Fame by Karen Kingsbury Page A

kids practically shouted, “Yes, Katy!” “That’s better.”
    Katy tried to give them a stern look, but she could feel her eyes dancing.
    “Now… I want four even lines of twelve to thirteen kids, with the tallest kids in back. Ready. , . go!”
    The kids moved much quicker and more efficiently this time. They formed four rows in no time.
    “Better.” Katy looked at Rhonda again. “I think we might even finish early.”
    A few of the older kids giggled, and Katy grinned at them. Then she asked Rhonda to move to the nearby piano and play the opening number. She wasn’t as strong with music as Al or Nancy, but she could give the cast a melody to work with.
    “All right, here’s what’s going to happen.” Katy’s voice was animated and upbeat. This was the part she loved, making a story come to life. “This song is the opening number, and it’s about the arrival of the Big Missouri—a boat that came into the city of Hannibal only once in a while. Everyone in town is thrilled that the big boat’s coming, because it carries mail for some people, friends and relatives for others, and sometimes a family that might be relocating to the area. That’s the case with this story. The Thatchers are moving to town, arriving on the Big Missouri.”
    One of the smaller kids raised his hand. “Katy, why didn’t they just take a UHaul?”
    “Good question.” Katy gave a pointed look at the older kids 78
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    who were snickering in the back. Then her eyes found the young boy again.
    “Because U-Haul wasn’t around back then. For that matter, roads weren’t really around back then. Not the way they are today.” She took a deep breath. “The point is, the people of Hannibal, Missouri, are very, very excited.”
    She took a few running steps and did a sideways bell kick. “That’s how excited they are.”
    “So—” Rhonda was at the piano—”the music is strong and steady, like this.” She played the opening notes of the song.
    “And what Rhonda and I want you to do is pump your arms like this…” Katy looked like a mechanical jogger running out of batteries as she pumped her right fist straight forward, paused, and then pumped her left fist straight forward.
    She repeated that several times. “I want you to pump your arms like that and stomp your feet forward until you’re near the front of the stage. Then I want everyone to spin to the left, make a sharp U-turn, and head to the back of the group where you’ll form your line once more.” She paused in midpumping motion.
    “Got it?”
    “Yes, Katy.” Their voices were loud and together.
    “Okay, let’s see what it looks like.”
    Rhonda played the music while the first row marched for ward without incident, spun to the left, and moved to their spots at the back of the line. Not until the last line, the oldest, tallest kids, did three of them turn the wrong direction and smack
    straight into the person next to them.
    The music stopped.
    Six kids were holding their heads, and the others looked ner vous. One girl raised her hand and said, “Katy, do we need a medical release for this dance?”
    “Yes.” Katy crossed her arms and nodded. “I think after to night we might consider that. Definitely.”
    The injured dancers were stabilized, and Katy ordered every one to line up again. “Okay, let’s set a goal. Only two injuries this time.” She shot a look at Rhonda. “Ready… go!”
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    This time the blocking worked without a hitch. One line after another the kids marched and stomped to the beat, spun around to the left, and returned to the back of the pack. All in unison, and almost all in time with the music.
    “Yay!” Katy raised her hands in the air. “Let’s do it again!” By the half-time break, they had most of the song choreographed, and Katy felt her heart dancing along. At this point in putting together a show, God always gave her a glimpse of what was to come. This time the glimpse gave her chills.
    She pulled herself away from