At Sunday school, the teacher announces that it’s time to start preparing for the Christmas concert and Nativity play. Ramona wants to be a part of the Nativity scene for the first time and volunteers to be a sheep. The teacher agrees, as long as Ramona can find someone to make her a costume, and Ramona thinks her mother can do it. Two of Ramona’s friends, Howie and Davy, get to be sheep along with her. Beezus is offered the role of Mary, which she happily accepts. That night, Ramona tells her mother about the play and needing a costume, and while her mother agrees to help, she isn’t sure where she will find the time.

Later on, Ramona overhears her parents talking and her father saying that Mrs. Quimby shouldn’t have agreed to make the suit. He calls Ramona a “spoiled brat” (131). Ramona is visibly upset for the next few days, and when Mr. Quimby finally asks about it, Ramona refuses to tell him. Beezus walks around with a “holier than thou” attitude, and Ramona gets jealous when Howie’s suit is nearly finished and hers is barely started.