Cast: 3m., 4w., up to 4 either gender. On a small, dusty farm in Mexico, in the Valle de Guadalupe, a young boy named Pablo lives with his father, mother and two little sisters, Isabella and Teresa. Residing on the farm are pigs, sheep and Califia, the children's favorite and fattest hen. Also on the farm, unknown to them, are Santita and Monte, the family's guardian angels. One troubled morning, after the sheep have been attacked by a menacing coyote, Mama tells Papa she is pregnant. Papa, a woodcarver, knows that he will have to go north, to America, to find work. His woodcarvings have not been selling like they used to. The children rejoice upon hearing of their mother's pregnancy but soon after are saddened by the news of Papa's departure north. Papa promises that he'll be back by Christmas and says to his son, "Pablito, I'm going to need you to be the man of the house when I'm gone. You need to be strong for your mother and be a good example for your sisters." With the help of Santita and Monte, Pablo steps into his new role the best he can: chasing the coyote away, looking after his sisters, helping his mother around the farm, telling stories after dinner on the porch and carving presents for his sisters with his father's best carving knife, as Papa did for them. As Christmas nears, Pablo does his best to bring the Christmas spirit to his family and home. It's been weeks since they have heard from Papa. Will he make it home in time for Christmas? Will Pablo muster the courage to enter the dark forest where the coyote lurks so he can cut down a small pine tree and bring it home as a Christmas tree? Pablo knows Papa would like that. Area staging. Approximate running time: 1 hour.