Sing Your Loudest

A Story by Nicholas Enloe

Nancy held her twelve year old daughter Katy closely as they sang "Silent Night" to a smiling elderly couple. Just hours before they had been arguing about this. Katy wanted to stay home and watch Frosty the Snowman on television. They owned the DVD, but she had argued it wasn't the same as watching it when everyone else was. She may have been forced to come, but she was having a good time. The church group had many friends she loved to see. And singing door to door always made Nancy feel warm inside, with an uncontrollable smile.

"Would you like to all come inside for some hot cocoa?" the old woman asked.

"Oh no thank you, Mrs. Wainright," Steven, the churches choir leader said. "We have many more houses to get to."

She wouldn't let them leave without at least a candy cane. They all happily took one and left for the next house.

"Everyone make sure your candles are lit! A few of yours were out. And sing louder. Much louder," he continued.

They walked along the sidewalk looking at all the multi-color lights, reindeer, and nativity scenes.

"Why don't we ever put lights up outside our house?" Katy asked.

"I don't know." Nancy replied. "We always seem to get busy, and Christmas is suddenly there and over."

Katy's friend Philip came over and squeezed her shoulder.

"Hey Pip," she said. She knew he didn't like being called that, but he ignored it. He was her age but much shorter. And always had a smirk like either just did something wrong or is planning to.

"I don't know why we have to do this every year. I can't stand singing. I hear if you mouth the words "crumbly caterpillar" over and over that no one will notice you're not singing." Philip said.

"I always say "manicotti." Katy replied.

"Oh you two are no fun!" Nancy cut in. "So many people can't get out to see people this time of year. It means a lot to them that we take a little of our time to sing some Christmas songs."

"I wouldn't like it," Katy said.

"Yeah, most of the people we sing for look at us like they just ate a bad lemon." Philip added.

Nancy couldn't think of a way to counter that. Most of the people didn't look like they enjoyed being sung to. But she just told herself that's how their faces looked after all the years.

"This is the next house, everyone!" Steven yelled. "I was very disappointed with the last house. Louder is the key. Much louder!"

He knocked on the door, almost taking the front wreath down with the knocker. They could hear slow footsteps and finally an old man in a bath robe opened the door.

He opened his mouth slowly. "Who are-?"

Steven cut him off by raising his hands to start with "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". Everyone sang loudly and joyfully for an old man who wasn't even able to put a Christmas tree up. He closed the door on them, causing them all to stop.

"Keep going everyone! Louder! This is much better!" Steven yelled.

"Why? He doesn't want to hear it!" Philip said.

"Yes he does. He loves it. He probably needed to sit down and wants to hear us now."

"Really, let's go to the next house and maybe not sing so loudly," Nancy suggested.

"It needs to be loud. They need to hear us. We're having the best year yet." he said.

They hadn't. Only two of all the people wanted to keep hearing them. And Steven hadn't been happy with either of those performances. Nancy took Katy by the arm and Philip followed.

"Where are we going?" Katy asked.

"We're going to sing at our own houses."

They started with the house next door and were greeted with smiles. More of the group joined them slowly as they sang with deep smiles and gentle voices.