Don't Tap-Dance on Your Teacher by Katherine Applegate & Brian Biggs

Author:Katherine Applegate & Brian Biggs
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Social Issues, Humorous Stories, Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Family, Dance, Juvenile Fiction, Children's Audiobooks, Performing Arts, General, Talent Shows, Tap Dancing, Schools, School & Education, Fiction, Friendship, Roscoe (Fictitious Character), Riley
ISBN: 9780061148897
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-03-03T06:00:00+00:00

Emma’s mouse part was quiet and twinkly.

“Look at the two little dancing girls!” someone yelled.

Two older boys were staring at us.

And laughing.

In that special mean way only big boys know how to do.

“No, wait! One of the girls is a guy!” said the biggest big boy.

“Twinkle-toes over there? No way! That is a girl for sure!” said the other one.

Gus jumped off the monkey bars.

“Of course he’s a guy!” he yelled back. “He has short hair and his name is Roscoe.

DUH.”

The boys just laughed and walked off.

It was nice to have Gus defend me.

But suddenly I felt exactly like I had those first few minutes at Miss Trixie’s.

When I’d realized I was a guy surrounded by a gigantic roomful of tapping people who were definitely not guys.

Ms. Diz walked over. “Roscoe,” she said, “I hope you’ll ignore those comments. You understand that tap dance is for girls and boys, right?”

“I guess,” I said quietly.

Emma was watching me with her worried face.

“I’m kind of pooped out from practicing,” I said. “I think I’ll go swing for a while, Emma.”

I headed for the swings.

It was one thing to get teased by Wyatt.

He makes fun of everybody.

But those big guys would be in the audience that afternoon.

Along with lots of other big guys.

Maybe even bigger guys.

I started swinging.

And thought.

I swung higher and higher.

I liked being an elephant.

But I didn’t like getting teased.

It was okay for Emma. Nobody was going to make fun of her.

The bell rang.

I watched the classes start forming their lines.

I could see the big boys getting ready to go into their classroom. They were laughing their mean laughs again.

I had to get out of dancing. Somehow.

I made a decision.

My conscience was going to give me trouble on this one.

That’s the naggy little person who lives in your brain and makes you feel guilty about stuff.

Man, I hate that guy sometimes.

I jumped off the swing.

I landed on the soft stuff they put on the ground around the swings and monkey bars.

But instead of walking away, I rolled onto the ground.

“OW!” I cried. “OW OW OW!”

“Roscoe, what’s wrong?” Ms. Diz asked.

She ran over and knelt down beside me.

“I fell off the swing and I think I broke something!” I said.

“Where does it hurt?” Ms. Diz asked.

“Everywhere,” I said.

I looked at Emma.

Especially my conscience, I thought.

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