Mrs. Russo had to call on a number of older boys before she found three who were willing to be wise men. Shepherds were easier. Three sixth-grade boys were willing to be shepherds.

While the planning was going on, a little voice inside Ramona was saying, “Me! Me! What about me?” until it could be hushed no longer. Ramona spoke up. “Mrs. Russo, I could be a sheep. If you have shepherds, you need a sheep.”

“Ramona, that’s a splendid idea,” said Mrs. Russo, getting Ramona’s hopes up, “but I’m afraid the church does not have any sheep costumes.”

Ramona was not a girl to abandon her hopes if she could help it. “My mother could make me a sheep costume,” she said. “She’s made me lots of costumes.” Maybe “lots” was stretching the truth a bit. Mrs. Quimby had made Ramona a witch costume that had lasted three Halloweens, and when Ramona was in nursery school she had made her a little red devil suit.

Now Mrs. Russo was in a difficult position because she had told Ramona her idea was splendid.

“Well…yes, Ramona, you may be a sheep if your mother will make you a costume.”

Howie had been thinking things over. “Mrs. Russo,” he said in that serious way of his, “wouldn’t it look silly for three shepherds to herd just one sheep? My grandmother could make me a sheep costume, too.”

“And my mother could make me one,” said Davy.

Sunday school was suddenly full of volunteer sheep, enough for a large flock. Mrs. Russo clapped her hands for silence. “Quiet, boys and girls! There isn’t room on the chancel for so many sheep, but I think we can squeeze in one sheep per shepherd. Ramona, Howie, and Davy, since you asked first, you may be sheep if someone will make you costumes.”

Ramona smiled across the room at Beezus. They would be in the Nativity scene together.

When Sunday school was over, Beezus found Ramona and asked, “Where’s Mother going to find time to make a sheep costume?”

“After work, I guess.” This problem was something Ramona had not considered.

Beezus looked doubtful. “I’m glad the church already has my costume,” she said. Ramona began to worry.

Mrs. Quimby always washed her hair after church on Sunday morning. Ramona waited until her mother had taken her head out from under the kitchen faucet and was rubbing her hair on a bath towel. “Guess what!” said Ramona. “I get to be a sheep in the Nativity scene this year.”

“That’s nice,” said Mrs. Quimby. “I’m glad they are going to do something a little different this year.”

“And I get to be Mary,” said Beezus.

“Good!” said Mrs. Quimby, still rubbing.

“I’ll need a sheep costume,” said Ramona.

“The church has my costume,” said Beezus.