her a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach.
She had been a little absorbed in her own thoughts, when she was suddenly startled to find Ben standing by her elbow, watching her attach elastic to her last pair of angel wings.
“Nice work,” he said in a low voice. When she looked up into his eyes, she felt an intimacy that was almost painful. But for once, she tried hard not to push it away. He smiled, almost as if he knew and understood the emotional struggle she was experiencing.
“Thanks,” she said shyly . “It’s going ok. Alexandra’s doing ok. I’m doing ok.”
Ben smiled, a big deep smile that even lit up his eyes. The warmth of it seeped into her, all the way to her toes.
“Christmas is the time of miracles, you know,” he said softly, reaching out and gently touching her hand. “You are my miracle, you know.”
Then, he turned and went back across the room to the gang of children getting ready to rehearse. Daisy had to blink back the tears in her eyes.
The next day, a new student came to the school. Hannah was seven years old, and joined Miss Gracie ’s class. At lunchtime, Ben told the staff of the circumstances of her arrival. Hannah had been orphaned a few months before, and had been struggling with her emotions in the local school where she had been placed by her foster mother. Her grief and sadness were affecting her in every way. New Horizons had been recommended for the small environment and personalized care given the students.
At the afternoon pageant practice, little Hannah stood next Miss Gracie, who was playing the piano. As each Christmas carol was sung, Daisy noticed the way Hannah’s face lit up, and how her mouth moved to the words of each song. In between each song, the sad somber, withdrawn look reappeared.
“Will she be able to be in the show?” Daisy asked Miss Gracie in between songs. “ I know it’s late, but I think Hannah really likes to sing. Maybe she could be an angel. It wouldn’t be difficult to make up another costume.”
“Well, earlier she told me she was too scared,” said Miss Gracie, looking quickly around the stage at the angels in placed, little ones teamed up with their bigger buddies. “Maybe it would work if we could find a buddy. She needs a buddy. But everyone’s already buddied up. Hard to make changes at this point.”
Looking at Hannah’s hopeful little face, Daisy found herself spouting words she had never meant to say, words once spoken, she could never take back.
She tur ned to Alexandra, standing silently beside her.
“We could be angels, too, you know. With Hannah. You and me and Hannah. We could join the angel choir. So Hannah could be in it, and she wouldn’t be scared.”
Join the choir? What was she thinking?
Just as the horror of what she had said settled over her, Alexandra gave a gentle nod. And then a hesitant smile spread over her pale little face. She crossed the room and took Hannah silently by the hand. And just like that, Daisy Donovan, Alexandra and Hannah had joined the angel choir in the Christmas pageant.
Chapter Eight
The costumes were made. Paintbrushes were flying each day after school as the scenery for the pageant came to life. Flyers and posters had been distributed all over the neighborhood. The community had been invited and they were responding with enthusiasm.
The excitement level at the school grew daily, making it a challenge to keep the classroom curriculum in focus. But Daisy loved the challenge of the classroom time. She loved seeing her students grow in their reading abilities, their math skills, their self control. She loved seeing them bond and communicate with each other. And to tell the truth, she loved the break from the Christmas music and holiday air at rehearsal time. Her classroom was her safe place.
She was facing it. Each day, she would grit her teeth, take a deep breath, and bring as much enthusiasm as
She had been a little absorbed in her own thoughts, when she was suddenly startled to find Ben standing by her elbow, watching her attach elastic to her last pair of angel wings.
“Nice work,” he said in a low voice. When she looked up into his eyes, she felt an intimacy that was almost painful. But for once, she tried hard not to push it away. He smiled, almost as if he knew and understood the emotional struggle she was experiencing.
“Thanks,” she said shyly . “It’s going ok. Alexandra’s doing ok. I’m doing ok.”
Ben smiled, a big deep smile that even lit up his eyes. The warmth of it seeped into her, all the way to her toes.
“Christmas is the time of miracles, you know,” he said softly, reaching out and gently touching her hand. “You are my miracle, you know.”
Then, he turned and went back across the room to the gang of children getting ready to rehearse. Daisy had to blink back the tears in her eyes.
The next day, a new student came to the school. Hannah was seven years old, and joined Miss Gracie ’s class. At lunchtime, Ben told the staff of the circumstances of her arrival. Hannah had been orphaned a few months before, and had been struggling with her emotions in the local school where she had been placed by her foster mother. Her grief and sadness were affecting her in every way. New Horizons had been recommended for the small environment and personalized care given the students.
At the afternoon pageant practice, little Hannah stood next Miss Gracie, who was playing the piano. As each Christmas carol was sung, Daisy noticed the way Hannah’s face lit up, and how her mouth moved to the words of each song. In between each song, the sad somber, withdrawn look reappeared.
“Will she be able to be in the show?” Daisy asked Miss Gracie in between songs. “ I know it’s late, but I think Hannah really likes to sing. Maybe she could be an angel. It wouldn’t be difficult to make up another costume.”
“Well, earlier she told me she was too scared,” said Miss Gracie, looking quickly around the stage at the angels in placed, little ones teamed up with their bigger buddies. “Maybe it would work if we could find a buddy. She needs a buddy. But everyone’s already buddied up. Hard to make changes at this point.”
Looking at Hannah’s hopeful little face, Daisy found herself spouting words she had never meant to say, words once spoken, she could never take back.
She tur ned to Alexandra, standing silently beside her.
“We could be angels, too, you know. With Hannah. You and me and Hannah. We could join the angel choir. So Hannah could be in it, and she wouldn’t be scared.”
Join the choir? What was she thinking?
Just as the horror of what she had said settled over her, Alexandra gave a gentle nod. And then a hesitant smile spread over her pale little face. She crossed the room and took Hannah silently by the hand. And just like that, Daisy Donovan, Alexandra and Hannah had joined the angel choir in the Christmas pageant.
Chapter Eight
The costumes were made. Paintbrushes were flying each day after school as the scenery for the pageant came to life. Flyers and posters had been distributed all over the neighborhood. The community had been invited and they were responding with enthusiasm.
The excitement level at the school grew daily, making it a challenge to keep the classroom curriculum in focus. But Daisy loved the challenge of the classroom time. She loved seeing her students grow in their reading abilities, their math skills, their self control. She loved seeing them bond and communicate with each other. And to tell the truth, she loved the break from the Christmas music and holiday air at rehearsal time. Her classroom was her safe place.
She was facing it. Each day, she would grit her teeth, take a deep breath, and bring as much enthusiasm as
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