Friends Again
THE CHRISTMAS THAT CHANGED A TOWN'S NAME
by Martin Buxbaum
River Fork was a small town, a friendly town, except for the Fletchers and the McCloskeys. They hadn't spoken to each other for two generations. No one seemed to know why they hated each other, not even the Fletchers and the McCloskeys. But the Fletchers did not speak to the McCloskeys and the McCloskeys did not speak to the Fletchers.
One night shortly before one Christmas something happened to change that and anyone who was there will tell you what made the citizens of River Fork also change their town's name.
It all began one November morning when plump, motherly Mrs. Parris happily made an announcement to her fifth grade class: "This coming Christmas, children, our class has been selected to give a Christmas Play! We will begin choosing those who will play various parts and everyone will have some part in the play." Upon hearing this, the children clapped and squealed.
And so the players were selected and each child who had a speaking part was given a simple script.
The sixth graders were given the job of making the stage scenery. The seventh graders would play the music and parents would, as usual, be asked to make the costumes and provide refreshments. Mrs. Parris was determined to make this the best Christmas play the school had ever put on.
The list went on...Mr. Loveliss had agreed to lend a small, gentle burro and Mr. Baker promised to provide straw for the stable from his grain and feed store. One thing bothered Mrs. Parris, however-the infant Jesus. In almost all Nativity plays, a doll was used in the manger. But Mrs. Parris wanted it to be really special...the infant should be a real child. But who would lend a new baby for the school play? She decided to ask her students what they thought. She'd learned long ago that children were smarter than grown-ups believed they were-especially if given the opportunity to express themselves.
She asked her class what they thought of her idea of a live baby for the play, and the children all agreed-they wanted a real baby to be in the manger. That settled it. So next she asked if anyone had a baby brother. Only one hand was raised. It was Amanda Fletcher. "Yes, Amanda? Do you have a small baby brother?"
"No, ma'am, but I have a baby sister. She's three months old and she never cries."
Aaron McCloskey snorted. "Jesus wasn't a girl. That's dumb. A girl for the Baby Jesus!"
"Now wait a moment, children," said Mrs. Parris. "The baby will be in a manger, so no one will know if it's a boy or girl. I shall call your mother tonight, Amanda."
That night Mrs. Parris phoned Mrs. Fletcher who listened, then said: "Amanda already told me of the Christmas play. She's delighted she was chosen to play the part of Mary and more delighted that you want Christina to be the Infant Jesus."
"Christina-oh, how beautiful! And so appropriate," said Mrs. Parris.
Mrs. Fletcher sighed. "There is something we haven't told Amanda yet. We took Christina to the doctor last week..." Her voice broke slightly. "The doctor says Christina has no voice. She cannot cry, nor will she ever be able to speak."
Mrs. Parris was stunned. "I'm so sorry."
"I thought you should know. But if you still want Christina in the play, I shall bring her. With Amanda so near, I'm sure the baby won't be upset."
On the night of the play, little Christina lay in the manger, squirming and kicking her feet for all to see. She actually seemed to enjoy the attention.
At the climax of the play, the stage lights dimmed except for one spotlight focused on the manger. The figures of Joseph, Mary and the Wise Men knelt in prayer. Offstage, the chorus began to sing, "It came upon the midnight clear..." And as they sang, the baby's arms waved.
As the last notes of the old song died away, Aaron McCloskey, dressed as an angel wearing dark horn-rimmed glasses, came out on stage. A blue spotlight held him in its light. He spread his arms wide and in a loud, high-pitched voice recited flatly, "May the Holy Birth bring joy into the hearts of each and every one of us this Christmas!"
He was supposed to leave the stage at this point, but instead, all the thoughts that had long been buried inside the boy came rushing out. In a voice that was no filled with genuine emotion he added: "And may my parents and Amanda's parents be friends again!" He turned and ran from the stage.
There was stunned silence in the auditorium. From the rear of the auditorium someone said "Amen," and the applause began. Then, as if in agreement, a small cry came from the manger and a tiny arm waved vigorously.
Mrs. Fletcher leaped to her feet and raced onto the stage. She picked up the wailing Christina and held her up for all to see. "Praise God," she shouted, "it's a miracle!"
Word spread quickly about the miracle, for no one had known about Christina's condition. The following Sunday, everyone in River Fork was in church. The Fletchers and McCloskeys shared the same pew and Amanda hoped Christina wouldn't disturb the service.
Reverend Adams stepped to the pulpit. "Friends, I'm not going to try to understand or explain what happened in the school auditorium last night. But we sure saw a couple of miracles happen." He stared directly at the McCloskeys and Fletchers.
"I want to propose that we do something to remind us all of this great wonder. I propose we change the name of our town from River Fork to-Miracle."
The shouts and applause were enough to convince everyone it was a good idea.
