She gave me a call and asked if I could be the angel... I didn't really like the idea of personifying the angel, since I thought the devil's part was a much funnier one to play, but when she subtly added that her mother, who had just arrived from Vietnam, would be cooking that evening, I was ready to agree with anything on earth just to be there.
In the Czech republic, Saint Nicolas' day is nearly as important as Christmas. Every year, on December 5th, you will meet loads of Saints walking around the streets with angels and devils, and children in most households expect, with fear and respect, the arrival of the trio to their homes. I had never received the visit of the noble (yet scary) guests in my childhood, and now for the first time, I had the opportunity to be part of the show.
She had invited me to a colorful gathering.When I arrived, first thing I saw was the kitchen table covered with Mummy's delicious Vietnamese specialties. There was many kids running around, some I knew, some not, just as their parents. I quickly noticed that most couples were mixed ones - Czechs with partners from four different continents. Lovely, I felt totally in my element.
I was a bit worried about my premiere since the angel's part was not very clear to me (Now I know: carry the sweets , give them away, and sermonize the devil if too scary for the kids - yeah, it's not the funniest part in fact), but I got some food and some wine, met my fellow companions, future devil and St Nicolas to be, and felt instantly much better.
The angel's part doesn't go with me was I saying... I look more like a devil... but nothing to be done, I had to put the blond wig on, the white dress, the wings and the halo, and there were we going.. The devil had a beautiful costume made of real black fur with a big tail on it and a mask with red horns, a chain around the hips and a big gunny bag with something that looked like a kids hand hanging out... I was an angel that was turning green of envy!
Anyway, all three dressed up, here we were knocking at the door. The kids were all gathered on one place, they were about 10, the two little ones in the arms of their parents. Oh my, their face expressions when we entered were priceless! It was a mixture of astonishment, apprehension or fear, and respect. Saint Nicolas was solemnly reading from the parents list, asking the kids, one by one, about (not) ordering their rooms, (not) eating veggies, playing (too much) on the computer, (not) listening to their parents.... Some kids were admitting, some were denying, but what was sure if that they all feared the devil - while poor devil was a bit censored for not willing to traumatize the little ones who had started to sob as we made our grand entree- . And me, the nice one, gently smiling or retaining hysterical laughter, avoiding direct eye contact with the kids who knew me well, I was dying to scare them, for I was almost bothered by their intense way of looking at us, sometimes scared, sometimes inquisitive ...
Saint Nicolas was obviously recognized by his daughter who was claiming not to be afraid and when asked to recite a poem said a decided "NO". She ended up doing it though to be granted the sweets.
We were still laughing as we left the apartment, as we were getting back into our civil clothes, as we smoked a cigarette on the balcony and we were still laughing as we came back to the party.
It was a really good evening. And as I was still worried that some children could have recognized me, the older son of my friend passed by, gave me a significant look and said : "I know you were playing the devil!" .
And I thought that after all, their idea of making precisely an angel out of me was most certainly the best way not to have me recognized, for even kids automatically relate me with hell!
Still, for next year I decided, I want to be in the devil's skin.
So children should better be good from now on...
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