A TIME SUCH AS THIS...

by

Anonymous

Sherlockhouse92@yahoo.com

0703048397

CHARACTERS

FRANK MUSUMBA: A wealthy business man who is married to Carol and has one child Mitchell; and unfortunately is overweighed with alcoholism and adultery.

CAROL MUSUMBA: The heiress of a multi-billion business empire that her husband is currently running. She was forced onto Franck as a wife when he impregnated her at campus. She is struggling to keep the family together in the midst of domestic violence, the husband’s infidelity and a bitter mother-in-law.

MITCHELL: Their twenty year old daughter whose unruly character stems from the broken up nature of their family. She is always at loggerheads with her mother and grandmother. Together with her best friend Britney they are planning to go for a trip to Kenya without the consent of her parents.

GRAND MA MUSUMBA: Franck’s mother who detests Carol from the stories which she has heard from other people. She can’t believe she has failed to produce a male child. She is strict on discipline still rooted in the African heritage of bringing up children.

NELSON, THE NEIGHBOUR: He goes to the same church as Carol does and he is trying to use the opportunity of Franck’s infidelity and abuse of his wife to snatch her away using scripture out of context.

BRITNEY: She is Mitchell’s best friend but she is also secretly having an affair with Franck behind every one’s back.

SETTING

A Porsche house situated somewhere in Kololo as well as a few scenes in a restaurant and a bar.

TIME

Some time close to Christmas, specifically all the events happen in a span of five days

ACT I For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God

Scene One: Bar

Narrator: On a Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Franck Musumba: a married man with one daughter decides to

take his side dish Britney to a bar in Ndeeba…..

(The scene opens up in a bar with people drinking, dancing, and talking loudly. Our focus is then posed

to Franck and Britney who are dancing and having a great time. Franck’s phone then begins to ring

causing him to first stop dancing and he stares at it for a while, he is hoping it will stop ringing.

Unfortunately it continues to ring …….)

Franck

Let me come back, I have an urgent business deal to crack, Katonda yatonda ggwe mummy eeh! Kazigye

(He laughs and steps aside)

Carol

Forgive me for bothering you in the course of your meeting, mukwaano; but I wanted to ask you when

your mother is coming so that I can prepare for her.

Franck

You woman what is wrong with you, have you never heard of what a meeting is, why are you bothering

me with all these nonsense; aren’t you a woman? Figure it out! And do not ever, you hear me? Ever

disrupt me when I am in such important meetings, stupid.

(Call ended…..)

(Turning to return to the dance floor, he discovers Britney has been listening in on his call)

Britney

Sincerely Franck, make up your mind! It seems tomanyi ky’oyagala. Franck look at me carefully, look at

me… (She turns around for him to see…)

Franck

Mazima full packagii

Britney

Make up your mind. If you won’t dump that useless wife of yours and cease the opportunity, forget

about me. Each and every time we are together, she keeps on calling and ruining your moods. You know

very well that when you’re sad I am sad too. I have even lost appetite I am going home…

Franck

Yiiyi naawe bebi. We still have much to do. I already told you, ekyo ekikazi nakikoowa. The only reason

I cannot leave her is because of her father’s money. That old fool placed a condition on the wealth, if I

leave her, all the money goes…. Till death do us part…

Britney

What happens if she dies? Anyhow, I will see you at hope, omboye nnyo.

(She leaves Franck thinking, what happens if Carol dies? Could this leave him as the heir to the fortunes.

He leaves soon after this)

Scene Two: Home

Narrator: That evening as Carol is trying to prepare for the visit of her mother-in-law in the kitchen

and their daughter Mitchell is seated in the sitting room reading a magazine, someone opens the door

and enters; un announced…

Grand Ma

Kino nga kitalo, abaana temukyaalina mpisa! Ggwe muwala

(On seeing the old woman, Mitchell runs away from the sitting room and into the kitchen screaming…)

Mitchell

Mummy, mummy: there is a crazy person in our house!

(The old woman is left in the sitting room wondering…)

Grand Ma

Hmmmmmmmm! Bino bigenda kunyuma.

End of Act I.

ACT II Family clockwork……………

Scene One: Home

(Christmas is nearly here and Maama Musumba needs to stock the Kitchen with food, so…..)

