Chapter Text
Dear Santa,
My name is Michele, I’m 6 years old, and I would like to ask for another Christmas present this year because I don’t think I explained the last one properly. I asked for a magic kit, but it doesn’t do any magic. I tried to make the handkerchief disappear, but it just fell on the floor. Alain said maybe I needed more practice, but I’ve already practiced enough and the magic still doesn’t work. So I decided the kit you gave me is fake. I want the “grown-up” one, the real one.
But now I want another present, a way cooler one: I want a remote control car, a really big one!
Oh, I forgot to tell you that we also had another Christmas play! This time, we had a new friend join us, and we performed at the city theater, which is way bigger than our auditorium. I felt like a real actor, everyone was looking at me!
It was one of the best days of my life.
December 10 – Rehearsal Day:
It was pure chaos. Kids were running all over the auditorium: some were screaming, others were crying, and a few were jumping nonstop.
The staff at the institution thought the children chosen for the Christmas play would be well-behaved and decent. But apparently, the teachers and coordinators picked almost the same group for this year’s performance.
"Nelson, stop it! Get that thing away from me!"
No matter how many times Nigel begged, yelled, or cried, Nelson seemed determined to put the little frog he had found in the playground garden on Nigel’s head.
Elio and Alain were playing Cat’s Cradle, totally focused on their fingers and the shapes they could make with the string in each hand. Gilles was watching closely but kept sticking his finger in the middle to mess things up.
“Gilles, get out of here. You’re ruining the game,” Elio said, looking seriously at his friend while waiting for Alain’s turn.
“I’m not leaving. You promised to teach me how to play this weird thing,” Gilles said, pointing at the string, which was now taking a new shape.
“I didn’t promise anything. You’re just messing up our game.”
“I’m not,” Gilles replied, still sticking his finger in the middle of the string, much to Elio’s annoyance.
René was watching Keke try to take Patrick down in a little wrestling match that Keke had promised he would win. But it was all talk. Before he knew it, he was already on the ground.
“Ouch! Ouch! Get off me, Patrick! I give up, I already said!” Keke struggled on the floor while Patrick sat on his back, easily pinning him.
Patrick just laughed and crossed his arms. “Go ahead, try to get up.”
Keke struggled even more, letting out little squeaks, still trying with all his might to get the boy off of him.
Andrea… was just being Andrea. He was in a little corner near the stage, spinning and spinning in the same spot, betting with himself on how many spins it would take before he got dizzy.
Didier, Michele, and Giovanna were looking at the play’s costumes that were in the corner of the stage. Their faces gave away their negative opinions about the outfits this year.
“Is it just me, or did they change the color of the sheep’s wool?” Didier asked, picking up one of the costumes and examining it. “It looks more gray.”
“It looks uglier, that’s for sure,” Giovanna replied, taking the costume from his hand. “The ears are a little bigger too.”
Michele picked up the rooster costume and took a look.
“And they made the rooster’s comb bigger, check it out,” he said, stretching the red comb on the costume.
Giovanna and Didier were impressed by the changes made to some of the costumes. Some looked the same as last year, while others had received “small” modifications.
Then a loud crash of glass was heard. A flowerpot had fallen off one of the tables in the auditorium. The troublemakers didn’t even care and kept playing.
Ayrton and Gerhard looked like two little hurricanes. While Nigel ran in desperation, trying to get away from Nelson, Gerhard and Ayrton ran all over the auditorium, zigzagging everywhere. Bumping into other kids and tables, not caring about the consequences.
Jean ran after them, trying to keep up with the chaos caused by the two troublemakers.
“Wait for me! I want to play too!” Jean kept running after the mischievous duo, wanting to join in the mess.
Riccardo was counting with his friend, also named Riccardo, how many ornaments were on the Christmas tree. It was a little side mission they had to complete at all costs, or they wouldn’t be able to sleep.
But then, the loud honk of a horn echoed through the hall. The kids quickly stopped what they were doing and looked in the direction the sound had come from.
“All right, kids, that’s enough now,” Mr. Lauda said, lowering the red horn he was holding. “Stop what you’re doing and pay attention here.”
Not only did he enter the hall, but other teachers and coordinators from the institution also appeared, some with clipboards and pencils in hand.
“What is this?!” Ms. Lombardi pointed at the broken vase. “Who did this?!”
Quickly, several little fingers pointed at the chaotic duo at the same time, who tried to hide behind an old curtain.
“Pretty obvious…” Mr. Andretti replied with a slight smile, already making a note on his clipboard.
The kids quickly started moving closer to the adults and sitting on the floor, near each other.
“Oh no, Ayrton. Go sit over there, I saved this spot for Nigel,” Elio said, putting his hand on the saved spot to stop Ayrton from sitting there.
“I didn’t want to sit there anyway,” Ayrton stuck out his tongue at him and went to find another place to sit.
“Ah! Look what Nelson’s trying to do!” Nigel said, clinging to Professor Hunt’s leg.
