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Thursday dawns cold and overcast.  Snow is threatening our idyllic town.  Under the right circumstances, I love snow.  But not when I have to drive.  I frown at the low-hanging clouds as I urge everyone to pull on a pair of boots before they pile into the van. 

“Does everyone have a hat and a pair of gloves?” I ask as I turn my head to take a glimpse at my little army.  “Everett, where is your coat?  Abner, that light jacket isn’t going to cut it.  Back into the house!  Both of you!  Get your winter coats.  It’s cold.  And it may snow today.”

I cut off both whining exclamations of “Mahmmmmy!” with a sharp command, “Hurry up!  I don’t want you to be late!”

Finally, after five long minutes during which Everett helps Abner find his missing coat, we head off for the high school.  Snowflakes are falling from the sky by the time I pull up in front of their school.  I glance down at Kookie’s knees, happy that they are both covered by a pair of – what else? – black trousers.  I give him a smile as he opens the door and glances at me with a “Bye, Mom!” before jumping out and heading for the building.

“Mom, don’t forget.  You’re not picking us up until eight tonight,” Janna reminds me.

“Ah, yes.  Thanks for the reminder.  I’ll see you then.  Do you have any snacks?”

She opens her backpack and shows me a gallon-sized Ziploc bag full of granola bars, trail mix, and individual-sized bags of chips. 

“Wow, I can see that you are prepared in the eventuality that you’re snowed in tonight.  Now I know you and Kookie won’t starve.”

She rolls her eyes at me.  “Mahmmm, you know how much Kookie eats these days.  I packed most of this for him.  There’s a few things in here for me and Emmie.”

“You’re such a good mommy,” I comment before she waves at me and pushes the button to close the sliding door.

She laughs at my remark before responding, “See you tonight, Mom.”

Then she’s gone.  And we’re off to the middle school next.  Which, thankfully, is right next door to the elementary school.  By the time I’ve dropped all my kids at the door, the snow is beginning to cover the ground.  I head for the grocery store to stock up for the weekend.  I’ve checked the forecast, and we’re in for several inches.  Where on earth has all this snow come from?  We don’t live in Minnesota!

By the time I head to the school for play practice, several inches of snow have piled up on the ground.  Thankfully, it’s come slowly enough that it’s melted off the roads so driving is no problem.  But I discover something that is as I step into the auditorium.

“Oh, Mrs. Franklin!  I’m so glad you’re here!  My script is missing!” Mrs. O greets me. 

“The whole thing this time?” I ask.

She nods.

“Is there someone who doesn’t want to be part of this pageant but was forced to participate?” I ask.

“I don’t know.  Not that I know of.  But there’s always someone who wants a lead role but doesn’t get it.  Just comes with the territory,” she shrugs.

“You didn’t take your script home last night?”

“No.  I left it on this stool.  I forgot it when we went in search of the costumes.”

“Did anyone ever find the missing scene?”

“No.”

“Hmm.”  I am definitely keeping an eye on Gavin today.  I reach into my purse and pull out my script.  “Here.  Use my copy.  I’ll make do with the kids’ if they need any help.”

Mrs. O thanks me before I head for the costume room.  I collect all the costumes that we’ll be needing today.  It appears that they are all here.  A few minutes later, the kids begin to arrive.  I spot Gavin as he enters the auditorium.  I make a beeline for him.

“Gavin, I need a helper.  I’m nominating you for the job,” I assert as soon as I reach him.

“Me?”  He glances around while pointing at his chest with his thumb.

“You.  Can you come with me please?”

Gavin stays with me for the duration of practice.  The only time he leaves my side is while he’s on stage.  So it’s impossible for him to be behind today’s prank.  I’ve had my eyes on him all afternoon. 

I am disappointed.  I thought I had this mystery figured out.  More importantly, I had hoped that by keeping Gavin by my side, I would be putting an end to the trouble.  Who is behind these pranks?

