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holy night, Oh, night when stars are shining." I stared, as did all of us, at the girl we thought

we knew so well. It wasn't an easy song to sing, but

she did it so well, with so much emotion even Bart

stopped pacing the floor to turn and stare at her in

amazement.

Tears were in my eyes. Oh, Cindy, how could

you keep that voice a secret for so long? Her piano playing was only adequate, but that voice, the feeling she put into her phrasing. All the musicians then joined in to drown out her piano playing, if not her

voice.

I sat, stunned, hardly believing that my Cindy

could sing so beautifully. When she'd finished, we all

applauded enthusiastically. As Jory called out,

"Sensational! Fantastic! Absolutely wonderful, Cindy!

You sneak--you never told us you continued with

your voice lessons."

"I haven't. It's just me expressing the way I

feel." She cast her eyes down, then took a sly, hooded

look at Bart's astonished expression, which showed

not only his surprise but some pleasure as well. For

the first time he had found something to admire about

Cindy. Her small smile of satisfaction fleeted quickly

by, kind of a sad smile, as if she wished Bart could

like her for other reasons as well.

"I love Christmas carols and religious songs,

they do something for me. Once in school I sang

'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' and the teacher said I

had the kind of emotional feeling to make a great

singer. But I still want most to be an actress." Laughing and happy again, she asked us to join

in and we'd make this a real party, even if no one showed up. She began to bang out a tune resembling

"Joy to the World." Then "Jingle Bells."

This time Bart was not moved.