For years now whenever Christmas pageants are talked about in a little town in the midwest, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling. Wally's performance in one annual production of the Nativity play has slipped into the realm of legend.
Wally was nine that year and in second grade, though he should have been in fourth. He was big and clumsy, slow in movement and mind. However, Wally was well liked by the other children, only causing irritation when he wanted to play ball when winning was important. They would often tell him no, but he would hang around still hoping.
Wally wanted to be the shepherd in the Christmas Pageant that year but the director told him he had a more important role. He was to be the Innkeeper.
And so it happened that the usual, large partisan crowd gathered for the town's annual extravaganza. No one on or off the stage was more caught up in the magic of the evening than Wally. When it came time for Joseph to appear and knock on the wooden door, Wally was there waiting.
"What do you want?" he asked with a brusque gesture, opening the door.
"We seek lodging."
"Seek it elsewhere, the inn is full, " said Wally looking straight ahead and speaking vigorously.
As the conversation continued, and Wally still saying no, the Innkeeper relaxed his stance and looked at Mary. With that there was a long pause, enough to cause the audience embarrassment. "NO! Begone!" the prompter whispered.
"NO!" Wally repeated automatically. "BEGONE!"
As Joseph and Mary departed, the Innkeeper did not return inside the inn. Wally stood there and watched the forlorn couple. He mouth open, his brow creased with concern and his eyes filling with tears. - Suddenly the Christmas Pageant became different from all the others.
"Don't go, Joseph!" Wally called out. "Bring Mary back, you can have my room."
Some people say that the pageant was ruined, yet others -- many, many others --- considered it to be the most Christmas of all Christmas Pageants they had ever seen.
No comments:
Post a Comment