Emil & The Potwin Pageant

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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