"Jingle Bells"

Well, it was another Christmas carol service last night, this time at the YWCA, where I have been working with the dalit children a few times a week. I have not seen those darling babies in several weeks because we put the remedial classes on hold while they finished their school exams, and they were so happy to see me. “Charlotte Auntie!” they were screaming! And, of course, they all wanted their picture taken over and over and over. I obliged, of course.

So, although it wasn’t the intention of those who so kindly invited me to this service, I became the babysitter during the performances. I had to stop one child from throwing rocks; oh, he thought he was so funny. And I had to shush the kids every few seconds during the Christmas message that they were not listening to. Oh well, somehow, I didn’t mind in the least. These kids can do no wrong by me.

So, after trying to keep them under control for some time (and doing so with a huge smile on my face), it was their turn to perform, and they were called up in small groups to sing songs. One group of two little boys and two little girls chose to sing “Jingle Bells.” They made it through the first verse absolutely fine, belting out the English words in a way that made the American quite proud. But when they came to the chorus and the crowd started clapping in time with “Jingle bells, jingle bells…” I guess the kids got nervous. All of a sudden, the two little boys, who were standing in the back, ran off the stage. When the girls noticed that they were gone, they just stopped the song right there in the middle and followed those boys out.

“Jingle Bells” was left quite unfinished, but everyone still clapped!