Just Grace, Star on Stage Read online

  WHAT WAS STRANGE

  When I heard everyone clapping, I felt 100 percent sick. But the minute I walked out on stage, I was better. I loved being up there. It was kind of like a dream, a super-great daydream where everything goes exactly how you want it to. And the parts where people laughed after I said something funny—those were the best parts!

  THE SEED

  The whole play went by super fast. I couldn’t believe it was almost over. We were already at the part where I throw the seed out into the audience.

  I got ready and said, “I can throw this seed. I don’t need animals to help me.” I looked in the front row for someone to throw it to. All of a sudden I heard my name. “Grace! Grace! Throw it to me! Throw it to me!” It was Robert, and he was standing in the middle of the auditorium waving his arms. I could see Mimi’s mom trying to get him to be quiet and sit down, but he was too excited to listen. Everyone in the audience was looking at him. I knew Ms. Perry would be mad, but I did it anyway. I threw the seed right to Robert.

  He caught it! Just like I knew he would. Then I heard Ms. Perry say, “But the wind grabbed the seed and threw it back to the king.” I looked at Robert and tapped my hands together. Robert pulled his arm back and threw the seed over the whole audience right back to me. It was an excellent throw. The audience went crazy! They clapped and whistled, and clapped some more. It was something I could hardly believe, even though I was standing there and listening with my own two ears.

  THE SLINGSHOT

  After that it didn’t even really matter that I messed up the slingshot part. Sammy would have done it perfectly, but I took too long to get ready and the bell rang before I even pretended to shoot the seed. I don’t think anyone cared, though. They clapped anyway, even though I did it wrong.

  WHAT IS REALLY FUN TO DO

  Sing “Happy Birthday” with an auditorium full of people. Marta was happy about that and did a fancy fairy twirl.

  Bow on stage while standing next to your best friend.

  WHAT IS GREAT BUT NOT EASY TO DO

  Hold a whole bunch of flowers.

  Mom and Dad gave me flowers, Augustine Dupre gave me flowers, and Mimi’s mom made Robert give me a flower. There was also lots of hugging. Holding flowers and hugging is not easy either. When Mimi’s mom gave me a hug she said, “Grace, you were the star of the stage!” That was better than all the flowers in the world. It was also a huge surprise. Sometimes surprises like that can make you cry even if you think you won’t.

  WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

  I changed out of my costume and met Mom and Dad and Augustine Dupre in my classroom. It was fun, but not as fun as the play.

  WHAT I FORGOT TO DO AT NIGHT

  I was so tired that I 100 percent forgot to flash my lights for Mimi. It was okay, though—I knew she’d forgive me.

  FRIDAY

  Mimi and I talked about the play all the way to school. She said she was sure that Robert was going to love me for the rest of my life. I didn’t tell her about being the king just for her. It didn’t matter—everything had worked out perfectly, and that was the part that mattered. Except for Sammy—that part was not perfect. Even Mimi was sad for him. It wasn’t fair. He had done all that practicing and now he had missed his big chance to be the star on stage.

  By the time we got to school Mimi and I had a plan, and that plan was to talk to Ms. Perry.

  WHAT WAS NOT GOOD

  Sammy was still sick, and Ms. Perry was gone. Miss Lois said Ms. Perry would be back in a few weeks for a goodbye lunch, but until then, she wasn’t coming back. Then Miss Lois said, “Now please sit down so we can start class.” Normally I listen to Miss Lois, but today I didn’t—I couldn’t help it. Instead of listening to her, I made her listen to me.

  After I finished talking I walked to the door. I was sure she was going to send me to see Mr. Harris, the principal. But Miss Lois surprised me. She said, “Just Grace, where do you think you’re going? Please sit in your seat.” And then she winked at me. I couldn’t believe it. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she had something in her eye? I looked around, but there was no one to ask. For the whole rest of the morning I watched her to see if she would do it again, but she didn’t. I thought she might call me over to have a talk when it was lunchtime, but she didn’t do that either.

  LUNCHTIME

  Mimi said Miss Lois probably had gotten an eyelash in her eye. “Because really, she is not a winking kind of person.” Then she said, “You’re lucky. I thought for sure you’d get sent to the principal.” I agreed. It was all kind of mysterious.

  WHAT MIMI WAS RIGHT ABOUT

  As soon as we got back from lunch Miss Lois said I had to go to the office to see Mr. Harris. Usually when you get in trouble it happens right away, so you are not so surprised. When it happens much later it is not something you are expecting. When you are not expecting something your face can go super red with embarrassment. It’s not a good feeling.

  I walked out of class as fast as I could, but I could tell that everyone was watching me. By the time I got to Mr. Harris’s office I was really nervous.

  WHAT WAS UNEXPECTED

  As soon as I walked into Mr. Harris’s office he looked up and smiled. “Sit down, Grace,” he said. “How are you today?” “Okay,” I answered. “Not too tired from the play?” he asked. I shook my head no. “I’ve been hearing a lot about you today,” he said. I held my breath. This was it. This was the getting-in-trouble part—it was about to happen, I could tell. And then Mr. Harris surprised me.

  “I’ve had a talk with Miss Lois and Ms. Perry, and we’ve decided to do something about your idea. As soon as Sammy is better, we’ll have an assembly and show the play to some of the other classes. Once we have that date you can invite your family, and of course we’ll invite Sammy’s family to sit in. That way they’ll be able to see you both in the roles that you practiced for.”

  I couldn’t see my face, but I’m sure it looked just like this.

  Mr. Harris waited for me to get back to normal and didn’t say anything else. He was very patient. I bet he sees a lot of surprised faces in his office. After a few seconds I said, “Uh, thank you.” Mr. Harris stood up and said, “Well, I guess we’d better get you back to class.” On the way out Miss W., his secretary, stopped me and said, “Grace, this is for you. I was going to send it down to Miss Lois, but since you’re here you can just take it.” It was an envelope with a card. I could tell that without even opening it. On my way down the hall I took the card out. On the outside was a drawing of a big smiling star.

  This was the inside.

  Sometimes a sentence can change a day. I knew that already, but it was nice to have it happen again.

  What Grace Will Be Thinking About In Her Next Book

  Visit www.hmhbooks.com or your favorite retailer to order the book.

  Visit www.hmhbooks.com to find all of the books in the Just Grace series.

  About the Author

  CHARISE MERICLE HARPER is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including the Just Grace series. In a starred review, Booklist called Just Grace “Hilarious,” and said, “The kids come alive in the story, and Harper enhances the comical goings-on with sparkling cartoon sketches. Give this to ... anyone looking for a funny book.” Charise lives in Westchester County, New York. Visit her website at www.chariseharper.com and visit Just Grace’s website at www.justgracebooks.com, where you’ll find all sorts of fun things, including videos, quizzes, and information about all the Just Grace books.

 

 

 
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