The Lutheran Ladies' Circle: Plucking One String by Kris Knorr, Barb Froman Page A

called the pumpkin Jehovah until the teacher explained that she didn’t think it was appropriate to use God’s name on a gourd, even if it was humongous. So they dubbed him Jerod because that’s what it sounded like Roger had said.
    On decorating day, after the ladies had finished, Roger returned to the church and put the pumpkin under the tree, because “It was a gift.” He left the mousy add-ons and attached a note that said, “I need a home for Christmas. I’ll feed many.”
    *
    As Allie’s family entered the church, they found Lorena touching up the decorations and directing traffic. “Angels downstairs, Holy family in the sacristy.” She pointed.
    “I don’t wanna wear these.” Johnny yanked at his cardboard wings.
    “Maybe you’ll find some you like better downstairs,” Lorena said to him; then to his mom she added, “There’re extras of everything down there. You can make a halo.”
    “I’m not wearing a halo.” Johnny puckered his face.
    It appeared as though Bernie’s Been-Around, Come-Around Thrift Store had exploded in the Fellowship Hall. Adults dug under piles of costumes. Kids jiggled in various states of animal metamorphoses. Shepherds tripped and fell over each other in their parents’ long robes.
    A Wiseman, who was actually a woman, frantically tossed clothes, looking for her box of myrrh. “Did one of you cows run off with it? It’s not funny. I spent all afternoon gluing on sequins.”
    While Micki tied towels over Shepherds’ heads, the sheep poked each other with staffs and made snorting sounds.
    Kay, in a corner surrounded by little angels, fixed a broken cardboard wing. She wore red-and-white-striped stockings, a white ballerina tutu, real feathered wings, and a flashing halo.
    “I don’t think angels have halos like that,” Hettie said, herding a tyke who had been trying on camel humps.
    “Look. Look what it does.” Kay pushed a tiny button on her headpiece. It started to pulse and change colors. “It has five patterns. You covet it, don’t you?”
    “Well, don’t turn it on around Vera; she’s in a foul mood. She’s been snapping at everyone all week.”
    Lorena maneuvered through dancing angels and donkeys, carrying the 20-cup coffee urn.
    “Are we having coffee upstairs after the service?” Hettie asked.
    “We can’t have it down here.” She stepped over a gold-foil crown. “We’ll have cookies, too.”
    “That’s good. Jerod would be upset if you were serving pies made from some of his brethren.” Kay tugged at the strap of her wings.
    “That pumpkin. I don’t know why they don’t give it Confirmation classes and let it join the church. It attends every special event we have here.”
    A loud crash brought adults from all corners of the room. The angels and shepherds were brandishing canes at the sheep and camels who balanced on their hands and kicked with both legs.
    “Marcus. Marcus! Gather those angels over here,” Kay said.
    “Come on, rug rats.” He began pushing them toward the corner.
    “What happened to this room?” Vera demanded, surveying the chaos from the stairway. She began searching under piles of clothing and costumes asking, “Have you seen my pen? It’s a wooden one.” She didn’t get much help because everyone had her own problems.
    “It’ll turn up, Vera, when we put things away.” Hettie was tying a fleece cape over a sheep’s back.
    “I need to find it. Jim gave it to me. It’s made from an olive tree. He brought it from his Jerusalem trip.” She moved around the room, lifting the heaps at first then tossing them as she became more frustrated. Nearing the angels she said, “I don’t believe that flashing halo is appropriate. It’s distracting.”
    “I didn’t wear the whole Victoria Secret costume, now that would be distracting,” Kay said. “Just the wings.”
    “The halo.” Vera pointed. “You will need to turn that off.”
    Two angels were shimmying their shoulders back and forth, beating their wings