Grand Ma

Yanguwa, yanguwa ggwe! Tugenda mu katale, you don’t need to look good. Just put on something and

we go.

Carol

Mummy let me hurry up and come. Mitchell, Mitchell, please come and assist me with these bags, my

dear.

Mitchell

Mummy! I am so tired today, please don’t disturb me; go away!

(Carol then comes out of the house having several bags, some in the hands, others held by the teeth…..)

(Maama Musumba is struggling not to laugh; all of this is giving her much joy since she doesn’t like her

daughter-in-law, that much. They leave and put the bags in the car and then Carol remembers

something important)

Grand Ma

Mwana ggwe obadde otya! Tugenda kukeerewa mu katale, waachi weekunya?

(Carol shouting from the sitting room….)

Carol

Please remember to get your father’s breakfast from the Micro wave, the tea is in the flash in the

Kitchen: please don’t forget,Mitchell.

Mitchell

Whatever! Leave already.

(Once they are gone, Mitchell sneaks down to the kitchen to see if anyone is still around. She is dressed

inappropriately and this is why she did not want her mother or father to see her like this. She looks

around to ensure no one I s seeing her….)

Mitchell

What is wrong with Britney? I told her we are supposed to meet here at nine: where is she? I am so

hungry; I wonder what is in the kitchen.

(She goes into the Kitchen and picks out of the microwave the breakfast organized for her father and

begins to eat it. As she eats, then comes Britney.)

Britney

Girl friend whatsup? Is the Prison Warden around?

Mitchell

Wwa! My crazy grandmother took her running to the Market: so we are good! By the way, I wanted to

ask: you remember that cute guy who was seated at the front in Ssekito’s lecture?

Britney

Hmm! That is I think John. But that man’s lectures are so boring, I was dozing all the way. Eeh? Now

you have a crush over John, he is a bad boy by the way.

Mitchell

Goosh! I love him already. Is he going to be at the party? Is he coming?

Britney

Duh! Definitely. I don’t see why most of you are interested in these guys in our year, me personally I like

older guys; they are so romantic.

Mitchell

Naye oba Brit wabaaki? What do you see in those old men? Their good years are far gone, you’re weird.

Britney

Yeah, I love my men old. Anyway, I think you should wait for me in the car. There is some stuff my

father told me to tell Mr.Musumba. I doubt you want him to find you here dressed this good.

(Mitchell runs out of the house living Britney alone in the house with Franck. After peeking through the

window to ensure Mitchell has hidden herself in the car, she shouts…..)

Britney

Sweet heart, how are you this morning?

(Down rushes Franck in his pajamas)

Franck

Mukwaano, how are you my baaybi?

Britney

Ssssssssh! To leekana nnyo. They might hear us. How are you my Love? How did you sleep?

Franck

Like a baby, not after what we enjoyed last evening. In fact I had a dream where you and I were

matching down the aisle.

Britney

Well wake up because you are still married and you have stubbornly refused to do something about it.

Kati honey I need some money because I am so broke.

(Franck rushes back to his room and brings back with him a black bag having a large sum of money in

it… After Britney seeing what is in it, she hugs Franck and they jump up and down around the sitting

room..)

Britney

See you later baby, mwaaaaaaaaa!

( she runs out with Franck left day dreaming in the sitting room, his stomach interrupts growling..)

Franck

I am so hungry, I wonder if this fool prepared anything for my breakfast. He sees the leftovers Mitchell

has left on the table, picks up the plate and returns to the bed room….)

(End of Act)

Act III A promise is a debt……………

Scene Two: Home

(Carol returns from the Market with her mother-in-law and overloaded with all the groceries bought,

Maama Musumba is not even carrying anything. The furious Franck who has not had his breakfast is

waiting for them in the sitting room. After putting the things in the kitchen, Carol rushes back to the

siiting room to greet her husband..)

Carol

Wasuze otya nno, mukwaano!

(Franck first ignores her and continues reading his newspapers…. Carol figures she has done something

wrong but what. The Grand ma is watching all of this happen…)

Grand Ma

Ggwe nno batuuse okukukuba. Waama mwaana wange wasuze otya?

Franck

Bulungi maama, naawe kulika yo mu katale. Mbadde nsaba otegekere yo kuky’okulya. Kino ekikazi,

ekisiru kyaalemwa dda okundabilira.