Once again a baby had reached into the hearts of people and left the priceless gift of love. And to this day it's said you'll never find a town where there's more love than the town of Miracle.
by Martin Buxbaum
River Fork was a small town, a friendly town, except for the Fletchers and the McCloskeys. They hadn't spoken to each other for two generations. No one seemed to know why they hated each other, not even the Fletchers and the McCloskeys. But the Fletchers did not speak to the McCloskeys and the McCloskeys did not speak to the Fletchers.
One night shortly before one Christmas something happened to change that and anyone who was there will tell you what made the citizens of River Fork also change their town's name.
It all began one November morning when plump, motherly Mrs. Parris happily made an announcement to her fifth grade class: "This coming Christmas, children, our class has been selected to give a Christmas Play! We will begin choosing those who will play various parts and everyone will have some part in the play." Upon hearing this, the children clapped and squealed.
And so the players were selected and each child who had a speaking part was given a simple script.
The sixth graders were given the job of making the stage scenery. The seventh graders would play the music and parents would, as usual, be asked to make the costumes and provide refreshments. Mrs. Parris was determined to make this the best Christmas play the school had ever put on.
The list went on...Mr. Loveliss had agreed to lend a small, gentle burro and Mr. Baker promised to provide straw for the stable from his grain and feed store. One thing bothered Mrs. Parris, however-the infant Jesus. In almost all Nativity plays, a doll was used in the manger. But Mrs. Parris wanted it to be really special...the infant should be a real child. But who would lend a new baby for the school play? She decided to ask her students what they thought. She'd learned long ago that children were smarter than grown-ups believed they were-especially if given the opportunity to express themselves.
She asked her class what they thought of her idea of a live baby for the play, and the children all agreed-they wanted a real baby to be in the manger. That settled it. So next she asked if anyone had a baby brother. Only one hand was raised. It was Amanda Fletcher. "Yes, Amanda? Do you have a small baby brother?"
"No, ma'am, but I have a baby sister. She's three months old and she never cries."
Aaron McCloskey snorted. "Jesus wasn't a girl. That's dumb. A girl for the Baby Jesus!"
"Now wait a moment, children," said Mrs. Parris. "The baby will be in a manger, so no one will know if it's a boy or girl. I shall call your mother tonight, Amanda."
That night Mrs. Parris phoned Mrs. Fletcher who listened, then said: "Amanda already told me of the Christmas play. She's delighted she was chosen to play the part of Mary and more delighted that you want Christina to be the Infant Jesus."
"Christina-oh, how beautiful! And so appropriate," said Mrs. Parris.
Mrs. Fletcher sighed. "There is something we haven't told Amanda yet. We took Christina to the doctor last week..." Her voice broke slightly. "The doctor says Christina has no voice. She cannot cry, nor will she ever be able to speak."
Mrs. Parris was stunned. "I'm so sorry."
"I thought you should know. But if you still want Christina in the play, I shall bring her. With Amanda so near, I'm sure the baby won't be upset."
On the night of the play, little Christina lay in the manger, squirming and kicking her feet for all to see. She actually seemed to enjoy the attention.
At the climax of the play, the stage lights dimmed except for one spotlight focused on the manger. The figures of Joseph, Mary and the Wise Men knelt in prayer. Offstage, the chorus began to sing, "It came upon the midnight clear..." And as they sang, the baby's arms waved.
As the last notes of the old song died away, Aaron McCloskey, dressed as an angel wearing dark horn-rimmed glasses, came out on stage. A blue spotlight held him in its light. He spread his arms wide and in a loud, high-pitched voice recited flatly, "May the Holy Birth bring joy into the hearts of each and every one of us this Christmas!"
He was supposed to leave the stage at this point, but instead, all the thoughts that had long been buried inside the boy came rushing out. In a voice that was no filled with genuine emotion he added: "And may my parents and Amanda's parents be friends again!" He turned and ran from the stage.
There was stunned silence in the auditorium. From the rear of the auditorium someone said "Amen," and the applause began. Then, as if in agreement, a small cry came from the manger and a tiny arm waved vigorously.
Mrs. Fletcher leaped to her feet and raced onto the stage. She picked up the wailing Christina and held her up for all to see. "Praise God," she shouted, "it's a miracle!"
Word spread quickly about the miracle, for no one had known about Christina's condition. The following Sunday, everyone in River Fork was in church. The Fletchers and McCloskeys shared the same pew and Amanda hoped Christina wouldn't disturb the service.
Reverend Adams stepped to the pulpit. "Friends, I'm not going to try to understand or explain what happened in the school auditorium last night. But we sure saw a couple of miracles happen." He stared directly at the McCloskeys and Fletchers.
"I want to propose that we do something to remind us all of this great wonder. I propose we change the name of our town from River Fork to-Miracle."
The shouts and applause were enough to convince everyone it was a good idea.
Once again a baby had reached into the hearts of people and left the priceless gift of love. And to this day it's said you'll never find a town where there's more love than the town of Miracle.
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