“The file we noticed was missing while we were looking for Mr. Vess’s poor starving cat?” Mother said.
“Yeah, that will work,” I said. “And then I’m going to go home, take another pain pill, and rest my arm until it’s time to get the boys ready for Michael’s show.”
“Feel better, dear,” she said. “And I’ll see you at the theater.”
Chapter 31
I did feel better on the way back to town. Partly because my arm, although only giving me occasional twinges of pain, was proving to be such a useful tool for weaseling out of things I didn’t want to do. And partly because the college radio station was back to its usual policy of nonstop Christmas music, and was playing a wonderful program of medieval carols. I was singing along with “The Holly and the Ivy” when I pulled into the police station parking lot. I was lingering in the car to hear the ending when my phone rang. I was in such a good mood that I answered it without thinking.
“Hello?”
“I don’t have any animals!”
I pulled the phone away from my ear, turned down the radio, and looked at the caller ID. It was the Methodist church. Almost certainly Mrs. Dahlgren.
“I beg your pardon,” I said into the phone. “I didn’t quite get that.”
“I don’t have any animals! I’m supposed to be getting some animals! Where are they?”
Were the Methodists—or at least Mrs. Dahlgren—feeling slighted because the prankster hadn’t hit them, too?
“Most of the churches that have received animals have been rather glad to get rid of them,” I said. “I’m not sure I understand why you’re complaining.”
“For the live Nativity!” she shrieked. “We need cows, sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, and some ducks or chickens. The rehearsal’s in two hours.”
“I’m afraid I’m still confused,” I said. “Where do you usually get the animals?”
“Usually we get them from farmers who belong to the congregation,” she said. “But they’re upset because of the pranks, and none of them want to risk their animals. I assumed you’d be getting me some animals.”
“Me?”
“Aren’t you in charge of taking care of all the problems caused by these ridiculous pranks?” she demanded. “Didn’t you get my message?”
“No, I didn’t get any kind of message from you,” I said. “And I’m only in charge of scheduling, to make sure everyone’s holiday events can go on in spite of the pranks.”
“Well, we’re an event! And we won’t go on if you can’t schedule us some barnyard animals.”
With that she hung up.
I took a deep breath and muttered several very uncharitable things about Mrs. Dahlgren.
And then I reminded myself that the live Nativity pageant wasn’t just a Methodist event. They hosted it, because they were the only church that faced the town square, but like the New Life Baptist concert, the Nativity was more a community event. And in a farming community, a live Nativity pageant with no animals wasn’t much of a show.
And clearly Mrs. Dahlgren was in no state of mind to make any practical arrangements. So if I wanted the town’s holiday celebrations to continue successfully …
It occurred to me that sheep were one of the mainstays of biblical agriculture. And Michael and I did live across the road from a sheep farm. I called home and found Rose Noire.
“Do you think you could talk Seth Early into bringing a few sheep to town for the live Nativity pageant rehearsal,” I asked her.
“Of course!” she said. “How many?”
“I don’t know.” I tried to remember last year’s pageant. “Half a dozen, maybe? The more the merrier, actually. The Methodist farmers are nervous about bringing their animals in, so the sheep might be the main friendly beasts there. And make sure Seth’s okay with it.”
“You know how he loves to show off his sheep,” Rose Noire said.
Yes, and I also knew that he was one of the legion of men who were smitten by Rose Noire—that was the main reason I delegated the sheep roundup to her.
“And bring a few of our chickens in,” I said. “Whichever ones you think are likely to behave during the pageant.”
“Of course!”
Okay, so there would be sheep and chickens for the rehearsal. Maybe I should rest on my laurels. Though it would be nice to find someone to bring a few cows, goats, and maybe even a donkey. And surely with all the ducks that seemed to be popping up all over town, I could find one or two to grace the stables.
It occurred to me that Grandfather had all of those in his petting zoo. I called him.