emil & the potwin pageant
TRANSCRIPT
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Christmas is fast approaching, and Emil can hardly contain his
excitement. The family home on Greenwood is filled with smells
of the season. The scent of gingerbread, peppermint and pine fill
the nose, bright colored wrapping paper and rolls of ribbon
strewn about tables in the parlor create a feast for the eyes.
Home during the holidays is the merriest place on earth!
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Even more thrilling this year,
Emil will deliver the coveted last
line in the Potwin pageant.
Daydreaming, he pictures
himself standing proudly in the
middle of the stage, in front of
the stately pageant tree. The tree
branches illuminated with
candles, decorated with strings
of popcorn, freshly baked
gingerbread families, and
beautiful holiday cards
exchanged between friends.
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December is Emil’s favorite time of year! Neighborhood children
skate every Friday after school at Woods pond, and then gather
at the community house on Woodlawn for hot chocolate and
merriment. The community house buzzes with activities:
decorating oranges with clove, painting faces on gingerbread
families, and wrapping festive boxes to hold pecans, walnuts and
apples. A favorite activity among all the children is creating the
elaborate holiday cards that will decorate the pageant tree and
later be gifted to a friend. Emil is truly blessed to live in Potwin.
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Last week, a new family moved to
Potwin from Kansas City. Emil’s
anticipation mounts when his
father tells him the new neighbors
have a boy his own age, named
Otto, and a horse drawn sleigh.
Emil has had only a few glimpses
of Otto but is certain the two will
be the best of friends. When
Emil’s mother asks him who he
will give his decorative holiday
card to, he decides it should be
Otto!
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Pageant rehearsals include memorizing poems, practicing
songs, and decorating the pageant stage. Creating paper
garlands fills Emil with such exhilaration! He is certain
that adding more and more garlands will only enhance the
beauty of the pageant stage.
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The day of the holiday pageant
finds Emil dressing in his
Sunday suit and a brand new
bow tie. The house is filled with
laughter as his parents and
sisters prepare for the festivities.
In front of a mirror in the
parlor, Emil smiles and repeats
his pageant line. Gently, he
slips the decorative holiday card
for Otto into his pocket. Emil is
anticipating a very happy
holiday!
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Suddenly - Emil hears the sound of sleigh bells jingling outside!
Peeking out the front window sends tingles of excitement
throughout him - the new neighbors are pulling up in a horse
drawn sleigh. The sleigh is bright red and the handsome brown
horses are adorned with shiny sliver bells. Emil begins walking
towards the front door while envisioning his triumphant arrival at
the Potwin holiday pageant. His thoughts are interrupted when
his mother thrusts his coat and hat towards him, saying, “You’ll
need these”.
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Stepping through the front door and onto the
porch, Emil finds his father waiting for him. As
Emil begins to eagerly walk towards the sleigh,
his father places a firm hand on his shoulder to
stop him. “ Emil, there is only room for your
mother and sisters, you will be walking to the
pageant with me”. Emil is devastated. He will be
left behind while his sisters meet the new
neighbors without him and get to travel in style!
Could it get any worse? As Emil watches the
sleigh depart from the porch, his eyes begin to
sting with tears. There’s no longer any beauty in
the snow flakes dancing in the crisp December
air. Poor Emil! His heart sinking and faith in the
season wavering, all he can do is sigh.
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Reaching Potwin school, Emil quickly unbundles. Pressing
his hand into his coat pocket to retrieve his decorative holiday
card, Emil realizes it’s gone! Panic takes over, Emil has no
card for his new friend Otto. On top of that, he suddenly
cannot remember his line for the pageant!
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The stage curtains swing
open and the holiday pageant
begins. Poems by Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow, songs
of holiday cheer, a re-creation
of the Christmas story - the
promise of the season fills the
school auditorium. Hearing
the choir perform Silent
Night, Emil knows that it is
almost time for his big
entrance.
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Suddenly Emil feels a tug on
his jacket sleeve. Turning, he
finds himself face to face with
Otto! Smiling, Otto holds out
his hand and gives Emil the
missing holiday card. “You
might need this Emil. There
will be plenty of room to ride
in the sleigh to my house for
cake and tea after the Potwin
pageant.”
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Emil feels his heart filling with joy! Acknowledging the act
of kindness with a nod, he takes the card and enters the stage.
Emil walks directly to the pageant tree, hanging his holiday
card front and center. Turning to the audience, smiling
proudly, Emil says with a big, bold voice “Peace on earth,
good will to all”.
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Inspired by the Potwin Place 2020 Circle Decorations and dedicated
to all the Potwin residents, young and old, current and former, who
have kept our neighborhood traditions alive and shared them with the
Topeka community
Edited by Kyle Hamilton
Victorian Mouse Concept, Cover & Peace on Earth Illustration by Sheila Krohe
Story Read on Potwin Holiday Station by Danny Lassley
Dove Image by Mona Morrissey
Story & Additional Illustrations by Alice-Ann Oliver Desch
November 5, 2020