| If Donkeys Could Talk |
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| Written by Marty James |
A Behind the Scenes Pageant Report by Smokey, brothers Bromo and Thunder, and Gabriella.If donkeys could talk, as they are fabled to on Christmas Eve, here is what they might say:
Smokey
I enjoyed practicing for the pageant in early December. One of Betty’s students would ride me up and down Main St., giving me rewards of Oreo cookies. We would make our usual stop at the Norwich Inn where the Innkeeper would come out and say a few words to me, giving me a cookie as well. One time during the pageant the Innkeeper held the cookie in her hand but didn’t give it to me right away, so I gave her hand a pinch with my teeth, and took it myself. She made a loud noise and scared me so I started to back away. Then a second Oreo cookie appeared and the Innkeeper said her words. I ate the cookie and then walked peacefully to the barn. Sometimes the Innkeeper didn’t say the right words. Once she said, “I’m sorry, there is no Inn at this vacancy.” Another time she said, “There is no vacancy at this Inn but we do have some fresh brown ale to offer!” There was a stunned silence with a few giggles before we were sent on our way to the Grange where the shepherds and angels were waiting. 
Bromo and Thunder, inseparable donkeys of the 90s
Once on the night of the pageant we were on our way up Elm St. with Liz Flannery to meet Mary and Joseph at the Post Office. Liz was leading me with a little of our favorite grain in a bucket and Thunder was following. All of a sudden, Thunder wanted green grass instead, so he took off at a fast trot toward a field. Naturally I followed, leaving Liz alone with no donkey to lead. It was 6:40 in the evening—twenty minutes before the pageant started—and we were already late. Marty James, wondering where we were, came driving up to see what was going on. She saw Liz alone on Elm St. and shouted, “Do you need help?” Liz answered “Yes!” So Liz and Marty took off over the field to find the two of us. By this time we had decided to go back to the barn, so all four of us ended up there. Liz and Marty put halters on both of us, got more grain, and once again we started up Elm St. with 15 minutes to go before the church bells would start to ring. Liz (who weighs only 100 lbs. and is 5 feet tall) and Marty (also only 110 lbs. and 5'4" tall) began pulling and pushing us with all their might. It was slow going and they were about to give up but fortunately Liz’s husband, Steve Gardner, drove up to help. By this time there were only 6–8 minutes left to get to Joseph and Mary at the Post Office. With Steve’s help we made it with seconds to spare. Mary got on Thunder and walked out on to Main St. with Joseph, followed by a shepherd who lead me. Just then, the reader in the Town Hall began: “See there a man from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, comes with his wife to register for the tax. Will they find a room for the night? Will there be a room in the Inn?” Gabriella: After Bromo and Thunder retired, my mistress and owner Sasha Dow was called to see if I would like to carry Mary in the Pageant. I was a soft brown color with a black cross on my back, which is the mark of a Sicilian donkey. I had experience because I had been in the town of Sharon’s pageant. But I was smaller and daintier than Bromo and Thunder, so I could only carry a Mary who did not wei 
Norwich Pageant – December 2000; Mary – Caroline Andresen; Joseph – Dan Guest; Gabriella
Before me, all of the Marys had ridden side saddle because Betty thought that was probably how the original Mary had ridden. So my first year Mary (whose real name was Caroline) rode side saddle as usual until we were leaving the Inn, where there was a patch of very slippery ice on the sidewalk. I didn’t see the ice and fell. Off came Mary, making a “kerplunk!” She quickly got up on my back, but her sneakers stuck out under her blue robe (not exactly what Mary’s costume was supposed to be). Luckily, we were safe the rest of the way to the barn, with no more “slip ups.” I enjoyed the fresh hay that was waiting for me to munch while children and families left their gifts by the babe. |