On the brightly illuminated stage, the Cratchit family was seated around the table for their Christmas feast, and the actor playing Scrooge was with them. Now that Hannah’s eyes had adjusted to the lighting, she glanced around the darkened audience area. Counting Lisa and Hannah, there were only six people watching the rehearsal. The director, Tory Bascomb, was seated in the exact center of the audience section, flanked by two nonperforming members of the Lake Eden Players, Irma York and Bonnie Surma, who were acting as her assistants. Immediately in front of Tory was the costume designer, Trudi Schumann. Tory was making notes on a lighted clipboard, and Hannah assumed that she would go over her comments with the cast after rehearsal had concluded.

Bob Cratchit’s wife entered, carrying a platter with what was supposed to be a roasted goose, but looked much more like a turkey to Hannah. Mrs. Cratchit set the platter down in the center of the table to a volley of cheers and applause from the diners. Hannah was so busy wondering where the Lake Eden Players’ prop master had found a fake turkey that she almost missed the final line of the play. She returned her attention to the stage just in time to hear the boy Tory Bascomb had cast as Tiny Tim, the real son of the actor playing Bob Cratchit, deliver his famous, often-quoted line.

“God bless us, every one,” the childish voice rang out loud and clear. There were several long moments of silence onstage while everyone smiled at Tiny Tim, and then Tory Bascomb rose to her feet.

“Curtain!” she yelled. “It’s not a tableau, for heaven’s sake! Are you back there, Freddy? Or did you decide to take a coffee break?”

“I don’t drink coffee, Miss Bascomb!” a male voice, somewhat muffled by the heavy curtains, responded. “Doc says it’s not good for me because it makes me too nervous.”

“All right then. Listen carefully, Freddy. I’ve told you this at least a dozen times and I’ll skin you alive if you don’t get it right on opening night! The instant Tiny Tim delivers his final line, I want you to count to five, and then ring down the curtain.”

“I can’t, Miss Bascomb.”

“Why?”

“Because this curtain doesn’t ring. Only bells ring. And this curtain doesn’t go down, either. It only goes sideways.”

The actor playing Bob Cratchit slapped his hand over his mouth and turned away from the audience. Hannah saw his shoulders shake, and she knew he was laughing. Freddy Sawyer had been born developmentally challenged, but he was a talented handyman and he was willing to work hard. And actually, Freddy did have a point. Tory Bascomb had told him to “ring down” the curtain, and she hadn’t explained what that meant.