Christmas Spirit

by

Alex Domokos

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My mother, who was a school teacher, told me the most heart-warming Christmas story.

In early December she started to prepare her class for the Nativity pageant. She tried to give an active part to each of her pupils. but there was a not too bright little boy, Johnny, for whom it was difficult to find one that was suitable. Finally my mother decided that Johnny should be the inn-keeper. She said to him, "All you have to say to Joseph, Johnny, is, 'Sorry, there is no room at the inn.'"

At rehearsals all went well. but when the show itself was on and all the local dignitaries and parents were present, and when Joseph begged for the third time, Johnny's good heart could not reject him any longer. "If you're in such a bad way, come in!" To everyone's surprise he opened wide the door of the inn. The pageant ended in disarray, but the principal saved the day. He addressed the gaping audience:

"Johnny's spontaneous compassion was a wonderful demonstration of the true Christmas spirit." The audience's thunderous applause showed that they agreed.