around and see a cheery round face grinning as wide as the open sea.
“Jack!” I say, and run toward him. I dive into his warm arms. I swallow hard so I won’t cry. He pulls me back and holds my shoulders.
“Lemme look at you,” he says. “Ah, you look even smarter. Your new school must be doing a good job.”
My cheeks get hot and I shrug. If I look any smarter it’s probably just an accident.
“We miss you,” he says, and looks up at Mom.
“Sonia misses you guys too,” Mom says, “but she’s really doing well at her new school. She joined the cheerleading team.” I notice that my mom’s voice cracks slightly, like she’s trying to hold back tears herself.
“That’s great. I’m sure she’s dazzling them all.”
I’m about to say that I’m not dazzling anyone and Jack will always be the best teacher I’ve ever had, but the lights flicker, telling everyone to get into their seats.
“That’s my signal. Come talk to me after the show,” Jack says. He walks off down the aisle toward the back of the stage. I picture everyone rushing around straightening theircostumes, bristling with excitement and nervousness. I would give all the green loafers in the world to be back there tonight.
The lights go dim and the stage brightens. A person steps onto the stage in a big fancy dress and a wig piled high with yellow curls. For a second I’m not sure who she is, but then she opens her mouth and Sam’s voice travels out into the auditorium. She starts talking about her wonderful family and friends and all her riches. Above all, she has the prettiest poodle anyone has ever seen. Then someone dressed like a poodle comes bounding onstage. Sam leads him through a series of tricks. He sits, lies down, rolls over, and plays dead. Then he does a little Irish jig and the whole audience laughs. Even though his face is covered, I know it must be Connor. Nobody else could be so funny.
The play is great. Basically it’s about a family who thinks they’re the most perfect people in the world. One day, when no one is home, they leave their safe open by accident. The poodle pulls out a bag filled with jewels and money and buries it in the backyard. Suddenly everyone in the perfect family is blaming one another for the missing riches. At the end, while the family is having a terrible fight, the poodle goes out into the backyard, digs up the bag, and comes in and drops it in the middle of the room. The family just stares and stares in silence. Then the poodle does another jig and the lights go down.
I’m not sure what it all means, but it makes me thinkabout money and whether my family was happier when it had more. Now that Dad has a new job, if the money thing is true we should all be happy again, right? Not according to the poodle, I guess. Maybe being happy is not how much money you have, but how you spend it.
The audience gives everyone a standing ovation and Sam looks like she’s going to burst. I’m close enough to the stage that I can see her hands shaking with excitement. I know I should go backstage and tell her how fantastic she was. I know I should give her a hug and try to melt away the weirdness between us, but all I want to do is leave.
“Let’s go see Sam,” Mom says, and doesn’t wait for my answer. I shuffle behind Natasha as she gallops after Mom.
Sam’s parents, Jack, and some of my old classmates from Community surround Sam, who’s still in her costume and makeup. Her face is as red as a fire truck. I think she sees me but I’m not sure. I move in closer.
“Sonia!” she finally calls, and waves me over.
“Hi. You were so—” I say, but never get to finish. Everything is a big blur of Mom hugging her, Sadie and Ben hugging me, and Natasha fussing over Sam’s costume. Mom gushes over her and I just stand there smiling with jealousy. And just when I think it couldn’t get any worse, Connor comes over to Sam and they give each other a huge jumping hug. He’s still dressed in most
“Jack!” I say, and run toward him. I dive into his warm arms. I swallow hard so I won’t cry. He pulls me back and holds my shoulders.
“Lemme look at you,” he says. “Ah, you look even smarter. Your new school must be doing a good job.”
My cheeks get hot and I shrug. If I look any smarter it’s probably just an accident.
“We miss you,” he says, and looks up at Mom.
“Sonia misses you guys too,” Mom says, “but she’s really doing well at her new school. She joined the cheerleading team.” I notice that my mom’s voice cracks slightly, like she’s trying to hold back tears herself.
“That’s great. I’m sure she’s dazzling them all.”
I’m about to say that I’m not dazzling anyone and Jack will always be the best teacher I’ve ever had, but the lights flicker, telling everyone to get into their seats.
“That’s my signal. Come talk to me after the show,” Jack says. He walks off down the aisle toward the back of the stage. I picture everyone rushing around straightening theircostumes, bristling with excitement and nervousness. I would give all the green loafers in the world to be back there tonight.
The lights go dim and the stage brightens. A person steps onto the stage in a big fancy dress and a wig piled high with yellow curls. For a second I’m not sure who she is, but then she opens her mouth and Sam’s voice travels out into the auditorium. She starts talking about her wonderful family and friends and all her riches. Above all, she has the prettiest poodle anyone has ever seen. Then someone dressed like a poodle comes bounding onstage. Sam leads him through a series of tricks. He sits, lies down, rolls over, and plays dead. Then he does a little Irish jig and the whole audience laughs. Even though his face is covered, I know it must be Connor. Nobody else could be so funny.
The play is great. Basically it’s about a family who thinks they’re the most perfect people in the world. One day, when no one is home, they leave their safe open by accident. The poodle pulls out a bag filled with jewels and money and buries it in the backyard. Suddenly everyone in the perfect family is blaming one another for the missing riches. At the end, while the family is having a terrible fight, the poodle goes out into the backyard, digs up the bag, and comes in and drops it in the middle of the room. The family just stares and stares in silence. Then the poodle does another jig and the lights go down.
I’m not sure what it all means, but it makes me thinkabout money and whether my family was happier when it had more. Now that Dad has a new job, if the money thing is true we should all be happy again, right? Not according to the poodle, I guess. Maybe being happy is not how much money you have, but how you spend it.
The audience gives everyone a standing ovation and Sam looks like she’s going to burst. I’m close enough to the stage that I can see her hands shaking with excitement. I know I should go backstage and tell her how fantastic she was. I know I should give her a hug and try to melt away the weirdness between us, but all I want to do is leave.
“Let’s go see Sam,” Mom says, and doesn’t wait for my answer. I shuffle behind Natasha as she gallops after Mom.
Sam’s parents, Jack, and some of my old classmates from Community surround Sam, who’s still in her costume and makeup. Her face is as red as a fire truck. I think she sees me but I’m not sure. I move in closer.
“Sonia!” she finally calls, and waves me over.
“Hi. You were so—” I say, but never get to finish. Everything is a big blur of Mom hugging her, Sadie and Ben hugging me, and Natasha fussing over Sam’s costume. Mom gushes over her and I just stand there smiling with jealousy. And just when I think it couldn’t get any worse, Connor comes over to Sam and they give each other a huge jumping hug. He’s still dressed in most
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