Ugh Luisa said plugging her nose I hope they spray some air freshener before my uncle gets here I hope we get some good ideas before your uncle gets here Drake said Well if you wouldn't keep insisting that we have to bring Krampus into a Christmas pageant maybe we could get somewhere Luisa said And if you could stop insisting that we had to include the three wise camels or whatever they are maybe we'd have at least one decent idea Drake snapped back That's the thing the girl across the table said You're too stuck on Christmas My family celebrates Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and she pointed to the boy sitting next Krampus is a half-goat monster from myths who punishes naughty children
to her his family celebrates Diwali We should celebrate all the holidays that celebrate light in the darkness Not everyone believes in Santa or Christmas you know Fred closed his eyes and breathed in again Maybe it didn't smell that great after all But at least it distracted him from the bickering happening at his table Fred Luisa Drake and two third graders had been chosen to help write the Winter Wonder Fest school pageant Luisa's uncle the world-famous Broadway director Juan Pierre Reyes was coming in all the way from New York City to help them write it For the life of him Fred couldn't imagine why someone as famous as the Juan Pierre Reyes as Luisa insisted on calling him 3
would come all this way just to help with a dumb elementary school play I mean the Juan Pierre Reyes could be making a lot of money directing famous actors in New York City Once Luisa told Fred her uncle even won a huge award for some show about dogs Or was it cats Fred couldn't remember Luisa said her uncle was coming out because he loved her and was always willing to help But Fred wasn't so sure Something about it seemed weird Either way The Juan Pierre Reyes was coming to their school to help them write and direct their holiday pageant All they needed was an idea One good idea Which they didn't have As the arguing continued and 4
escalated Fred straightened up in his chair and said Can we just do something peaceful like everyone stands around holding hands and singing or whatever I am not holding your hand Luisa snapped That's the dumbest idea ever Fred rolled his eyes and said I wish we could just each be writing poems I like poems Then it's just me and my own thoughts No dialogue No stage directions No worrying about what you or some director is going to say about it Some director Luisa said My uncle is We know We know Drake said The Juan Pierre Reyes Coming all the way from New York City 5
