Little Ja'Nee Makes Her Debut

Story A:
I take tap and I love my leotard. Mostly, I love the shoes with square taps. My Mom lets me practice on the porch. I watch cars go down the street and they see me do shuffle, ball, change, and kick.

There are report cards at my dance school. Each time my Mom brings me I get a star! If I do well at the nighttime recital I may get a gold star.

My teacher is Mrs. Appelt and she gives me a small brown cup to take home. Dad said it’s called a “trophy” because I never miss a day of tap dancing. I would like to practice in our kitchen, but Mom tells me my shoes will scratch the floor. I’d rather not practice on the back porch because there’s nothing to look at.

I have a lot of friends in dance class. Mostly we’re girls with big hair and small shoes. There’s one boy called Donnie and his freckles are cute. (I used Mom’s eyebrow stick to put freckles on my face, but she didn’t laugh). Some of the girls tease Donnie, but not Mrs. Appelt. She claps loudly for him, and for me too.

Lesson for Today:
Don’t fall down on your porch when cars are looking, and boys can tap like angels if you only give them a chance.


Story B:
Dad and Mom took me to a park that had rides. My little brother came too, and we had a pillow fight in the back seat of the car.

The park had sky baskets; a castle, a submarine, a train and hats with animal ears. Gerald wanted to see the pirate ship, but Mom said he wouldn’t be able to sleep that night. My brother told me he would use Mom’s eyebrow stick to draw a beard on his face. I wonder if she’ll laugh?

I saw people of many colors: black, brown and white. Some children had pretty eyes that looked like a half moon. Other kids had their hair braided close to their heads.

There were cars that my Dad could drive with me and there were two steering wheels. We raced slow…then fast…and bumped into Mom and Gerald in their car. When I got out, my shoe came off. I shouted to the garage man, “I lost my shoe.” He got it for me and then other people stepped into our car.

Lesson for Today:
Smile at God’s children, and wear tight shoes if you’re going to a magic castle.


Story C:
I have an aunt named Janice. She looks like my Mom but taller. I see her at the family meals where you’ll find a stuffed turkey in our oven and pies on the counter.

She’s a teacher, and when she was young she marched in a band with a baton. I know she’s very smart, but she doesn’t wear glasses.

Aunt Janice laughs a lot and tells me books are her friends. I have books that lay on my dresser. Sometimes I read them, and if I’m tired I’ll look at the pictures. My aunt says books will help me learn colors, numbers and my A,B,C’s.

Next to my bed is a tiny house that my aunt made out of construction paper. It has a flat roof and rooms inside. Mine is pink and brother’s house is green. I took Mom’s eyebrow stick and drew a door, windows, and chimney.

My favorite thing is the hula skirt my aunt made out of bed sheets. I swing my hips and move my hands like ocean waves. I cannot wear my hula skirt and tap dance shoes at the same time.

Lesson for Today:
Ladies can be schoolteachers, and you must always wear shorts under a hula skirt.


Story D:
On Easter Sunday my Mom put me in a dress with stiff ruffles. I have a new pair of shoes that Dad calls Mary Janes, but I’ve never met her. They are white in color and look nice with pretty socks.

I also have a purse that looks like an ice cream cone. Inside there’s a charm I got out of the gum machine, a quarter that fell out of Dad’s pocket, plus a handkerchief to wipe my shoes.

Gerald and I put carrots on a plate for the Easter Bunny. The next morning there were two tall baskets on our porch! Toys, candy, puzzles, crayons and a small book were inside.

The best part was the egg hunt. Some had funny faces like the Easter Bunny used Mom’s eyebrow stick to draw big eyes and whiskers. The eggs were hidden in the garden, in the dog’s bed, and next to the palm tree by the pool.

Lesson for Today:
Thank the Bunny for the gifts, and don’t drop an egg into the pool in the month of April.