Grand Ma

Kaale mwaana wange. (Even though she was listening when Carol instructed Mitchell about Franck’s

breakfast, she decides not to help her…)

(Carol wonders what she is to do and then decides that the right thing to do as a Christian is,,,)

Carol

Ssebo, nkwegayiridde,nsaba kunsonyiwa.

Franck

Get out of my sight, go! I have better things to look at. Nva mu maaso nga nkya seka!

(Carol leaves as Grand Ma sets Franck’s tea on the table. He takes it briefly and leaves for work… Carol

decides to get these issues off her back by having a little quiet time with God. As she has hardly started,

there is a knock on the door…)

Nelson

Abeeno, gyemuli? (Mr.Nelson is their neighbor in the estate and on many occasions he likes to invite

himself to their house… and he is supposedly Christian)

Maama Mitchell, banange; mukyali yo?

(Carol first ignores him but then……)

Grand Ma

Ggwe muwala, towulira nti waliyo ayita? Come down and see who it is. (Carol closes her bible, nodes

her head and then comes down to open for Nelson.

Carol

Nelson, how are you? What is the matter? (He comes in and seats and then begins to complain…)

Nelson

I have been hearing the noise from this side, this early morning; I was concerned and decided to rush

here. Carol are you ok?

Carol

Very well. Why is it you ask?

Nelson

Well I heard Franck screaming in the morning and I got scared for you. You see with the terrible cases

of domestic violence, I wanted to ensure nothing was a miss.

Carol

Everything is ok. So how is Christine? I have taken long without seeing her around.

Nelson

Christine and I are no longer exclusive; she left me for some younger man. She broke my heart, she was

bad for me.

Carol

Any way Mr. Nelson you found me in the middle of my bible study so I would hate to be rude and ask,

is that all?

(Nelson first struggles to find his words and then he finally says)

Nelson

You see my dear Carol, tukimanyi bulungi nti nze eyasooka okukulaba. Naye wamenya omutima bwe

wandeka wo n’ogenda ne Franck. I hate to see the way he treats you, I will not lie to you. I hear the

fights, I hear his insults but sometimes I feel I should not interfere. But one of these days I might surely

intervene, I swear.

Carol

Mr.Nelson I thank you for your concerns nut these matters are between my husband and I, I can only

tell you to pray for us. Franck is just having some problem, probably with his work, he will come

around. You are a fellow believer in the faith; it is not your responsibility to rekindle old flames. But

never the less keep praying us.

(Nelson is disappointed with this reply and he decides to retreat and come back another day, this turn

has failed……)

Nelson

Carol, Carol: any way I will keep my ears open, I won’t let that man hurt you.

(As she closes the door behind him……)

Carol

You will be ok!

(She goes back to her room to finish with her quiet time)

(As all of this was going on, Grand Ma was listening in on them and having heard sufficiently enough,

she figures this is her chance to pounce….)

Grand Ma

(She comes out clapping her hands.)

So bwebino ebibeera mu maka nga nyini mu taliiwo? This is going to be so very interesting, a very

interesting Christmas indeed.

Narrator: Carol finds herself in a tough situation. Her husband is treating her hushly, her mother-in-

law despises her; her own daughter refuses to obey her: she is leaning on her trust in God to push her

through. Like Abraham who left his home land to follow God without knowing where he was heading,

she needed to trust God, so that he who is faithful would bring the promise to fulfillment! The story

continues.

(End of Act III)

ACT IV Peace, perfect peace; the peace that surpasses all understanding

Narrator: The young Mitchell, knowing that her guardians would be away on that Wednesday,

organizes a party for her friends. What she does not know is that her grandmother is resting in the

guest room.

Scene Two: Home

(Loud music is playing in the sitting room; it is so loud that it wakes the sleeping Grand Ma…..)

(She struggles through the crowd and begins to beat them all up with a broom; they scream and run out

as she chases them all except Mitchell who is cornered.)

Grand Ma

Mwana ggwe Mitchell, nakulaba nga naakajja wanno. I don’t know what kind of demon is seated on

this head of yours. It’s like all the demons your mother keeps chasing run into your head. Don’t you

ever have better things to do than throw parties and worst still throw them in your father’s house. Have

you no shame?

Mitchell

Nze ndeka. You old woman your just old fashioned. Look at what you have done to me and my friends.