He smiled as he placed Nigel behind him, keeping Nelson from getting any closer.
Nelson tried to peek at Nigel, who was hiding, while holding the little frog in his hand.
“Nigeel, look what I’ve got here,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Do you want to see?”
“Look at him, Mr. James, look at him! He’s doing it again!”
Nelson laughed as he tried to get closer when, suddenly, the little frog was taken from his hands.
“Hey?!” He turned around to see who had done it, only to come face to face with Mr. Lauda.
“You’re going over there,” he pointed to an empty spot between Gilles and Didier. “And you’re going to sit your little butt down properly, quietly. And if I hear a peep from you, I’ll have to ask Mr. Mario to send you to the principal’s office again. You want that?”
Nelson just gave a forced smile and shook his head, already running off to sit with the other boys.
Mr. Lauda gave a corner smile. Nelson was never going to change.
While Ms. Lombardi was counting how many kids were there, Mr. Fittipaldi watched them with a gentle smile. But then he noticed something was wrong, and at that same moment, Ms. Lombardi confirmed what he suspected.
“Huh? Where’s Andrea?”
The two of them then looked toward the corner of the stage, where the boy was still spinning and spinning without stopping.
“57, 58, 59…” Andrea almost fell but kept going, and kept spinning. “60… 61…”
He was so absorbed in his game that he didn’t notice someone approaching, until he felt a light tap on his little shoulder. When he stopped spinning, he saw it was Mr. Fittipaldi.
“Hi, Andrea,” he said, smiling at him while his hand stayed on the boy’s shoulder. “I know you like spinning and spinning, but how about stopping for just a few minutes? At least until we get all this play stuff sorted out. I promise when it’s all over, I’ll let you keep spinning around.”
Andrea just stared at him with a thoughtful look. Actually, nothing very important was going through his little head since he was very dizzy.
He put his hand on his head and made a pained face.
“It hurts right here, Mr. Emmo…”
The coordinator moved closer and crouched down, placing his hands on the boy’s face so he could look at him.
“Does it hurt a lot? Okay,” he said, carefully picking up the little 5-year-old. “Let’s go sit over there and I’ll get you a cup of water, okay?”
Andrea nodded and just clung to the coordinator like a baby koala as he was carried over to the rest of the group.
“Alright, pay attention,” Mr. Lauda began. “Today is our rehearsal day for the Christmas performance. We already have all the scenery ready, and now we are just going to assign the roles and memorize the lines and actions.”
A hand went up.
“Go ahead, Jean.”
“What is the performance going to be about? What are we going to do?”
Gilles and Nelson, who were standing near him, looked at him with questioning expressions, not believing the silly thing he had just asked.
“What do you think?” Gilles said, as if it were blindingly obvious. “We’re going to talk about the birth of Jesus, of course, right?”
“Yeah, what did you think it would be?” Nelson asked this time, with a mocking grin. “Did you think we’d walk onto the stage acting like the Easter Bunny?”
He and Gilles started laughing together while Jean just stood there, looking embarrassed.
“It’s just… I thought…”
“Okay, that’s enough, Nelson and Gilles,” Mr. Andretti warned them. “That isn’t funny at all.”
Gilles fell silent, but Nelson was still giggling a bit until he saw Mr. Andretti pointing his clipboard at him.
So the two of them stayed quiet, while Jean was pulled close by Elio.
“Don’t listen to them, Jean,” Elio said, lightly patting him on the back. “They’re just jerks like that.”
“I heard that!” Nelson was the one who shouted.
“Good thing you heard it!” Elio shouted back, putting his arm around Jean.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Ms. Lombardi said. “Don’t worry, Jean. Since you’re new here, I’ll explain what we’re going to do: It will be a Christmas play, based on the birth of Jesus. Do you know that story?”
Jean fiddled with his hair, looking thoughtful.
"I think I do... My parents-I mean, some people have told me about it, I think.”
Ms. Lombardi smiled.
“Don’t worry, you’ll understand how it’s all going to work in just a moment.”
As soon as she turned around to grab some papers, Mr. Lauda continued speaking.
“Okay, we already have everyone’s roles here,” he said, placing the papers on top of a wooden table. “You will get up from your spots and come here to pick up the papers with your names on them and-”
Another hand went up.
“Go ahead, Alain.”
“Are we going to change some things? I didn't want it to be exactly like last time.”
“Last time was a fiasco,” Giovanna said. “Andrea tripped over my costume and I fell on the floor.”
A small laugh could be heard in the background, coming from René.
Mr. Lauda just rolled his eyes.
“Yes, Alain, it will be different. Of course, the changes will be minimal but… we’ll find a way to, at least, avoid very repetitive and long lines and also… the accidents.”
Alain, skeptical as always, still looked at the teacher with a bit of doubt but let it go.
