Wally was big for his age – seven years old. Everyone wondered what role the teacher would give him in the annual Christmas play. Especially considering the fact that he was also a slow learner. Perhaps he could pull the curtain.
To everyone’s surprise the teacher gave Wally the role of the innkeeper. The boy of course was delighted. After all, all he had to learn was one line:
“There is no room in the inn.” He had that down in no time.
Then came the night for the program. The parents took their places. Every seat in the auditorium was filled. The children entered singing “Oh come all ye faithful.” The lights dimmed. A hush moved over the audience. The curtain opened on Scene One. Mary and Joseph entered the stage and walked up to the inn. “Please sir, my wife is not well. Could we have a room for the night?”
Wally was ready for his line. He had rehearsed it all night. He began, “There is,” and he hesitated. He started over again. “There is …“ and again his mind went completely blank. Everyone was embarrassed for him but poor Wally just didn’t know what to do. Joseph thought he would improvise and started walking away toward the stable on stage left. Seeing him walking away, Wally in desperation called out: “Look, there’s plenty of room at my house, just come on home with me.”
Source | eSermons
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Image: The opaque watercolour painting by James Tissot (1836-1894), French painter, illustrator and caricaturist, is a well-known example depicting Jesus Christ’s nativity scene in front of a Bethleham inn.