Page 74 of Cross Check Christmas
I touch the fabric of what should be Mary's faded blue robe. Instead, my fingers slide over rich silk in deep sapphire, with delicate silver embroidery along the edges. The shepherds' robes are made of authentic wool, not the scratchy polyester we usually use.
"Where did these come from?"
Mrs. Lee appears behind me. "Oh, didn't anyone tell you? These arrived yesterday."
"But how-" I lift a crown that catches the light like real gold. "These must cost a fortune."
"Apparently that movie company filming at the Ellis house made them." She picks up one of the angel wings, crafted with individual feathers that look almost real. "Their costume designer did all this. Something about Hendrix negotiating it as part of their contract to film there again."
My throat tightens. "Hendrix did this?"
"From what I heard, he wouldn't let them use the house for their next Christmas movie unless they agreed to make costumes for your pageant first." Mrs. Lee hands me a shepherd's staff that's been aged to look authentically weathered. "He was quite insistent about it."
I run my hand over the intricate beadwork on the wise men's robes, the carefully crafted angel wings that shimmer under the lights. These must have cost thousands.
"The kids are going to look amazing," Mrs. Lee sighs happily. "Like real movie stars!"
I should be thrilled. These costumes are beyond anything I could have dreamed of for the pageant. But all I can think about is Hendrix. After everything that happened at the faculty party, after I humiliated both of us with that ridiculous karaoke confrontation... he still did this?
A half-hour to curtain and I'm darting between the wings of the stage, dodging teenagers who should be getting into costume but are instead taking selfies and practicing TikTok dances. Two of my stagehands are having a sword fight with shepherd's crooks while another films them.
"Dylan! Marcus! Those are props, not lightsabers!"
They scatter, but I can hear their laughter echoing down the hallway. At least they're having fun.
"Thirty minutes until places!" I call out, trying to maintain order.
That's when I hear the crash.
Racing to the source of the noise, I find our backdrop - a painted scene of Bethlehem that's seen better days - has finally given up the ghost. The ancient support beam snapped clean through, leaving our setting in a heap on the floor.
"It's fine," I say, more to convince myself than anyone else. "We'll just... we'll make it work. Brenden, grab that blue curtain. We can hang it as a night sky-"
The stage door bursts open, and suddenly the backstage is flooded with people in work boots and black jackets with the words “Yuletide Studios” printed across the back. They're rolling in enormous set pieces - a stunning backdrop of Bethlehem with twinkling stars, realistic stone buildings, and palm trees that look like they could have been plucked straight from the Holy Land.
"Sorry we're late!" A man with a headset and clipboard jogs up to me. "Traffic was terrible, and the director insisted we get this perfect shot of the snowfall scene before we wrapped."
Before I can process what's happening, they're efficiently assembling a set that looks weathered and authentic, complete with real straw. Two crew members wheel in beautifully painted wooden animals that look like they belong in a Broadway production.
I stare as they efficiently assemble what looks like a Hollywood-quality set. "I don't understand..."
"We’re from Yuletide Studios. We’re currently working on A Cookie Cutter Christmas down at the Ellis house," he explains, checking something on his iPad. “Are you Colette McCallister?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
Mr. Ellis was very specific about making sure everything was perfect for your show. Sign here to confirm delivery."
I give him my signature in a daze. First the costumes and now this? My students gather around, wide-eyed at the transformation happening before them. How long has Hendrix been organizing this?
Mrs. Lee taps my shoulder. "Sorry to bother you. But there’s a Santa suit I can’t find an actor for. Is that for something else?"
My stomach drops. With everything that happened at the faculty party - the karaoke disaster, finding out about Hendrix's bet - I completely forgot to find a replacement Santa.
"Oh no." I press my palm to my forehead. "No, no, no."
Mrs. Lee looks at me concerned and I place a hand on her arm so she knows I’m not a complete scatterbrain. “I’ll take care of that. Thanks for reminding me.”
I peek through the curtains for anyone who could fit the costume–even with stuffing in the belly area. Then I spot Principal Chen by the sound booth, tapping his microphone. "Testing, one two..."
