She smiled at her achievement, just as the door opened with a whisper of cold air. In walked David, toting a large cardboard box.

“Hey there, Emmeline,” he greeted, flashing a smile and walking past her into the sanctuary. He brought the box all the way to the stage, greeting the other two ladies as he did.

Emmeline followed David into the sanctuary. “Are those more props for the musical?”

“Yeah, and costumes. Just in time too, for a couple dress rehearsals,” he replied.

He opened the box and Emmeline pulled out a few items to look at them. There were angel costumes, complete with shiny halos, crowns for the wise men, and various others. Emmeline looked at David. He had turned to help Linda repair a string of lights.

David was a friend of Emmeline’s from school as well as church. He was one of the few young people that Linda and Mary were discussing earlier. He was one who was there when she needed him. From the time when the other kids at school teased her for not believing in Santa Claus, to when her grandmother died when she was seventeen.

“Well, I have to go run a few errands,” he was saying to Linda and Mary, “But I’ll be back.” He gave Emmeline a smile and a wave before heading out.

“Bye, David,” said Emmeline after him. She could hear pastor Gordon detaining David in the lobby.

“That David sure is a nice young man,” said Mary, “Reminds me of my Don when we first got married.”

“Hm-hm,” added Linda, “Young gentlemen like that are so hard to come by these days.”

Emmeline laughed as the ladies reminisced. She undertook the task of putting up the big tree on the stage. It was time consuming, but Emmeline liked the way the tree looked when it was done. Once she had the branches hooked on, she worked at fluffing them up. Emmeline hummed along with the music streaming through the speakers as she worked.

She stepped back to survey her work. Unsatisfied with the tilt and location of the tree, Emmeline worked her way through the branches to hold the trunk. After pushing and pulling, she had the tree closer to the wall. But as she pulled at the tree to straighten it, she heard a sharp crack and before she knew it, the tree gave in to the force and tumbled over. With a surprised gasp, Emmeline fell over with the tree and landed with a thud on the stage floor.

“Woah there!” came a familiar voice.

Emmeline looked over to see David, back from his errand and hurrying up the platform steps. She was lying flat now, the dusty tree crowding her with it’s needles. David grabbed hold of the tree, pulled it over and set it down next to her.

“What were you doing?” he asked as he took her hands and pulled her to her feet.

Emmeline could feel her cheeks flushing. “Um.. breaking a tree,” she responded with a little laughter.

David glanced down at the tree on the floor. “Looks like it’s just the stand.” His gaze met hers and he smiled down at her. “You okay?”

Emmeline nodded. “Yeah. Just a little scratched and a little dusty.”

David gently smoothed her ruffled hair with both hands. “There,” he replied, “You’re as pretty as ever.”

Emmeline smiled. “Thanks,” she mumbled. “So, um… are you sticking around for rehearsal again?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he assured her with a smile, “Besides, you may need a stage hand. You  know, in case  a tree falls over.” He winked at her.

Emmeline gave him a playful push. “Come on, stage hand, help me fix the stand and put the tree up.”

Rehearsal for the Christmas musical was in just a few hours. The tree stand was replaced  and the tree put up and decorated. The sanctuary was cleaned just in time for rehearsal to begin.

The church was a frenzy of activity when everyone arrived for rehearsal. It had stopped snowing outside, and the snow lay glistening in the church’s outdoor lights. Rehearsal began with a few adjustments since the last rehearsal. Emmeline took her place with Linda and Mary in the choir of angels. David adjusted a few decorations before entering the sound booth as he listened to the musical. Rehearsal proved interesting, as the cast and singers finally had props to work with and costumes to wear.

The church’s Christmas musical had been advertised all over town as the event of the season. Everyone was welcome; it was the church’s way of not only celebrating Christmas, but reaching out to the community. When Christmas Eve arrived, there were so many guests for the show that the church was as full as it once was with families and friends, young and old.

The musical was a delight of sights and sounds. It was not perfect. The costumes were great, although the angel halos itched. The music was well practised and included some of the most beautiful carols. An angel fainted from the warmth of the spotlights. A wiseman missed his cues. The young lady playing Mary lost her voice a week before the show and was only just getting it back. But in spite of its imperfections, the Christmas musical was full of heart.

When the musical was over, the crowd cheered and applauded. Emmeline exited stage left with the choir of angels. Just off the stage, she was caught by a few friends, gushing with Christmas joy.

From where he stood, David could see Emmeline surrounded by people, mostly ladies. He smiled as he watched her face light up while she conversed. Her eyes sparkled in the freshly brightened light of the church. David made his way to her just as she left the group of ladies.

“Emme,” he said, catching her arm gently.

“David.” Emmeline stopped to smile at him. “How did you like the show?”

“Very much,” he assured her, “Do you have a moment?”

“I think I could spare one for you.” Emmeline scratched the top of her head. The halo still itched.

David glanced around the room. Most of the church had moved to the foyer and only a few lingered in the back of the sanctuary. David led Emmeline to the stage and took a seat on the edge of it. Emmeline sat next to him, still smiling.
David reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out a small package wrapped in decorative paper.

“Merry Christmas,” he told her as he placed it in her hand.

“David, that’s sweet. I wasn’t expecting anything.” Emmeline unwrapped the package. It was a small snow globe with a little gold and silver singing angel inside. Emmeline laughed as she shook the globe’s sparkles loose.

“It plays music too,” David informed her. He wound it up and it played the tune to “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

“It’s cute. Thank you,” replied Emmeline. She ducked her head. “But I’m sorry I don’t have anything for you.”

David shook his head. “I don’t expect anything.”

Emmeline smiled. “Well…” she said just as she leaned close and kissed his cheek, “Merry Christmas, David.” Emmeline looked toward the foyer and saw her parents conversing with friends. She turned back to David. “I’ll see you later.”

David smiled. “Goodbye.”