Page 126 of Have a Bear-y Little Christmas
“It’s the first night of our family coming together!” the woman continued like it was obvious. “Remy, child, you ain’t been gone so long that you’ve forgotten just about everything, have you? Here, you take my hand, beautiful, and I’ll show you what’s what.”
“Okay...” So far, nobody in the clan had ever led me wrong, so I took the older woman’s offered hand and supported her as she tottered out of the main dining area through the resting area where I’d gotten my hair done the year before. She led me into a wide gymnasium where an impromptu stage had been built on the other side. It was a simple wooden platform, maybe raised half a foot off the ground, and the curtain that hung over it was held up by the same type of scaffolding a school photographer would use for their backdrop, but its intent was clear.
“Oh, is someone putting on a show?” I asked, my gut beginning to turn with apprehension. And that instinct only heightened when I heard my name called and looked up to the front row to see Ana waving at me.
Something was definitely up.
“Why don’t you go on up ahead, sweetie?” the auntie said, patting my hand. “You’re going to want a seat up front.”
God, was this another parent trap?
I looked beside me to judge Remy’s expression, but he’d vanished without a sound. I faltered, but then another arm hooked through mine. Valencia, dressed as a shepherd, herded me along.
“Right this way, ma’am,” she said quite formally, although excitement was written all across her small features. I didn’t know Valencia well, as she was so shy that she made Eva look downright outgoing, but with what little we interacted, she seemed like a very sweet soul.
“O-okay.”
I let her lead me and sit me down smack dab in the middle of the front row. Ana plopped down beside me. She had such a gleeful look on her face that I knew she’d gotten herself involved in this plot. Clearly, the woman either needed to be running an escape room or start writing murder mysteries, because she sure delighted in a great plan.
I could have asked questions, I could have demanded that all of them tell me what was up and why everyone was suddenly acting so strange, but I didn’t want to spoil their fun. All I would have to do was wait, and soon enough, I’d find out what all this was about.
Just as I’d thought, I didn’t have to wait long, because the little old man I recognized as one of the elders stepped to the front and began to speak.
“Brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, siblings, children, and other assorted relatives, we all have walked many weary paths to join together in a celebration of survival and our community. This tradition would not be possible without reflecting upon the past that brought us to this point, or the future that stretches beyond us. It is this message that several of our young ones wanted to share with us. So, without any further ado, let us sit back and enjoy their Christmas story!”
There was a flurry of whispers and scrambling of feet, and then the curtain was being drawn back to reveal nearly two dozen of the young ones, ranging from kids younger than kindergarten age all the way to young teens.
My jaw dropped as they began to take turns as narrators—some with whole paragraphs, some with just singular lines—as they set the stage both metaphorically and literally for Christmas legends from their different cultures. From there, they scattered, clearing the stage only for Max, Eva, and a couple of others to stride on, all in costume.
When had they even had time to change?
Seeing my son dressed up in a white beard and red suit for the classic American Santa made me want to tear up in the strangest way. Just the fact that he was able to say his lines loud enough and have the stamina to move around without any impediment was something I’d only dreamed about a year ago. He had come so far, and honestly, it seemed like he truly had unlimited potential for his future.
I was so proud.
And that feeling of pride continued throughout the entire play. It was utterly adorable. While Max wasn’t the lead in every scene, especially with tales from Zara’s side of the family, or the Afro Trinidadian one, he was on stage a majority of the time, as was Eva.
The only one I didn’t spot was Addy, and I did look for her with concern only to see her with an open binder off to the side of the stage, pointing somewhere in the distance while she whispered something to another actor.
Of course,she would be a stage director. I couldn’t think of anything more fitting for her.
The little show could have gone on for hours, and I would have been riveted. But that wasn’t entirely a realisticexpectation, and soon everyone was taking a bow as we got to our feet and applauded.
“Bravo!Bravo!” I cried, probably a little over the top, but I was completely in the moment. Although Max had joined drama club, I hadn’t seen him perform yet. Already, I was certain I would be attending many, many more shows in the future. He was so talented. Maybe that was bias as his mother speaking, but anyone with eyes could see he had a gift.
I was so ready to run to him, to hug him and tell him how amazing he was, but I had the good sense to wait until curtain call was done. However, just when I thought it was, Max stepped to the center and spoke.
“Thank you, all of you, for attending our show today. But none of this would be possible without our director, so please, everyone put your hands together one more time for the guy I wouldn’t mind calling my dad, Remington LeBeau!”
I was so sideswiped by what my son said so casually, that my eyes were still wide with shock as Remy strode onto the stage and took a bow.
The guy I wouldn’t mind calling my dad.
It rang through my head, a declaration that confirmed so much of what I felt. I’d been hoping that Max felt that way. After all, they got along like they were related. But I’d never found a great time to bring it up, and I was worried that I would be putting too much pressure on him if I downright asked.
“Thank you, everyone!Merci, merci.” Remy’s voice was shaking, and I didn’t blame him. Although he was very charming and a great conversationalist, I knew he also didn’t really long for the limelight.
“Most of you have known me since I was a child, and you were able to witness me grow from a boy into a man. Along that journey, you also saw love blossom between me and your daughter, or your niece, or even your cousin, Zara.
