The Rev Tom Gordon, retired minister and writer, Port Seton, East Lothian
“Mary, Joseph and the shepherds have already arrived safely at Bethlehem for the infant Nativity play in the school gym, accompanied by beautiful singing from P1, P2 and P3 children sitting on the floor in an open square.
“Teachers, parents and the school chaplain are all enraptured. “The choristers launch into We Three Kings. The changing-room door opens and in walk … two kings. But there’s a Nativity Play to complete, so two kings regally make their way to the stable round lines of happy children. After a significant delay, the third king arrives … clearly late, crown askew, red-faced and understandably harassed.