Heidi Heckelbeck Is Ready to Dance!

by Wanda Coven

  Henry rolled his eyes.

  “This is very brave,” Mom said. “Since when did you get so brave?”

  “Today after school,” said Heidi. “I kind of got tapped by the bravery bug.”

  Mom raised an eyebrow.

  Heidi began to examine a meatball.

  “Well, I think it’s great,” said Dad. “After all, we are a very talented family.”

  The next morning at school Heidi stopped by the office on the way to her classroom.

  “Oh hello, Heidi,” said Principal Pennypacker. “Can I help you with something?”

  “Yes,” said Heidi. “I would like to enter the school talent show.”

  “That’s wonderful,” said Principal Pennypacker. “What would you like to perform?”

  “A dance,” said Heidi.

  “Any special type of dance?”

  “No. Just a dance.”

  “I had no idea you could dance,” said the principal.

  “It’s a hidden talent.”

  “Hmm. . . . I see.” Then Principal Pennypacker looked Heidi in the eye and smiled. “You’re always so full of surprises,” he said.

  Heidi laughed nervously. She often got the feeling that Principal Pennypacker knew she was a little different. But he has no way of knowing that I am a witch, right?

  At the end of the day, the talent show list was up! Everyone gathered around the bulletin board in the hallway to see the list of performers.

  “Heidi! You signed up for the talent show!” said Lucy. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I wanted to surprise you,” said Heidi.

  “Well, I’m not surprised,” Lucy said. “I’m SHOCKED!”

  “It’s no big deal,” said Heidi.

  “Are you kidding?” Bruce said. “A few days ago you didn’t want to have anything to do with the talent show!”

  “Well, I changed my mind,” said Heidi. “I’m going to do a dance.”

  “That’s great,” said Lucy. “What kind of dance are you going to do?”

  “It’s a secret,” Heidi said.

  “It’s really no secret,” said Melanie. “Weirdos definitely can’t dance!” Then she burst out laughing.

  Heidi balled up her fists at her sides. This time she would stand up to Melanie. Somehow she felt more confident now that she’d found a tap-dancing spell.

  “Laugh all you want, Melanie,” said Heidi. “My dance is going to be a BIG hit.”

  Melanie’s jaw dropped. She wasn’t used to Heidi standing up to her. She and her bobbing ponytail walked off.

  “I’LL show her!” said Heidi.

  “That’s the spirit!” said Lucy.

  And they slapped each other five.

  Heidi peeked out the window. Mom was gardening. She knew Dad was in the lab. Henry was upstairs practicing his mime act. The coast is clear, she thought. Now I can make my potion.

  Heidi set a tall plastic Disney cup on the kitchen counter. Then she grabbed a bottle of root beer from the refrigerator. She poured one cup of root beer into the Disney cup. Then she pulled a cranberry juice box from the pantry shelf. Heidi added three tablespoons to the cup. Next she added the sugar and stirred every-thing together.

  Heidi carried the potion to her bedroom and set it on her desk. Now I need something to wear, she thought.

  Heidi searched through her closet. She chose a purple dress with sparkly swirls across the front. After getting dressed, Heidi slipped on Mom’s old tap shoes.

  Heidi looked at her kitty cat clock with the moving eyes and tail. The talent show starts in an hour, she thought. If the spell lasts two hours, this would be the perfect time to cast the spell!

  Heidi grabbed her Book of Spells and put on her Witches of Westwick medallion. She held her medallion in one hand and placed her other hand over the mix. She had just begun to chant the spell when . . .

  Rap! Rap! Rap!

  Somebody knocked on her door! Heidi jumped to her feet and bumped into her desk. Her potion tipped over. Heidi caught it with her free hand, but some of it sloshed onto her desk.

  “Who is it?” asked Heidi. She quickly lay her jean jacket over her Book of Spells and medallion.

  “It’s Mom. We’re leaving in fifteen minutes. Are you ready?”

  “Almost!” said Heidi.

  She listened to her mom’s footsteps as she walked down the hall. Phew! she thought. That was close!