Practice begins innocently enough.  Yoon seats himself at the piano and begins to play as Melody stands alongside the piano but facing the audience.  Her beautiful voice serenades them as Mary and Joseph get settled in the barn. 

“Heaven’s breath filled the air

As the stars began to shine.

Heaven’s love stirred the hearts 

As its Babe was born divine.

“The earth now held its breath 

As the stars began to climb,

Now welcoming its King

In a moment so sublime.”

Mary goes into labor and delivers her firstborn son, Jesus, while Melody sings the chorus. 

“Oh-oh, the angels sang;

Oh-oh, their voices rang

When Love invaded the earth

At our precious Savior’s birth.

“Oh-oh, the hearts rejoice,

Oh-oh, at the clear voice,

Beckoning the lonely soul

To please come and now behold…

“Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

“The Precious One,

God’s one and only Son.

“Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

“The Holy One, 

Loving and gracious Son.

“His Name is Jesus; His Name is Jesus.

His Name means God saves us.

His Name means God loves us.

His Name is Jesus; His Name is Jesus.

The one sent to free us,

His Name is Jesus.”

As Yoon plays the interlude between the chorus and the second verse, the shepherds appear on the right side of the stage.  The spotlight moves from the left where Mary sits with her baby and husband to the little group of sheep and their keepers.  The left side of the stage goes dark for a few moments.  When the lights suddenly come on, a large group of angels has assembled where the barn once was.  Melody sings the second verse as the angels harmonize.  The shepherds stand gaping at the heavenly host for several minutes.

“Heaven’s heart filled the land

As the skies began to glow.

Heaven’s host sang of love

And a God that we could know.

“He stepped down from His throne

To come for a strange people,

He longed to make His own,

To make them all His equal.”

As Melody sings the chorus through again, the lead angel, my Everett, and his sidekick, adorable Allie, are slowly lowered into the middle of the stage.

“Oh-oh, the angels sang;

Oh-oh, their voices rang

When Love invaded the earth

At our precious Savior’s birth.

“Oh-oh, the hearts rejoice,

Oh-oh, at the clear voice,

Beckoning the lonely soul

To please come and now behold…

“Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

“The Precious One,

God’s one and only Son.

“Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

“The Holy One, 

Loving and gracious Son.

“His Name is Jesus; His Name is Jesus.

His Name means God saves us.

His Name means God loves us.

His Name is Jesus; His Name is Jesus.

The one sent to free us,

His Name is Jesus.”

Then Everett begins to speak his lines, “Don’t be scared!  I’ve come to bring you the very best news you’ll ever hear!  It’s for you and for the whole world.  Today in Bethlehem the Savior was born.”

Allie jumps in while I scan the group to make sure the angels are ready to sing.  “How will they know which baby is the Savior?”

Everett quickly responds, “This will be the sign of the Savior: you’ll find Him wrapped in cloth strips and sleeping in a feeding trough.”

Yoon’s fingers instantly release an exultant pinnacle of praise from the ivory and ebony keys of the piano as the angels burst forth into song.

“Glory to God

In the highest heaven! 

He has released

Magnificent peace

On the earth

Through the Savior’s birth. 

“He’s sent us a rescuing rope,

Given people everywhere hope.

Glory to God!

Glory to God!

In the highest heaven!

In the highest heaven!”

As the left side of the stage is suddenly plunged into darkness, hiding the angels from view, Noel encourages his fellow shepherds, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!  Let’s go see what God has done.  The thing He’s just told us about!”

This time all the shepherds make it to Bethlehem without incident, even the smallest failing to trip over the belt of his bathrobe.  Their faces glowing with wonder and joy, the shepherds gather around the tiny baby.  The smallest shepherd, the one who once tripped over his belt, begins to sing.  He has a crystal clear, very sweet voice that wraps around my heart with gladness.

“Beautiful baby boy,

You are God’s perfect joy.

His lavish gift of love,

He sent you from above

To bring His hope and joy,

To every girl and boy.”

