This is a re-post of a note I wrote on MySpace a few years ago, but it’s timeless and will likely be recycled each Christmas season.

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Rarely are we blessed enough to see a holiday more filled with joy and surprise than this season has brought, and rarer still do we get a gift bigger than was received by 125 people in attendance at the Steeple Players‘ Saturday night presentation of A Christmas Story. Certainly, no show will ever be as memorable, thanks to my friend Tommy Williams, who played the part of Ralphie’s dad, The Old Man.

Dana and I arrived just after 9:00pm, and joined Tommy’s parents in the lobby. They had seen the show previously, but came this night (as we did) for the special event. The four of us sat at a table together, and waited for directions from an absolutely giddy house manager. At this point, apparently, the whole cast and crew was in on it.

Tonight was extra special, because Tommy’s girlfriend of 4+ years, Wendy, was in the audience, and after receiving the blessing of her parents – and the encouragement of his – he had decided it was time to pop the question. Which he was planning to do as the show closed, in front of a packed house that included many friends and family. Most of which, like Wendy, had NO idea what was coming.

From our seats out in the lobby we heard the furnace and the Bumpus hounds. We heard the cursing that created the black cloud that hangs over Lake Michigan to this day. We heard the terrible moment when the Fra-Geel-Lay leg lamp broke! We laughed along with the audience to some of the more memorable lines – “You used up all the glue on purpose!” “You look like a deranged Easter Bunny!” and “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

And we heard the angels sing the Hallelujah Chorus when Ralphie opened his last Christmas gift from his Old Man.

I think Tommy stole the show this night – his adrenalin was pretty high, he was in excellent form, and his “Old Man” bellows could be heard above everything else.

When the play was over and they came out for the curtain call, each of the actors got big cheers, then they stood in a chorus line and bowed together… the house was on its feet, and everyone was smiling. Our group of “insiders” was hustled into the theater where we had a perfect view of the stage, but most of the audience – and more importantly, Wendy – couldn’t see us.

As the applause died down “The Old Man” said, “There’s one more present we want to give… an award really… Ralphie, go get that other present under the tree, will ya? And Wendy Woodard – will you come down here please?”

Switching in and out of character – not a big leap, since Tommy and the old man are kindred spirits – Tommy told the audience “My girlfriend Wendy was the inspiration for me trying out for this play. A few years ago she took me up to 3159 West 11th street in Cleveland to see the house where the Bumpus dogs ran loose, where the movie A Christmas Story was filmed. And I want to give her this gift tonight to honor her.”

At this point “Ralphie” handed Tommy a long box-shaped present, which you just KNEW contained an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time.

Holding the box for Wendy – who was looking at him like he was Captain Dorkville for calling her down there in front of 100+ people, but still a little curiously – Tommy said, in perfect Old Man voice, “Well? Are you going to open it?”

Wendy opened the box… and I’m pretty sure she stopped breathing. She reached in, and from this 12″x4″x40″ gift-wrapped box, she pulled out a much smaller unwrapped jewelry box. The audience gasped. Wendy still wasn’t breathing. She opened the jewelry box and saw the ring Tommy picked out… and her eyes went big as saucers and she started crying.

Tommy reached to set the box down, and the same smooth motion, dropped to one knee. Wendy grabbed Tommy around the neck, and as the audience finally got our breath, we cheered.

After a few moments it quieted down a little, and Wendy pulled back to look at Tommy. He said, “Wendy, I want you to share my leg lamp with me forever. Will you marry me?” And she said “Yes!!” and grabbed him again, just as the crowd applauded, the women squealed, and, thanks to some quick thinking in the sound booth, the Hallelujah Chorus again came singing from the speakers!

There was much weeping by all the ladies in the house, and not just a few men. Out front, after the show, the receiving line for the cast was rivaled in size by the cluster of women surrounding Wendy, looking at the ring, asking, “Did you even have a CLUE?”

But neither was as big as the grin on the face of the crafty Old Man, who had surprised more than just Ralphie with a gift this holiday.

Good work Tommy. That will truly be A Christmas Story to remember.