  Heidi looked at the spill on her desk. Then she looked at the liquid in the cup. There was still a lot left. This will have to do, she thought. There wasn’t enough time to sneak downstairs and make another batch.

  Heidi chanted the spell and then chugged the mix. She scrunched up her face. Yuck, she thought. That tastes gross. Heidi wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and walked to the mirror to test the spell.

  She tapped her toe on the floor. Her feet went tappity-tap! It was if they had been doing it her whole life. Heidi had to jump onto the rug to stop herself from dancing. Wow, she thought. This is even better than I imagined! I am not going to be a big nothing at the talent show after all. I’m going to be a STAR!

  Heidi stuffed the shoes back into the box, slipped on her sneakers, and zoomed downstairs.

  “I’M READY!” she shouted.

  Heidi hopped into the car and sat next to Henry. He had on ankle-length black trousers, white socks, and black loafers. On top he wore a black-and-white-striped shirt, suspenders, white gloves, and a black top hat. Mom had painted his face pure white with red lips.

  “You look like a REAL mime,” said Heidi.

  Henry gave the okay signal with his fingers. He was already in character.

  “Are you all set with your dance?” asked Dad.

  “I haven’t seen you practice once all week,” said Mom. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

  “Yup, all set,” said Heidi, giving her shoe box a little kiss.

  Dad dropped Heidi and Henry off at the back of the auditorium. Kids had gathered outside the stage door. Heidi spotted Melanie. Her hair was all curled and she had on a flouncy Irish costume with a pink bodice and four layers of pink and white ruffles. She looked like a real dancer. Heidi tried not to notice.

  Mrs. Noddywonks, the drama teacher, handed out the program to the audience. Henry’s act was first! Soon Mrs. Noddywonks announced the first performer.

  “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Brewster Elementary Talent Show!” she said. “For our first act we have Henry Heckelbeck, who will be performing a mime routine.”

  Everyone clapped and cheered.

  Heidi gave Henry a fist bump.

  Then Henry moonwalked onto the stage. Snap! Slide! Snap! Slide! He seemed to float across the floor. Then he performed his flower routine. When he offered the pretend flowers to Mrs. Noddywonks, the audience roared with laughter. Henry bowed and zoomed off the stage.

  “Great job!” said Heidi.

  “Thanks,” said Henry. “I felt a little scared.”

  “It didn’t show,” said Heidi.

  The next act was Charlie Chen who played the banjo. After him Natalie Newman told jokes. Then Mrs. Noddywonks closed the curtain so that Lucy and Bruce could set up their skit.

  Lucy sat on a stool in front of the curtain and put her arms behind her back. Bruce stood behind her and slipped his arms through hers. Nobody could see Bruce because he was behind the curtain. Then Lucy began to tell a story while Bruce did all sorts of funny things to Lucy with his hands. The crowd laughed and laughed as “Lucy’s hands” slapped her face and scratched her head.

  Then it was Heidi’s turn. She took a deep breath. Heidi walked under the lights and tapped her toe on the stage. Her feet began to shuffle. She tapped across the floor one way and then back the other way. She did digs, flaps, and a move called the Cincinnati, which got a lot of claps and cheers.

  But then . . . her feet suddenly stopped dancing! Heidi tapped the floor. Nothing happened. She tapped again. Not one shuffle. Oh no! she thought. The spell must’ve worn off!
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  Heidi looked at the audience. People began to murmur. She tried to mimic what her feet and arms had been doing when she had been under the spell. She could see her mom and dad in the audience. They knew she had used magic. Tears welled up in Heidi’s eyes. I’m going to be in big trouble, she thought.

  But Heidi was wrong. Her parents began to clap and whistle—and so did Aunt Trudy. The whole audience began to cheer! Heidi smiled and quickly shuffled her way offstage.

  “You were amazing!” Lucy said.

  “How’d you pull that off?” asked Bruce.

  “It wasn’t exactly what I had planned,” said Heidi, “but I’m glad everyone liked it.”

