Miss Evelyn told Carina kindly, “I will help you learn your part, and we will be sure to practice until you feel confident. I am sure you will do wonderfully!”

Carina felt better, and at home she told her parents about the school performance.

Each day Carina’s class would practice their performance. It was hard work, and they had to memorize their lines and learn the songs well. Carina was happy that she could play Tammy, the little angel. Her mother helped her to make a beautiful costume complete with wings, a halo, and glittery sequins on her gown.

The day before the Christmas play, Miss Evelyn took the children for a dress rehearsal at the hall where they would perform. There was a big stage with bright lights, and many rows of seats. The children were dressed in their costumes and ready to practice.

Though Carina had worked hard at learning all her lines and songs, as she stood on the stage, she felt nervous. When it was her turn, Carina forgot all her lines. Miss Evelyn prompted Carina with her lines, but try as she may, Carina could barely whisper her lines.

Miss Evelyn told Carina not to worry and called her behind the stage curtain.

“I am sorry, Miss Evelyn,” Carina whispered. “My tummy feels funny when I look at all the chairs and think of all the people who will be watching. … Then I forget all my lines. I do not think I can do it.”

With a smile Miss Evelyn told Carina that she too had found it difficult to perform when she was a child, but her mother had taught her a little trick that had helped her.

“What was that?” Carina asked.

“My mother told me to look and find her and my father and brother in the audience,” Miss Evelyn explained. “And then to imagine that I was at home in our living room performing for only the three of them.”

“Did that work?”

“Every time!”

“You can give it a try too,” Miss Evelyn said. “You can pick out several seats and imagine that that is where your family will be sitting, and then tell them all about Tammy’s mission.”

Carina was eager to try. At first she was a little bit shy, but before she even realized it the dress rehearsal was finished.

“You did beautifully!” Miss Evelyn exclaimed as Carina walked off the stage. “And if you remember that little trick tomorrow, you will do tremendously well.”

Finally, it was the day of the school play. Carina walked up on the stage ready to play her part. She looked at the large crowd of people and her tummy started to feel funny again, but then she remembered what Miss Evelyn had told her. Carina found her parents and two sisters sitting in the audience. Her mother smiled and waved. Carina felt confident, and soon she forgot all about the funny feeling in her tummy. The only thing she could remember was the wonderful story of Tammy that she wanted to tell her family.

With a loud applause the play came to an end. Carina had remembered her lines and her songs.

“I knew you could do it!” Miss Evelyn exclaimed as she hugged Carina. “You were the best Angel Tammy I have ever seen!”

“I did not feel nervous at all,” Carina said. “I had lots of fun, too!”