Here We Come A-wassailing (A Christmas Story)

As we finish singing another song, I exclaim, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Do You Hear What I Hear?"

“Angels We Have Heard on High,” Herbie said. And I Wonder as I Wander if he really wanted to say, while high.

"Children, Go Where I Send Thee," Carol said as she turned toward the children who joined us just so they could sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which was coming up next. “Especially you, Little Drummer Boy. Go stand next to the girl with the Silver Bells.”

“This isn’t my First Noel,” replied the snarky little boy.

“Go Tell It on the Mountain," Carol muttered under her breath. “But, young man, don’t you want to bring Joy to the World with your talent? You might be lucky enough to have something Christmasy named after you like I did. Ever hear of a Christmas Carol? Those songs were named after ME! I’m Carol!”

The little girl with the Jingle Bells looked up in awe at Carol. “Are you Carol of the Bells, too?” she gushed. “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day last year." She prattled on, “My name is Gretel Tannenbaum. What will they name after me?”

"O Holy Night," Herbie cussed to himself. “Look,” he said so everyone, even those Away in a Manger, could hear, “if we’re gonna finish before it’s too late, like before It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, let’s get the children singing. In the meantime, us geezers can Rest You Merry, Gentlemen. We’re all looking forward to going home to get the Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire."

“Herbie’s right,” I agreed. “Come All Ye Faithful and sing loud enough for the Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to hear us!”