The Sassy Collection by Sharon M. Draper

Author:Sharon M. Draper [M. Draper, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2013-10-05T04:00:00+00:00

Just before lunch, Mr. Wood posts the names of the people who will sing in the show. Actually, it’s just about everybody who tried out. Carmelita. Travis. Jasmine. Rusty. Ricky. Charles. Abdul. Tandy. Iris. Princess. Misty. Basima. Josephina. Holly gets to dance. Some of the boys are put into trios and will sing and dance, too. Josephina and Jasmine get a duet.

Everybody is excited. Except me. I don’t even check the cast list.

Then Jasmine says, “Did you see your name, Sassy?”

“Why should it be there?” I say a little sadly. “I didn’t even try out.”

“You should check it,” Jasmine tells me with a smile.

I walk over to the bulletin board. Mr. Wood has assigned jobs to kids as poster makers and set designers and even ushers. I sigh. Those are nice jobs, but I don’t want to do any of that.

I’d love to play my piccolo in the musical, but several things will stop that from happening. First of all, nobody knows I have a piccolo and that I know how to play it. Second, since there are no live instruments in the musical, I’d look pretty stupid showing up with a baby flute.

I guess I kept my secret too well.

I find my name at the very bottom of the list, like maybe Mr. Wood checked it and at the last minute remembered that he had forgotten me.

It says, “Sassy Simone Sanford — stage manager.”

Mr. Wood walks over to me then. “You’ve got class, Sassy. And smarts. And great ideas. I really need your help. You know how forgetful I am. Do you think you can do this job?”

“I think so,” I tell him slowly. “What does the stage manager do?”

“She is the one who tells everybody what to do, where to stand, when to come onstage, and when to leave the stage. She tells the curtain puller when to pull it up and when to bring it down. She is in charge.”

“Do I get a clipboard?” I ask.

He chuckles. “How about a pink one?”

“Can I wear one of those purple sparkly dresses?” I hold my breath.

“Well,” Mr. Wood replies. “I only have enough costumes for the performers who will be on the stage. Most of your work will be done behind the scenes — backstage. But you can wear a pretty outfit — anything you like. And we’ll make sure you get to come out and take a bow. How does that sound?”

I sigh, but I agree to do it. He reaches over and shakes my hand. His large hand covers my little one like a giant glove.

“I’ll need several pens and markers as well,” I tell him. “In lots of different colors. I plan to color coordinate the whole show!”

Mr. Wood laughs his big bass chuckle. “I knew I chose the right person for the job!”

Jasmine asks me then, “Are you happy with the part you got in the show?”

“I like being in charge,” I tell her honestly. “But I really want to wear one of those dresses.”

“I know,” she says, putting her arm around my shoulders.

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