During the interlude that follows, Yoon’s fingers chase each other up and down the keyboard while the shepherds all vocalize together before they begin to sing the chorus.

“Unblemished Lamb of God,

My most precious Savior,

This wee baby Jesus,

Unleashes His favor.”

The joyful interlude is followed by a young girl who sings in a tender tone.

“Sleeping where sheep have lain,

You came to take my pain.

Resting where lambs were born,

You bring a brand new morn.

Heralding God’s good grace

Bringing us face to face.”

The shepherds all hum to the tiny baby before singing the chorus again.

“Unblemished Lamb of God,

My most precious Savior,

This wee baby Jesus,

Unleashes His favor.”

As the shepherds return to their fields, Mary lovingly cradles her precious baby boy in her arms.  Of course, today that little newborn is a doll.  But our Mary just so happens to have a real baby brother.  And on the night of the pageant, she’s going to hold him in her arms.  He’ll have the starring role in this little musical production.  Not yet two months old, he’ll get to play Jesus.  But for right now, Mary begins to serenade a plastic doll.

“You stepped down from your throne.

Made my humble home your own.

You were born to be torn.

You, in my place, so forlorn.

“Come to save me from sin.

You’ll light the way from within,

You’ll carry my own cross.

You’ll rescue me from all loss.”

Mary continues to gaze lovingly down at her little boy while Yoon plays a somber interlude.  Then the young mother carries the chorus all by herself.

“Your name is Savior.

Your name is Love.

You brought me favor

From God above.

“Your name is Precious.

Your name is Peace.

You leave me breathless

My Prince of Peace.”

As the melancholy tune continues, Joseph wanders over to Mary and smiles down at his son.  Then in a voice that is extraordinarily rich for such a young man, he begins to sing to the doll.

“You’ll restore me to home.

Feed me your sweet honeycomb.

You’ll open the locked door.

You’ll make me His son once more.

“Lead me to the Garden.

You will purchase my pardon.

You’ll embrace destiny.

While you bear my penalty.”

The loving parents continue to beam down at the happy burden in Mary’s arms while Yoon plays a few poignant chords before Mary’s voice joins Joseph’s in singing the chorus through once more.

“Your name is Savior.

Your name is Love.

You brought me favor

From God above.

“Your name is Precious.

Your name is Peace.

You leave me breathless

My Prince of Peace.”

As the stage goes dark, a spotlight shines near the door that leads to the right side of the auditorium.  But no one appears.  Yoon has begun playing the triumphal music that is supposed to be announcing the arrival of the three magi.  But the little wise men have not entered as scheduled. 

Mrs. O glances my way.  She quirks one auburn eyebrow at me. 

Somehow, I have the presence of mind to take Gavin with me. 

“Gavin, let’s go see what’s keeping the wise men.” 

I head down the steps of the stage, Gavin following me, and walk down the aisle.  But when I reach the door and peek into the hallway, no magi present themselves.  In fact, they are nowhere to be seen.

Furrowing my brow, I step into the hallway.  Gavin sticks near to me.  Does he know that I suspect him of mischief?

We walk down the corridor as I call out to the missing boys, “Josh!  Marco!  Anthony!”

A moment later, Josh and Marco round the corner connecting this hallway with the next.

“Mrs. Franklin!  We need your help!”

It’s my turn to cock an eyebrow.  Although mine isn’t auburn.  “What’s wrong?”

“Anthony has disappeared!”

“And so has my crown!” Marco exclaims on the heels of Josh’s news.

I begin with the most pertinent information.  “What do you mean, Anthony has disappeared?”

“We were all getting dressed together.  I realized my crown wasn’t with the costumes, so Anthony offered to go find it.  But he never returned.  He left over ten minutes ago.”

“Did you check the costume room?”

“We didn’t want to get locked inside.”

“All right.  Let’s all go check the costume room together.”  I turn back towards the auditorium as I lead all three boys towards the stage. 

I glance down at Gavin.  He couldn’t have been behind this prank.  Not unless he has an accomplice.