The Christmas Pageant

Scene 1
The Journey
boy in bathrobe, beard of charcoal
sneakers hidden — more or less
girl beside him — just got glasses
pillow tied beneath her dress

two girls wear a donkey costume
tail and ears and ankle socks
first one stumbles, second tumbles
learning how a donkey walks

brightly-colored plastic palm trees
losing air — the third in line
city painted on a bedsheet
hanging by a length of twine

cardboard buildings, wooden doorway
boy is sweeping floor with broom
head is shaking, finger pointing
​inn he's keeping has no room
Scene 2
The Stable​
boy with girl who rocks a baby
sitting on two bales of hay
cattle painted on the backdrop
silenced by this strange display

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Scene 3
The Shepherds
children watching sheep of cotton
graze in painted fields of green
some are warming by the fire — 
light bulb hid in sticks unseen

sudden spotlight high above them
knocks them over — stunned with fear
haloed angels robed in whiteness
from the left and right appear

angel with the biggest halo
and the nicest pair of wings
calms the shepherds from their terror
then the angel choir sings

the bright light with the angels vanish

Scene 4
The Magi
robed with sequins, crowned with baubles
three young boys bejewed with bling
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