THE WORTH OF ONE - A CHRISTMAS STORY

By Tessa Harvey

    Early the next morning, the principal called the four first arrivals to her office. It was high up a flight of stairs with a commanding view of much of the school grounds and student boarders' buildings.

    The children came in, followed by Brutus the cat, who had decided these children were in fact human kittens who needed herding and watching .
    "Welcome," Maureen greeted them warmly. "Please be comfortable - and Brutus can stay. He is my deputy ranger." The children looked startled, but then they smiled.
    "Could we talk freely?" Maureen asked, pleasantly. "I suppose so, er Miss." Veronica decided to be spokesperson. "My parents have gone away - and dumped me here."
    Gus broke in "Lord Cyril Sebastian ain't my dad. I'm a bastard. So Lord has a son and a spare and I'm an under-spare."
    "What about you Jacob?" continued Mrs. O'Leary. "Well," Jacob decided he could talk. It was safe here. Dad says we annoy him." "So he hits us and bullies mum," finished Melissa.
    "Do you like it here. Other children return this afternoon. Only two are about your age. You will be together as a special primary class. The new children cannot speak much English. You all have reason to be resentful of significant adults in your lives." The kids fidgeted. "Holding grudges hurts your own lives." Maureen paused.
    "I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way, the real truth, the Life. It is Christmas soon. Each of you have great worth and potential. Jesus overcame rejection. He was considered illegitimate also, and mocked. But he overcame, and so can you.

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