You are truly crazy. Now I have bruises on my hand, look at my beautiful skin spoilt. All my make-up

and hair is now ruined.

Grand Ma

What have you said? Mwana ggwe oyagala kulaluka kusinga? I am going to discipline you, oh Jesus.

They will find you in the hospital, today!

(But at this particular time, Franck comes back in the company of Britney. they arrive in arms until

Britney spots Franck’s mother….)

Britney

Ggwe remove your hand from my waist

Franck

Kiki naawe , how comes we have been enjoying all the way here, what is the problem?

Britney

Maama wo, maama wo waali

(Franck rushes and removes his hand and composes himself….)

Franck

You go first so she doesnt not suspect anything

Britney

Why me Franck, why me? I fear that woman Franck, I am afraid.

Franck

Ngenda naawe, I am just behind you

(Britney tip toes into the sitting room hoping not to spotted…)

Grand Ma

Simanya olowooza silaba? Britney naawe wayaayuse nga ono munno. Mmwena mwabalanga

bamalaaya. Did you two seat and agree on a dress code? Look at the way you are dressed?

Britney

Maama mugyebale?

Grand Ma

Tomanyiira olabye ndi tya? This foolish girl told me that you two agreed to have a party here and that

you are the one who arranged it since you knew that Franck and Carol would not be around to permit

such a thing. In fact I wonder how you knew that because I thought that Franck was home.

(Franck comes soon after…)

Franck

Kiki ekigenda maaso wanno? Why is Mitchell crying? Ggwe Britney kiki kyokola wanno? Why is the

house in disorder?

Grand Ma

Ono omwana yasazeewo kuteeka party mu nyumba yo. Musanze wanno ne banne. Kilabika ono Britney

naye gyabadde ajja.

Franck

Mitchell, is all this true? Hurry up to your room; I want nothing to do with you right now. Your mother

will take care of this. Wamma maama oyo muleke ogende owumule kko. Ono Britney kka mubuulire

(Though his mother is still hesitant to leave he insists, she however passé through the back door and

first goes to the Kitchen.)

(Thinking he has chased her away and that Mitchell won’t be coming down from her room.)

Franck

Mukwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaano!

Britney

(She bursts out and laughs……)

Franck, franck, toswaala kko? You to give advice about life, look at you! I don’t want to hear anything

from you. You have refused to leave your wife for this trophy. I am about to damp you and move on.

(As they are still going on with this…)

Carol

Bye Nelson, Brother Phillip mukubire kku ssimu: mulwadde nnyo, he couldn’t make it for today’s

fellowship meeting. Mukama akkume.

(She now enters the house to find the Franck seated while Britney is standing….)

Carol

Britney, how are you my dear? How are your parents?

(Britney just looks at her and ignores her….)

Franck

You have finally decided to come back home. Ennaku zinno amaka gammwe mugeelabidde mu li ku

Yesu yekka. Go to your daughter’s room and pump some sense into that head of hers.

Carol

Good afternoon, Mukwaano, how are you today?

Franck

Simanya Yesu yabasiluwaza. Genda, genda ggwe.

(Carol goes up to her daughter’s room to find out what the problem is…)

Carol

Mitchell, my love, what is the matter?

Mitchell

Go away; I don’t want to talk to anyone. I hate you all, I hate you all; especially Grand Ma, that woman

is crazy. She chased my friends away when they came to visit. We just threw a small get together and

she thought we were having a party and she beat us all with her broom.

Carol

But Mitchell, you know very well that your father does not allow such things here and you should

atleast have first asked for permission. What would have happened if one of those children had died in

this house? You used to come with me to church, but these days you are so busy: my love, I rarely see

you myself. What is really happening?

Mitchell

Why is this all my fault, I thought that Britney had told you; no one wants to listen to me, you don’t

want to believe me: go away leave me alone, I hate you!

Carol

I love you though, very much. I will let you rest now. Please come down when you are done and have

lunch.

(Carol now comes down to find Britney and Franck still in the sitting room. )

Carol

Mukwaano, emmere eyidde? Britney would you please mind helping me prepare the table.

Britney

I mind, I am not your maid!

Carol

I am sorry.

(Carol goes to the Kitchen, sits down for a while …..)

