When we returned home from the cast party for Freedom High School Theatre Company’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” my son, James, burst into tears. He played young Harry/Tommy in the play. He goes to elementary school in North Bethlehem, so he won’t see his fellow cast members anytime soon. He was so sad that the play had ended and was already missing the friends he made.

While I comforted him, I understood how he was feeling. The show was fantastic. The FHSTC students are very talented and very kind and friendly. So was director Justin Amman, and all the staff, and the crew, and the parents who built the sets and did hair and makeup and provided snacks and did whatever else was needed.

Costuming James was a challenge. He needed two costumes, including pajamas, slippers, pants, a button-down shirt, a sweater vest, a jacket, a scarf and boots. It all had to be appropriate for the time period of between 1910 and 1950.

The shirt was easiest. He borrowed a plain white button-down from his older brother. I thought I had snow boots for him. But his rapidly growing feet no longer fit them. So he wore the black LL Bean duck boots his brother gave me last Christmas.

I remember Priscilla, who was in charge of costuming, smiling brightly when she found a sweater vest James could wear. The pajamas had to match for all four of George Bailey’s children, so the theater company provided them. The slippers simply appeared one day. The jacket was the biggest challenge. Just days before the show, Liv, who played Janie, remembered she had a jacket she had worn as a costume for a presentation. It was perfect. The scarf came from home. I also made him a little pin-on bow tie for the final scene, but James didn’t like trying to take it off, so it sort of disappeared. So dressing James was a collaborative effort.

During breaks in the show, James played Ninetendo games in the dressing room with the older boys. He did the same with them at the cast party. As we left the cast party, he got hugs from some of the cast, and Sam, who played Mr. Potter, took him aside and whispered words of praise and encouragement. If I could cry, I would have cried, too!

So thank you to the FHSTC for a wonderful play and your wonderful kindness.