MY FIRST (AND LAST) NATIVITY PLAY
I was beside myself with excitement. Sister Margaret Mary, my convent high school headmistress (the personification of pure evil - picture the nun from the movie of the same name), had just announced that the school would be presenting a nativity play for Christmas. I had always dreamed of being an actor and figured this was my big opportunity to have the entire school witness my outstanding dramatic talents. And I assumed that Sister Margaret Mary, having heard my many and various excuses for being late, realized that I was the obvious choice for a leading role. I was sure that I was a shoo-in for the virgin Mary as I was a virgin myself and I knew a guy named Joseph, so you can imagine my absolute shock when the cast list was posted and I was to play 'Shepherd #2', with one measly line - 'Here is the babe." Here is the babe? What kind of completely pointless remark was that? Any idiot could see that the babe was right there in the straw....