Grand Ma

Omwana Carol, I don’t seem to understand you. Why don’t you just go crazy and beat them all up? How

can people treat you like this?

Carol

It is okay, mummy. I know that my God has a plan for me, even within these trials that I am facing, he is

still able to deliver when I have been perfected.

Grand Ma

Yesu owammwe yabalalula. How can you sincerely look on, that young prostitute wants to take your

husband away, your daughter doesn’t respect you, and your husband treats you badly probably because

you tried to spoil his future by becoming pregnant?

Carol

Hmmm!

(Grand Ma leaves……….)

(At this point in time, she receives a phone call from her Reverand……)

Narrator: The trials we receive from God are good and we should rejoice in them, that is if truly they are

from God. Carol did not let her challenges get the best of her, even though deep within she was sad and

disappointed. Franck had not always been like this, the Franck she had met 17 years back was good,

kind, charming and hard working. She however needed to keep trusting that God would make all things

better

Rev.

Carol, my child, I hope you are fine. I was in prayer and the Lord told me to call you and deliver a

message to you. I know since we speak a lot, you are having trials in your home but the Lord is saying

be obedient and faithful, soon your tears will be dried; happiness comes in the morning.

And like Mary you may ask, “How shall this be? For it cannot happen with men, it is impossible before

men. Hear the word of the Lord, daughter of Zion. Nothing is impossible with God, what is impossible

with men is possible with God. The spirit of the Lord is with thee, keep praying and just believe, he is

Emmanuel; God with us!

Song: One prayer away Jonathan McReynolds

(The call ends………)

ALL CAST EXIT SET, INTERLUDE

ACT V They left their all and followed him………………

Scene Two: Home

Narrator: it is the festive season and people are all over the place. Mitchell has left to go shopping; Carol

is cleaning the house so it is neat for Christmas day. Grand Ma is in the Kitchen preparing the food. The

atmosphere is all peaceful and calm until a scream rings out…

(Franck comes running, his suit torn, in socks with his shoes in his hands; full of dirt.)

(He stops in the sitting room; panting…..he pulls out his phone and dials a number)

Franck

Hello, hello:Britney, Britney, can you hear me?

Britney

Kiki, you ran away like a little girl. I told you that I was going to dump you and get another man.

Franck

Naye omusajja abadde ne mpeta ku mukono. He was claiming to be your husband, explain yourself

mukwaano?

Britney

I don’t need to explain anything, you fool. I told you to leave your wife so that I could leave my man as

well. You refused thinking you could play with me. Franck, ani gwomanyiira, ompita musiru.

Franck

Naawe Britney please reconsider, what about our love, what about our plans to run away, I made you a

signatory to our account: why are you doing this? My money…

Britney

Hahahhahhahhhahhha…

Wulira ekisiru kinno. You know what? I actually wanted him to catch you and kill you. Please for your

own life sake, don’t call me ever again, otherwise, that huge man who beat you up will beat and kill you,

owulidde?

(Phone goes blank…..)

Franck

Banange omukazi azimbye. Maama nze maama nze.

(Grand Ma hearing Franck shouting comes to the sitting room)

Grand Ma

Ggwe kiki?

Franck

Omukazi azimbye, azimbye, ssente zonna. Ssente zonna zetubadde tulya ko, ttaata wa Carol zeyatuwa.

Grand Ma

Ekyo kyokka. Kikusaana mwana ggwe. So you lied to your mother that you are the owner of all these

things, you have simply been made a custodian of these properties and you are mistreating the true heir.

I raised you to be better than this, you have disappointed be, boy, you are a disappointment.

Oli ku bwaana buto, weeyagala. Are you stupid? Can’t you see Britney is old enough to be your

daughter, have you no shame?

(While they are still arguing loudly, Carol comes to the sitting room…)

Carol

Taata Mitchell, kiki ekibadde wo? Engoye zonna nga ziyulise? Have you had an accident?

Franck

Yes! I ran into a terrible car accident and…

Grand Ma

Bunila, kale bunila. Stop telling lies, hurry up and tell the truth. I taught you better than this, explain

what has happened.

Franck

I have no need to explain myself. I am the Lord of this house; thou shall not ask me why I do what I do?

Let me be!

Grand Ma

Mwana ggwe komawo wanno, do not turn your back on your mother, come back here.