“Continuing what I was saying, you’re going to get up and come here to get your papers. Those who got a role as one of the animals, go to Mr. Hunt and Ms. Lombardi so they can adjust your costumes.” He took one last look at his clipboard. “Well, I think that’s i-”
Another hand went up.
“No, Ayrton,” Mr. Lauda didn’t even bother to take his eyes off the clipboard. “You are not going to be Jesus.”
Ayrton crossed his arms and let out an audible “Humph!”
“Oh, man!” René snapped. “I’m going to be one of the shepherds.”
“I’m going to be the innkeeper,” Michele said, not quite understanding his role.
“Hey, wasn't that Elio’s role last year?” Didier asked.
They looked at Elio, who was reading his new role.
“So, Elio?” Nigel went over to him. “What’s your role this time?”
Elio showed it to him.
“I’m going to be the Angel Gabriel this time,” he replied, looking happy. Finally, a better role.
“Wow!” Nigel smiled. “That role really suits you!”
“Ah! This doesn't suit me at all!” Keke said, while trying to fix his fake mustache.
“Yes, it does,” Gerhard said, laughing. “You’re the only kid here who looks like an old man.”
“What?!”
Giovanna then appeared with her arms crossed.
“Seriously, are you really going to listen to anything this dummy says?”
Gerhard looked at her, offended.
“Me? A dummy?” He pointed to himself. “What’s dumb is that… that ridiculous headscarf on your head!”
Giovanna just adjusted the scarf, tossing it over her shoulder.
“I’m not the one dressed as an ox here, Gerhard.”
Gerhard looked down at his own costume.
Oh well, girls were never going to understand that being an ox is way cooler than being Mary.
Another tug on the ribbons at the back of the outfit.
“Is it too tight?”
“No.”
Mr. Hunt noticed the low, disinterested tone. He then turned the boy to face him.
“What’s wrong, Alain? Is something bothering you?”
Alain took a moment to answer, but then finally let out a sigh.
“It’s just that it’s the second time I’ve been the sheep. I liked it better when I was one of the three wise men.”
Mr. Hunt felt for him, especially after seeing the pout the curly-haired boy was making involuntarily.
“Don’t worry, Alain,” he ruffled his hair. “It’s just for this time, okay? Next year I can try to convince Ms. Lella to cast you as one of the three wise men. How does that sound?”
Alain pressed his lips together, thoughtful. But it didn't last long. He was already nodding his head.
“Okay, Mr. James.”
Mr. Hunt smiled and kissed his forehead.
“All right, your costume is all set. Can you call Ayrton for me?”
“Okay.”
“Gold is better than frankincense!”
“That’s not even real gold, and frankincense smells good.”
“I don’t know what mine is,” Didier said, looking at the replica of myrrh in his hand.
While the three little wise men were arguing, Patrick appeared with his paper in his hand. His expression was that of someone who was super satisfied.
“I’m glad I’m not one of you anymore, now I’ll be able to have some peace and just read.”
The three boys stopped talking and looked at him, confused.
“And what is your role?” Nelson asked.
“I’m going to be the narrator,” Patrick replied, feeling very proud. “Mr. Emmo said that my voice is very good.”
“I didn’t know Mr. Emmo knew how to lie…” Gilles replied, letting out a laugh.
Patrick rolled his eyes. Gilles always had a silly joke, so he didn’t mind.
“I’m happy that you’re the one narrating, Patrick,” Didier said, smiling at his friend. “At least you know how to read properly.”
“That’s true,” Nelson said. “When it was Andrea’s turn, he coughed more than he narrated. Ms. Lella almost took him out of there and swapped him for Alain.”
The boys agreed, remembering the last Christmas performance.
“Did you guys also audition to sing with class A4?” Gilles asked, trying to fix the sleeve of his costume. “I did, but I don’t know if they’ll accept me. I wasn’t really in the mood to sing anyway.”
“I did, and Mr. François said my voice is very beautiful,” Didier replied, smiling as he remembered the young teacher’s reaction. “I think my mom had a very beautiful voice. Maybe I got it from her.”
While the boys continued talking, Michele and Jean were running after each other, playing tag.
“Boys, stop it!” Ms. Lombardi shouted while fixing Andrea’s costume. “You’re going to ruin the costumes and we don’t have any others!”
“Ayrton, please,” Mr. Hunt said. “Stay still, I need to zip this up.”
Ayrton, who had been moving from side to side before, stood still. But the conversation with Nigel couldn't stop.
“My costume is better than yours.”
Nigel rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
“We have the same costume.”
“But mine is still better than yours, it’s prettier.”
“They are exactly the same,” Mr. Hunt said, finishing the last adjustments to the costume. “You both look very cute dressed as little donkeys.”
Nigel gave a smile at the compliment, but Ayrton just crossed his arms and pouted. Huffing and letting out his trademark “Humph!”
With all the kids gathered on the stage, the teachers then decided to start the rehearsals. They were talking excitedly among themselves, not listening to a single order given by Mr. Lauda. This was going to be a lot of work.