window, praying for snow even though she knew it wouldn't snow in sunny old Bermuda. She was getting quite bored and tired so she turned around and walked over to the Christmas tree and hung one more ornament on it. Christmas was in four days and everyone was so busy getting everything ready that they had no time for her. She was bored, yet excited too, because this Christmas all her relatives were coming over for a big turkey feast. But most important of all, Janet was in the major Christmas production at her church on Christmas Eve.

She was one of the angels of Bethlehem. She was very proud and excited for this was her first major play. The next day, Janet had to go to rehearsal for the Christmas play, even though she really didn't want to, for Mrs. Hitchock was teaching the angels' part and everybody disliked her very much and said she was very strange, which she was indeed. When they arrived at St. Marks church everyone was crowded around the door, because Mrs. Wills the director, hadn't arrived yet and she had the keys. Janet stepped out of the car and The Christmas Church Play other angel with her in the play. "Where do you think Mrs. Wills is?'' Janet asked. "I don't know. She usually is the first one here,'' said Jenny with puzzlement. "Yeah,'' said Janet, "and the traffic wasn't bad either.'' All of a sudden, Mrs. Hitchock stepped out in front of everyone and said, "Girls and boys, I have some very bad news. Mrs. Wills has become very ill and had to go to hospital. The doctor said she won't be able to get out of bed for another week.'' Everyone was silent, until Lizzy Bearmen, the girl who was playing Mary, raised her hand and said, "But the play is in two days!'' "Yes Lizzy dear, it is indeed. So that is why Mrs. Wills has asked me to direct the play for her.'' Everyone was silent again with their mouths wide open until some of the boys started to moan and groan, for Mrs. Hitchock is one of the weirdest people anyone has ever met. I raised my hand and asked how we were meant to get inside. "Oh, why, that is a thought Janet. How are we supposed to get in?'' asked Mrs. Hitchock. Everyone looked at her in disbelief. They couldn't believe that she hadn't asked Mrs. Wills for the keys. Mrs. Hitchock stood up again and said, "I'll get them tomorrow, but in the meantime, we will practice outside.'' During rehearsal, everything went wrong. Tom, one of the wise men, forgot his lines and couldn't practice. Lisa's little baby brother who was Jesus didn't stop crying throughout the whole rehearsal, and the worst thing was that Mrs. Hitchock didn't know what to do and forgot the script. Later that afternoon, when Janet was at home, she went up to her room to wrap the presents which she had bought for her family. For her dad, she had bought some golf balls, for her mum, a teeny little needle craft kit, and for her older sister, a necklace. It took her only a short time to wrap them up, so she was down in a flash, waiting to watch her favourite TV show, Home Improvement at 5 p.m. When it came on she discovered it was a repeat. Janet hated repeats and didn't understand why they should have them. She stood up and walked away to the kitchen to see if there was anything good in the fridge. So she got up and went downstairs. Later that evening, when everyone was sitting around the fire drinking hot cocoa and talking about what they had done that day, Janet asked: "Have any of you ever met Mrs. Hitchock, she is so weird!'' "Yeah, I know,'' said Sandy, Janet's sister. "I had her in third grade for English, not that she knows any!'' "Don't be rude girls, Mrs.

Hitchock is a nice lady!'' said Janet's mother with a wide grin on her face.

Janet woke up the next morning and quickly got dressed, because at 10 a.m. she had to make it to rehearsals for Christmas Eve was the next day and they had to practice more than three hours to get it perfect. During rehearsal, everything went wrong again and all the scenes were a disaster. At the end, everyone sat around talking when Sally, one of the farmer's wives, put up her hand and said, "Mrs. Hitchock, we might as well give up. I mean, the play is a complete disaster!'' Everyone agreed except Mrs. Hitchock. "No girls and boys, we shall not give up. Not now!'' demanded Mrs. Hitchock. Everyone sat silent as they had never seen Mrs. Hitchock so determined before. That evening, Janet and her mother made mince pies and Christmas cookies, which they later ate around the fire. Janet could hardly get to sleep that night.

She kept thinking about the play and if it would go well or not. "If only Mrs. Wills was back. It would surely go well,'' said Janet to herself. The next day, Janet jumped out of bed like a flash of lightening because today was Christmas Eve. The day went very fast. In the morning, Janet and her mother went into town to collect the turkey from Miles. In the afternoon, Janet went to rehearsal but Mrs. Hitchock didn't show up so they all had to go home. At 4 p.m., Janet had to start getting ready for the play. "Mum, my lipstick has smudged, hellllp!'' shouted Janet. She was very nervous. At 6.20 p.m. Janet, all glamoured up and beautiful as can be, drove to St. Marks with her family.

When they got to the hall of St. Marks, Janet went backstage and her family sat down in a row. The production started at 7 p.m. and it was now a quarter to seven. Before it started, everyone stood up to sing a few hymns. Then the show was ready to begin. Janet was the first to go on stage because she had to introduce the story. She stepped on stage and her knees were very wobbly. She walked to the centre of the stage and was just about to begin, when there was a loud cough in the audience. Janet looked up and her eyes widened. It was Mrs. Wills! Janet couldn't believe what she saw. She finished her lines perfectly without one mistake. She walked off the stage and told everyone about Mrs. Wills being in the audience. Everyone tried their very best because they wanted to impress Mrs. Wills. At the end of the show, everyone bowed and curtsied, then ran off the stage. Backstage, everyone was undressing when Mrs.

Wills walked in. "Brilliant!'' she said. "It was fantastic. You did a great job!'' Janet walked over to her and asked, "The doctor told you to stay in bed for a week, so why are you here?'' "Well I guess I disobeyed him!'' The Christmas Church Play gave her a great big hug. "Thank you, Mrs. Hitchock, thank you for making it a great play and a fantastic night!'' Everyone cheered, "Hip Hip Hooray for Mrs. Hitchock!'' because she had indeed made it a special Christmas play. That evening, while sitting around the fire, Janet's mum said, "The show was brilliant, honey. It wasn't terrible like you said it would be.'' "I guess it wasn't,'' smiled Janet. "I guess it wasn't after all!'' She then hung up her stocking and said good night to everyone. Tomorrow was Christmas, another big day, so Janet wanted to have a good night's sleep. PHOTO Computer graphic by Gabriella Shorto, age 12