  “That was outstanding!” said Principal Pennypacker, who had been helping out backstage. “It was almost as if your feet had been bewitched!”

  For a moment Heidi was speechless. Does he know? But how? Nah, there’s no way. She thanked the principal and turned back to her friends.

  Then Melanie pranced onto the stage. She performed a perfect routine. Heidi wanted to barf.

  “Your act was WAY better,” Henry said.

  Heidi spun around. “Thanks, little dude,” she said. “But you know what? YOUR act stole the show.”

  “Really?” said Henry.

  “Definitely,” Heidi said.

  After the last act, Heidi and Henry ran into the auditorium to find Mom, Dad, and Aunt Trudy.

  Mom had a stern look on her face. Maybe her parents were a little mad after all.

  “I’m sorry I used magic,” said Heidi.

  “That’s cheating,” said Mom.

  “I know,” said Heidi. “I just wanted to have a talent.”

  “Did you like tap-dancing?” asked Aunt Trudy.

  “I loved it,” said Heidi. “It made me want to get good at something.”

  “But you ARE good at something,” said Henry. “You’re good at getting in TROUBLE!”

  Everyone laughed—even Heidi.

  “I’d rather forget I have THAT talent,” Heidi said.

  “Bravo!” said Dad. “Now, who wants to get pizza and try out my new fizzy wax-bottle soda candy?”

  “WE do!” shouted Henry and Heidi.

  And they moonwalked all the way to the car.

  Heidi met Lucy at the Brewster Elementary parking lot. The bus for Camp Dakota had already arrived.

  “Time to go!” Heidi said.

  She hugged her mom and dad good-bye.

  Heidi turned to Henry. “You know what’s weird?” she said. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you too,” Henry said. “Write me, okay?”

  “Promise,” said Heidi. She high-fived her little brother.

  Then Heidi slung her backpack over her shoulder and boarded the bus with Lucy. They looked at each other and squealed.

  “This is going to be the BEST two weeks EVER!” Heidi said.

  “I know,” said Lucy. “And I can’t wait for you to meet my two camp friends, Jill and Bree.”

  “Me too,” Heidi said.

  During the ride the girls played hangman and drew pictures. Soon the bus pulled onto a dirt road lined with pine trees. A bunch of campers greeted the bus in the parking lot.

  “There they are!” shouted Lucy, waving at her friends from the bus window. Heidi peeked at the girls. Both of the girls bounced up and down and waved. Wow, they sure are happy to see Lucy, she thought.

  Heidi turned to say something to Lucy, but Lucy was already getting off the bus.

  “Hey, wait for me!” shouted Heidi, bumping the seats with her backpack as she ran down the aisle.

  But no one was listening to Heidi.

  WANDA COVEN has always loved magic. When she was little, she used to make secret potions from smooshed shells and acorns. Then she would pretend to transport herself and her friends to enchanted places. Now she’s able to visit other worlds through writing. Wanda lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and son. They have three cats: Hilda, Agnes, and Claw-dia.

  PRISCILLA BURRIS has illustrated numerous books and materials for children, parents, and teachers. She enjoys painting cakes and creating art for products, which include murals, greeting cards, and rubber stamps! Priscilla lives with her family in Southern California.

  Jacket design by Laura Lyn DiSiena

  Jacket illustrations copyright © 2013

  by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  Little Simon

  Simon & Schuster

  New York

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

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  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  Copyright © 2013 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  LITTLE SIMON is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and associated colophon is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

  Designed by Laura Lyn DiSiena

  Coven, Wanda.

  Heidi Heckelbeck is ready to dance! / by Wanda Coven ; illustrated by Priscilla Burris. — 1st ed.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Feeling totally untalented, Heidi resorts to her book of spells to come up with a dazzling act for the school talent show.

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5191-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) —

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5192-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) —

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5193-3 (eBook)

  [1. Talent shows—Fiction. 2. Witches—Fiction.] I. Burris, Priscilla, ill. II. Title.

  PZ7.C83393Hj 2013

  [Fic]—dc23

  2011046288