Trouble at the Inn
For years now whenever Christmas pageants are talked about in a certain town in the Midwest, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling. Wallys performance in one annual production of the Nativity play has slipped into the realm of a legend. But the old timers who were in the audience that night never tire of recalling exactly what happened.
Wally was nine that year and in the second grade, though he should have been in fourth. Most people in town knew that he had difficulty keeping up. He was big and clumsy, slow in movement and mind. Still, Wally was well liked by the other children in his class, all of whom were smaller than he. Though the boys had trouble hiding their irritation when Wally would ask to play with them in a game in which winning was important.
Most often they would find a way to keep him out, but Wally would hang around anyway- not sulking, just hoping. He was always a helpful boy, a willing and smiling one, and the natural protector, paradoxically, of the underdog. Sometimes if the older boys chased the younger ones away, it would always be Wally who would say, Cant they stay? Theyre no bother.
Wally fancied the idea of being a shepherd with a flute in the Christmas Pageant that year, but the plays director, Miss Lambard, assigned him to a more important role. After all, she reasoned, the Innkeeper did not have too many lines, and Wallys size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful.
And so it happened that the usual large, partisan audience gathered for the towns yearly extravaganza of crooks and creaches, of beards, crowns, halos and a whole stage full of squeaky voices. No one on stage or off was more caught up in the magic of the night than Wallace Purling. They said later that he stood in the wings and watched the performance with such fascination that from time to time Miss Lambard had to make sure he did not wander on stage before his cue.
Then came the time when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the Inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted backdrop. Wally the Innkeeper was there waiting.
What do you want? Wally said, swinging the door open with a brusk gesture.
We seek lodging.
Seek it elsewhere. Wally looked straight ahead, but spoke vigorously. The Inn is filled.
Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary.
There is no room in this Inn for you. Wally looked properly stern.
Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired.
Now for the first time, the Innkeeper relaxed his stiff stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause. Long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.
No! Be gone! the prompter whispered form the wings.
No! Wally repeated automatically. Be gone!
Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head upon her husbands shoulder and the two of them started to move away. The Innkeeper did not return inside the Inn, however. Wally stood there in the doorway watching the forlorn couple. His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern. His eyes filling unmistakably with tears. And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all the others.
Dont go Joseph, Wally cried out. Bring Mary back. And Wallace Purlings face grew into a bright smile. You can have my room!
Some people in the town thought the pageant had been ruined. Yet there were others, many others, who considered it the most Christmas of all Christmas pageants they had ever seen.
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P.S. Print out this story and put it in the 25 Days of Christmas Book. If you like, you can print out the stories all at once.Use it as a gift or read it together as a family.
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