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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Christmas Carols/Carolling (10/02/08)
Behind her, the noise escalated; she frowned and closed her eyes against the pounding of her head. Why now? She thought. Why did the church elders decide this year to send out teams of carolers?

“Jennifer.” A querulous voice broke through her thoughts. “We’re waiting to start practice.”

“What?” Jenny asked in confusion.

“Carols practice.” The older woman said impatiently. “We’re waiting for you to play the piano.”

Jenny moved to the piano and took her seat reluctantly. It had only been three months since her husband died leaving her a widow with an eight-year-old son. The last thing she felt like doing was carol singing.

Mrs. Warren tapped her baton on the music stand to get the choir’s attention. “We’ll begin with It Came upon a Midnight Clear.”

Jenny played automatically, thinking back to the night the police arrived at her door with the news Adam had been killed on his way home from the airport. It had been midnight. A crisp, clear autumn night and the driver of a sixteen-wheeler had fallen asleep at the wheel and slammed into Adam’s car, killing him instantly.

“We’re going to try that again,” Mrs. Warren droned, “and this time, I want the tenors to put more effort into it. I could barely hear you.”

Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Away in a Manger followed and Mrs. Warren showed no mercy either to the choir or to Jenny for the lateness of the night. With her in charge, this was going to be the best carols singing in the history of Logan City Church.

After a fourth attempt at Away in a Manger, Jenny felt as though she was going to scream. Her headache had progressed to the point where she was seeing ‘sparkles’ and she knew she was heading for a migraine.

She stopped playing and closed the lid of the piano. “I’m sorry Mrs. Warren, but I have to go. It’s late and I need to get home to my son.”

The choir members breathed a collective sigh of relief and started to put away their sheet music.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Mrs. Warren demanded as they began following Jenny out of the church. “We need to practice.”

“Mrs. Warren, we have six weeks until Christmas. We’re practicing for carol singing in the park, not the Opera House, two hours once a week is plenty. We don’t need three hours three nights a week. We have families to take care of and jobs to go to.”

The self-appointed choir mistress fumed as they continued towards the church doors. “I happen to take carol singing very seriously. I shall be speaking to pastor about this.”

No one took any notice; they were all accustomed to Mrs. Warren’s outbursts.

Matthew still awake when Jenny checked on him after the babysitter left. “Honey, what are you still doing awake?”

“I wanted to show you the story I wrote for Christmas.” He said, pulling out a crumpled sheet of paper from under his pillow.

Jenny took the sheet of paper and tears flowed as she read the words her little boy had written, and her heart almost burst with pride.

This Christmas my daddy is in heaven with my Nan and Poppy. Mummy and I miss him so much, but I know he is really, really happy there, because he gets to talk to God and walk around with Jesus.

On Christmas Mummy and I are going carol singing to tell other people about Jesus, and I bet my Daddy will be singing with the angels because he has a really good voice.

One day when Mummy and I are really, really old and we die and go to heaven, we’re going to be able to sing Christmas carols with Daddy and the angels too.

Jenny wrapped her arms around Matthew and hugged him. “Oh Matty, that is so beautiful. I can’t wait for Christmas Eve so we can sing together.”

“Will you sing to me tonight Mummy?” Matthew asked as he snuggled against her.

Hesitantly at first, then with a heart overflowing with gratitude and love, Jenny began to sing,

“O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth…” she paused and gently kissed Matthew who had fallen asleep, a smile on his face as he dreamed of a heavenly choir.

_________________

“O Holy Night”
Words: Placide Cappeau, (1808-1877) Music: Adolphe C. Adam (1803-1856)
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This article has been read 1223 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Virginia Gorg
10/09/08
Well written, good grammar, and a good story. I like the flow and the child's letter. Nicely done.
Rebecca Jones
10/10/08
That one really tugged at my heartstrings. Thank you for this work.
Jan Ackerson
10/11/08
Sweet story!
Karin Beery
10/13/08
I like the child's point-of-view to help the adult see the good in the season. Perspective can make the difference.

There were some punctuation errors that I would enourage you to check. I'm not sure if the semi-colon was appropriate in the first paragraph, and you had a run-on sentence later. A few minor changes and the story should read smoothly.

Good descriptions (the headache was relatable!)
Karlene Jacobsen 
10/15/08
And a little child shall lead them, right? Beautifully done.
Joy Faire Stewart
10/15/08
You draw your reader into the scene with vivid descriptions and the little boy's voice is perfect. Great job with topic.
Leah Nichols 
10/15/08
I like your characterizations and the story is well done....though it did feel like two different stories. I wish you had more words to write in detail. :) Nice work.
Melanie Kerr 
10/15/08
I loved the sentiments expressed by the child. I too shall look forward to singing with the angels one day.
Yvonne Blake 
10/15/08
Ahhh.... so sad and beautiful. Isn't it often that way, that children can bring beauty out of something painful? Thank you for writing this.
George Parler 
10/15/08
Wait a minute . . . What's the deal? I didn't see a tissue alert posted anywhere. LOL

This is a wonderful story, very touching. The surrender by the mother to sing her son to sleep with a carol got to me. Great writing.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
10/15/08
I'm glad your sad, sweet story continued on a happier note.
Joshua Janoski
10/15/08
This is a real tear jerker. I agree that it could have been two separate stories, but I think the transition between the church and the home was done well. It all fit together nicely.

I especially loved how you ended with the song "O Holy Night." It is my absolute favorite Christmas carol.

So good to see you back in the challenge, Lynne. I really missed your entries. :)
Pamela Kliewer 
10/16/08
Beautiful... absolutely beautiful. I loved how you brought the child's perspective in... and I LOVE you ending it w/ O Holy Night, as it's my favorite Christmas Carol. Well done.
Marlene Austin
10/16/08
Beautiful job, Lynne. You put so much feeling into everything you create. Great! :)