A Christmas Story by Ron And Geoff
Didn’t see this posted anywhere but have not spent a lot of time catching up. Feel free to Pope me
Calkins: In a very Memphis Christmas story, a Wiseman comes from East
By Geoff Calkins
Updated: November 24, 2019 5:27 PM CT | Published: November 22, 2019 6:13 PM CT
"And lo, a Wiseman came from East High, bearing great gifts." You may have heard the story a little differently. (James Wiseman, center, is introduced Nov. 8 at FedExForum.) (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
There's a kid in my neighborhood. His name is Johnny. He told me he just learned a Christmas story. It's a different one than I recall.
Johnny: There was a star.
Me: Exactly! And where was the star?
Johnny: At East.
Me: You mean, in the East?
Johnny: No, at East High.
Me: Wait, what?
Johnny: C'mon, you know, Wiseman at East.
Me: That should be plural, Johnny. There were three wise men.
Johnny: Naw. Just one. The other two you must be thinking of are Boogie and Lester.
Me: Did they come bearing gifts?
Johnny: Absolutely. They definitely have gifts. Dunking. Shooting. They have serious gifts.
Me: No, I mean, actual gifts. Precious gifts.
Johnny: Precious? He's got gifts, too. Precious Achiuwa.
Me: Gesundheit.
Johnny: Mr. Calkins, I didn't even sneeze.
Me: Let's review what we agree on. The wise men traveled East. And they brought gifts.
Johnny: No. Penny brought the gifts. He brought $11,500 of gifts, to be exact.
Me: I'm so confused. Who is Penny?
Johnny: Penny is the shepherd. Tending his flocks by night. And day, too.
Me: He traveled East as well? Following the star?
Johnny: Yes, he went to East. A few years ago. But he didn't follow the star. The star followed him to East and then to Memphis.
Me: What does Memphis have to do with anything?
Johnny: That's where the Tigers play.
Me: Tigers? Really? I expected camels. What happened next?
Johnny: It got a little scary.
Me: I remember. King Herod was uneasy, threatened, afraid he would lose his grip on power.
Johnny: I don't know that Herod guy. He must work for the NCAA.
Me: The NCAA was afraid of the star?
Johnny: Oh, they freaked out about the star. They saw him as a threat to their power. They made him give back his gifts and they said that nobody could enjoy the star until the new year.
Me: That's terrible. Who would want to dim a star? That makes no sense at all. Especially during the Christmas season.
Johnny: I know. But the conference season should be OK.
Me: How did the people react?
Johnny: The people of Memphis?
Me: Yes.
Johnny: They were sore afraid.
Me: And the angel appeared before them and said, "Be not afraid?"
Johnny: No, that was Penny again. He's no angel, he's the shepherd. Penny appeared before them and said, "Other guys have got to step up."
Me: And did they? Is there a happy ending?
Johnny: Of course. Don't you remember the Wiseman story? They went home another way.
Me: Who?
Johnny: All of them. Lester, Boogie, Precious and eventually Wiseman himself. Their original path was blocked so they had to find another way to the NCAA Tournament.
Me: Didn't King Herod and the NCAA know about this other path?
Johnny: There is only so much they can do. They can rule from their throne but they can't rule in people's hearts. The spirit of the season is bigger than that.
Me: And that's the message of the story?
Johnny: Both stories, really. In a world with too much grasping and meanness, the light of the star will shine through.
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A Christmas Story by Ron And Geoff