Carol

Maama muleke! Kimala!

Grand Ma

Muleke? Omanyi byabadde akola? Omanyi gyaava kati?

Carol

Manyi. I have known for a long time that Franck was having an affair with Britney and he was planning

to steal money and run away with her, Nelson is contantly gossiping about it. If not for Christ, I would

have done worse: but for Christ sake, I am at peace.

Grand Ma

Mazima ddala olaluse. Franck doesn’t need pampering, he needs purnishing, it is how I was able to keep

his father in check, and he requires a punishment

Carol

That’s enough! Don’t you see what the devil is doing in this family? This reminds me of what happened

when Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, that night. They searched for a place where in the savior

of the world was to be born. I could only imagine the confusion Joseph must have been in, Mary with

the pains of child birth. Only a stable could suffice for a birth place, he was born in the lowliest places

on earth: yet he bore all this for us. There was no room, not even a small room for the ancient one; only

a stable stall. We too are pre-occupied with all these things, preparing, partying, lying to one another,

having anger and bitterness, all these things have robbed us of the room we have in our lives, in which

Christ would be born; we too have no room. So truly I don’t want to let these things get room, I only

have room for Jesus. Now let me go wash my husband’s dirty clothes, it is the least I can do for Christ,

he suffered too much for me.

(Grand Ma is left in complete confusion, how this girl can be like this…..)

Grand Ma

Ebigambo sibilina….

(While she is still contemplating this….)

Mitchell comes in wearing beautifully and decent.

Grand Ma

Yiyii, ani eyafudde?

Mitchell

Tewali, I don’t want anything to do with Britney. I read about her change of status on face book, it’s all

over whatsup, how she has been sleeping around with many married men and robbing them of their

money, some have even killed their wives for her. So I don’t want to be anything like her, I don’t want to

even dress like her.

(As they are speaking about this, Franck comes back to the sitting room having changed his clothes….)

Mitchell

I even here she is like a cocktail of all kinds of STDs and Aids, they say she uses ARVs to keep herself

looking well, banange that Britney is a snake: I pity the men who slept with her.

Mitchell

Oh hello daddy, how are you?

Franck

Terrible, I am dead

(He falls back in his seat and puts his hands on his face)

Mitchell

Daddy, what is wrong?

Grand Ma

Mitchell please go to your room

Mitchell

But I have not done anything wrong

Grand Ma

Yes. But I need to talk to your father

Franck

I know, you don’t have to tell me

Oh God, what have I done, what have I done

END OF ACT V

ACT VI led by a star to the child………… he is the way, walk in it.

Narrator: Early on Christmas Eve, Franck wakes up early and goes to the doctor to have him checked. He

fears that he could have contacted the disease.

Carol

Taata Mitchell kulika yo, where did you go this early?

Franck

To the doctor to check myself for Aids and STDs

Carol

What happened? Are you ok?

Franck

I cannot believe this. You know that I have been sleeping around with Britney but you seem so relaxed.

Yesterday I couldn’t sleep because I thought you would want to get revenge, but nothing happened.

Carol

But I have known for a long time, Nelson kept on seeing you two enter and leave this house, bars: I

knew.

Franck

Then how can you still take care of me like this even when I have given you nothing but hate, why?

Carol

Because Christ loved me too, because he loves through me. So when I am abused, slapped, insulted: I cry

but not to you, I run to him and cry; I plead please remove this thorn from me and yet he says, my grace

is enough for in your weakness I am strong. Whatever God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

I could not love you, if he had not loved me and you. He loves you and I believe he has kept you from

disease so that you may be changed.

Franck

Song; loving me Jonathan McReynolds

Narrator: It is my belief that that star that led the wise men to cry is still at work today, leading each and

every one of us to the place where Christ is. In a way we must decide to look to that star only, and pray

that the troubles of the world should fall silent and the light of that star to fully consume us. Bright star,

glory of God that led the wise men to the stable, lead us all, lead us all to where Christ his and like those

wise men never returned by the same way, leave us different, please don’t leave us the same. Uganda as

a country is standing at the cross roads, we have elections next year, morals are dwindling, spouses are

murdering themselves, children are intoxicated to the bone; the Christ who was born for all of us, he is

born for such a time as this! Let your light so shine before men, that they may know that you are

children of your father which art in heaven.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.