Part 33 (1/2)
”Not yet. It's time for you to go get ready for your part.”
”Now?”
”Yes, you run on back there and find Aunt Vic. And, hon, you do exactly like she says.”
I found Aunt Vic, and I watched and listened as she and the schoolteacher sent the big kids out front by two's and three's to give their readings. Aunt Vic went through my piece with me again and had me whisper it to her three times. Then, right in the middle of Irene's verses about a hot Christmas pudding-and before I knew it was anywhere near my turn-Aunt Vic said I would be next.
”Sugar, repeat your recitation to me one more time now, real slow.”
I rattled it off.
”Fine! You're just about the smartest girl I ever saw!”
Aunt Vic handed me Papa's rumpled hat that I had brought from home and told me to follow her.
”Hold the hat out in front of you, sugar. With both hands.”
When Aunt Vic and I got out to the middle of the stage, she took a big breath and made her voice go high and clear. ”At this time, our little walking tree will recite the old-time Beggar's Rhyme, and this will conclude our program for the evening.”
To me she whispered, ”Now, hon, lift up your chin and say it.”
I started to look up, but I saw the churchful of people. I looked down at my feet, trying to think what to do. If I were home, I could crawl under Grandma's bed. I tried to think some more. The churchful of folks were still looking. If I could just be a crawfish instead of a Christmas tree, I could scoot backwards and hide behind the curtain! But Aunt Vic had stepped back there. She motioned for me to take my finger out of my mouth and say my piece.
”Christmas is-” she whispered.
”CHRISTMAS IS A-COMING,” I started. ”And, and, uh-” I looked back at Aunt Vic.
”The goose-” she whispered.
”CHRISTMAS IS A-COMING.
”THE GOOSE IS A-GETTING FAT!
”PLEASE PUT A PENNY IN THE OLD MAN'S HAT!
”IF YOU AIN'T GOT A PENNY,
”If you ain't- If you ain't- If-” I had to look at Aunt Vic again. She whispered, ”Half penny.”
”IF YOU AIN'T GOT A PENNY, ”A HALF A PENNY'LL DO.
”IF YOU AIN'T GOT NO HALF PENNY, ”G.o.d BLESS YOU!”
A roar of laughter swept the whole church, and everybody started clapping hands, even the school kids behind the curtains!
The clapping kept swelling louder and louder till it waked Ginger. He didn't like it. And I didn't either! He gave a shrill yip, jumped up, and came rus.h.i.+ng up on the stage, barking at me like a big dog baying at a c.o.o.n.
The more he barked, the louder everybody laughed and clapped their hands. Finally Aunt Vic called Ginger, and Papa came and got me.
Papa started smoothing out the leaves of my dress. I didn't care about the dress any more! I grabbed him around the knees, begged him to sit down and take me up in his lap.
”No, no, Bandershanks! You go on and finish what Aunt Vic wants you to do. Pa.s.s the hat and then let her pin on the little presents. You're a walking Christmas tree! Remember? And trees don't cry! Now, scoot!”
I scooted! From one side of the church to the other, I ran back and forth in front of each bench. And every person I pa.s.sed dropped money into Papa's ragged old hat: pennies, or one or two nickels, or a dime, or two bits. By the time I came to the back pews, the bottom of the hat was sagging down. As Uncle Dan and the other men started tossing in four-bit pieces, it got heavier and heavier. The last people I came to were Mister Wes and Miss Lida Belle.