Nativity

[waycyber]

Nativity

By Colin Nelson

Margaret looked out through a gap in the curtains to the grey December sky and pulled the duvet over her head. Her alarm clock had rung hours ago, but she did not want to move. Why should she get up? It was a Sunday! Her last day of freedom!
Margaret had been a teacher ever since she left college. At first she loved it, sharing with the children her love of art. Many of those she taught had gone on to make names for themselves in the fashion industry. Each one named her as a major influence on their success. She basked in the reflected glory of her ex-students, then went back to teach the next lot. For years, that seemed enough. Not any more.
Margaret had found an outlet in drama. Every year there would be at least three shows in which teachers as well as students participated. Whatever was put on, comedy or drama, she would be included. Not this year. A part of her regretted that, but she had to stand by her decision.
Blindly, her hand reached out to the cupboard by her bed. Her fingers crawled to where she had left the letter. She read and re-read it, still hardly daring to believe what it said. Tomorrow, her new career would start. She would join those students whose destiny, she had shaped. She would be a fabric designer for a top fashion house.
She sat on her bed, hugging the duvet around her neck and shoulders. For as long while she stared at the floor. Then, unwilling to be separated from the comforting warmth of the duvet, she got up with it still wrapped around her. The bottom end of the duvet dragged along the floor. Margaret trudged down the stairs, weary step after weary step, with the duvet thumping behind her.
Eventually, Margaret reached the kitchen. She opened the fridge door. There was half a bottle of milk, some eggs, a half a dozen slices of bread and a piece of mouldy bacon. She closed the door once more. It was not that she was not hungry, because she was. It was that she did not think she could keep the food down.
Margaret sat in front of the television, the duvet still wrapped around her. She checked the channels. Nothing. She looked out of the window again. It was raining heavily. With a deep sigh, she climbed the stairs and lay on her bed again. Duvet over her head once more.
It was about midday when the phone rang. Margaret dashed downstairs and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”.
“Hi, Margaret, it’s Chelsea. Just phoning to see how you are.”
“I’m not feeling that well, to be honest. I have a screaming headache and my stomach feels as if there is a knot in it.”
“I know you, you’re anxious about tomorrow, are you not?”
“Well, who wouldn’t be? What if I’m not good enough?”
“Of course you are, or they would never have hired you. Are you starving yourself?”
“No!”
“Margaret, this is Chelsea you’re speaking to. I bet you haven’t had anything to eat since Friday.”
“Thursday.”
“OK, Thursday. Have you kept up your fluids?”
“A glass of water or two.”
“No wonder you don’t feel well. I have the perfect prescription. First, drink five pints of water, that will help with the headache. Second have something light to eat, like an omelette. You might feel like eating more later. Third, you need to get your mind off tomorrow, and I have got just the thing for you.”
“What is that?”
“The Nativity, of course.”
“I can’t go back to school. I’ve already said ‘goodbye’ to everyone at that wonderful party you all gave me. It would not seem right.”
“Well, this could be your ‘Thank you’ to everyone. Jeannie was going to play Mary, but she became ill. We need you, Margaret. I need you.”
“I haven’t been to any of the rehearsals.”
“You’ve had six years of rehearsals. You know it by heart. Come on. Do this one last thing? As a favour to me, if you like. The school is counting on me to give them a show, and I can’t without my Mary.”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“Come on, Margaret. Please. Eat, drink and be Mary. For tomorrow, you dye.”

[jcordaro64]

Oy.

Lot of set up for that horribly bad punch line. Good work!

[wolfbyte]

This story was a very good read waycyber. Good job!

[wilorg]

Not bad at all ' why don't you either adapt it for the Pibverse Players or write something new for us?