Holiday Advent Story 21

The Christmas concert had been going on for nearly an hour. She’d been in Greenwich for a few days preparing for the show; the event. It had been planned meticulously and they were about to hit the moment this had all been for.

Katy finished her song and waited for the crowd to finish applauding.

“Thank you all,” said Katy. “We’re almost to midnight and we need to start getting ready.”

The crowd roared.

A series of fifteen foot monitors that had been set around the stage that had been showing background images chanced. First one monitor flickered to another view, then a second, third, and so forth until all of them showed different bands and crowds.

“Tonight is special,” said Katy. “We’ve gathered forty-seven musical acts at thirty-three concerts in sixteen countries across twenty-four time zones. How’s everyone doing tonight?”

Voices boomed over the sound system from the different groups. “We’re ready,” “Fine,” “Thrilled to be here,” and such sentiments were uttered.

Crowds in every area roared.

Katy was proud of the people gathered tonight. There were pop artist, country singers, rappers, opera singers, folk bands, a parody singer, a few tween singers, some J pop, and several other genres. She’d even gotten death metal band Pain Wagon to pitch in.

“If we’re all ready,” said Katy. “Assuming we all know the words.”

People here and abroad laughed.

“It’s just a few seconds to mignight,” said Katy. “In 5…4…3…2…1.”

The singers and the crowds burst into song.

Jingle Bells…Jingle Bells…

Everyone belted out the lyrics. Each person joining along in time to the rest.

…oh what fun…

Katy waved her arm as everyone sang with her; with each other.

…through the snow…

Katy turned to the monitors to see other musicians holding hands and swaying to the music.

A sleighing song tonight.

They went through the chorus again.

Then one more time.

Then it was done.

There was a long pause and everyone grew quiet. Someone on one of the monitors, she wasn’t sure who, began to sing Silent Night. After a few seconds more and more voices joined in.

When done someone else started Deck the Hall, then Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa joined.

With each new song the crowds joined in. People held up their phones to light the areas. She watched her own crowd. They held hands, hugged the people around them, and wrapped their arms around each other’s shoulders.

It went on. Katy wasn’t sure how long it kept going. She’d lost track of the songs. How many and which ones they had sung. In the end, a lone voice caught the night and sang Auld Lang Syne.

Katy turned to see one of the J pop kids. He reached the chorus and people joined in. They sang along until the song ended. Quiet gripped everything. No one sang, spoke, or yelled. Katy steadied herself and turned to face the crowd.

She wanted to shout it out but couldn’t muster the voice. She simply whispered into her mic, “Happy Holidays.”

The crowds roared.

end

Teach the World to Sing