Never Grow Up

by Karen Kingsbury

  And then they hurried offstage. They had done it! The play was a success! In the back, even Mr. Garrett was clapping. He walked up to Ashley with a half smile. “You didn’t stay with the script.”

  “It was better, though.” Ashley did a nervous shrug. “Right, Mr. Garrett?”

  He chuckled for a few seconds. “Actually… this time I think it was.”

  Landon tapped Ashley’s shoulder. “That was awesome! You were like the Queen of Neverland. Great job, Ashley.” He had to talk a little loud to be heard over the applause.

  “Landon.” Ashley put her hand on his shoulder. “That is my favorite compliment of all time. Thank you.” She smiled at him, and he smiled back. “Good job, Hook. It’s not easy for you to act mean.” She stepped back. “Especially when I know the truth.”

  Ashley looked at Landon a few more seconds, and then Kari walked up. “Great work, Ash! I loved the new ending.”

  “Thanks!” Ashley stepped away from Landon and looked at her sister. “Are you next?”

  “One more act, then us! Pray!” Kari motioned for Mandy and Liza to hurry up. “We’re so nervous!”

  Ashley closed her eyes as Kari and her friends ran off. “Help them, God,” she whispered. “They’re going to need it.”

  Just then Natalie ran up and grabbed her hand. “Come on! Mr. Garrett has pizza for us in the back room!”

  “He does?” Ashley ran with Natalie to the room behind the stage. Back there all of Mr. Garrett’s class was squealing and running around and celebrating.

  As they ate pizza and talked about the show, Ashley thought of a drawing she would do later. In the picture, she would be the very person Landon Blake said she was. Her sword in the air and pixie dust falling all around her. She had to draw the picture, so she would remember forever the way she felt tonight.

  Because Ashley Baxter truly was the Queen of Neverland.

  19 Dancing Queens

  KARI

  Two minutes remained till they took the stage, and Kari and her friends were so nervous they could barely think. Kari had no idea how they were going to dance.

  “I’ve never been so scared.” Mandy’s legs were shaking. “Why did I agree to this?”

  Kari had to think of something fast. Suddenly she remembered the words her dad said earlier tonight. Don’t forget, Kari… you love dancing. So have fun!

  Yes, Kari told herself. Dad was right. They shouldn’t be afraid. In a rush, Kari gathered Mandy and Liza close. “Look, girls… it’s time for a pep talk.”

  Out on stage four sixth-graders were singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” The song was almost over, so Kari didn’t have long.

  “Pep would be good.” Liza’s eyes were wide. “Did you see how many people are in those seats?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Kari looked intently at Liza and Mandy. “Listen! We’ve got this.” She took hold of her friends’ hands. “We’ve worked hard, we’ve practiced. We know the song!”

  “Too well.” Liza laughed. “I sing ‘Under the Sea’ all day long. My family’s ready for something new.”

  Mandy’s mom had brought sequined scarves to add to their costumes. Kari thought the addition was perfect. “No doubt we’re the Dancing Queens tonight.” She took a step back and twirled the ends of her scarf.

  “True.” Mandy adjusted the sequined scarf on her neck. “Dancing queens aren’t afraid.”

  “There you go!” Kari gave Mandy a side hug.

  “Not to mention…” Liza put her sunglasses on. “We look fabulous!”

  “Oh yes we do!” Kari struck a pose and Mandy joined in. “Are we ready, Dancing Queens?”

  “Yes!” Liza danced in place a bit. “Ready steady.”

  “Me, too.” Mandy wasn’t shaking now. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  The rainbow singers were finished, and out on the stage, Miss Patty’s voice rang through the building. “Give it up for Ms. Nan’s Dancing Queens!”

  “That’s us! Go, go, go.” Mandy pulled Kari and Liza onstage and they rushed to their starting positions, with their backs to the crowd.

  Kari exhaled. This moment felt right. Being onstage. The thrill of the lights and the audience waiting for the show. Kari felt confident. She felt secure. Which was a feeling she hadn’t felt in a while.

  The music began, and the girls started their dance. Swaying one way and then the other, their hands in the air like long pieces of seaweed. At the same time they spun toward the front of the stage.

  All three of them sang along to the music. The girls spread their arms in front of them. They wagged their fingers in unison.

  Kari couldn’t believe it. Their moves were in perfect time! Never had practice gone this well. Also the bright lights made their pink and purple sequins extra shiny.

  The song talked about the ocean floor and the girls stooped low and pretended to smooth out the sand. As they danced, the song came to life for Kari. Suddenly she knew without a single doubt what she wanted to be when she grew up.

  She wanted to be a dancer! Kari Baxter was a dancer!

  That was her career choice! What more was she looking for? And why hadn’t she realized this sooner? It didn’t matter. Kari’s heart was full as they kept dancing.

  Each girl had a solo dance spot in the song, and Mandy’s came first. She danced across the stage, tossing her scarf and singing along. She pointed at some people in the audience for a few beats. From the second row, Mandy’s parents looked so proud.

  Liza was next. She skipped up toward Mandy, and did a turn as she hit center stage. She did a few kicks and then grabbed Mandy’s hand, twirling her in and then out. Kari took over from there and for the next eight beats, she twirled and kicked.

  They came together for the chorus. The song talked about having no troubles down in the bubbles. “Under the sea… under the sea…”

  Finally they went into their own version of the electric slide. They sashayed to the right, and then to the left. In perfect timing, the girls took four steps back, one more forward, another back, then a hitch kick as they turned to the right, where they repeated the steps again.

  The crowd cheered, and when the song came to an end, Kari and her friends struck their final pose—arms out, heads tilted back. The audience shouted and clapped for what felt like minutes.

  Mandy, Liza and Kari took a bow. Kari was breathless. Not from dancing, but from this feeling. A feeling of accomplishment and purpose and knowing. Because up here tonight, she really did know exactly where she was supposed to be and what she wanted to do.

  The girls waved to their families as they ran offstage. Miss Patty took her place again. “Give it up for the dynamic, fantastic Dancing Queens!” Miss Patty sounded like a professional. “Next up, we have some ventriloquism from Veronica Thomas!”

  “I know what I want to be!” Kari took her friends’ hands again and spun the group in a tight circle. “I want to be a dancer!”

  “Of course!” Liza came to a stop and grinned at Kari. “We should’ve helped you think of that sooner!”

  Kari couldn’t decide which was better—the joy she felt from dancing in front of the crowd… or the relief in knowing what she wanted to be.

  Mandy bounded around. “You’ll be the best dancer the world ever knew!” She tossed the ends of her scarf. “That was so fun, Kari! Thanks for making us dance with you!”

  Liza removed her sunglasses. “Hard to imagine how being a lawyer could be better than this.”

  “Kari!” Ashley ran up to her. “I saw the whole thing.” She was eating a piece of pizza. “That was the most amazing, incredible, beautiful performance I have ever seen.” She hugged Kari tight. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Kari closed her eyes. “Thanks, Ash.” She was so grateful for this moment. And that she and her sister got to share the stage at their school’s talent show. She raised her hands in the air. “And guess what?” Kari didn’t wait for Ashley to guess. “I know what I want to be when I grow up!”

  For a f
ew seconds Ashley seemed to ponder the question. “A mermaid?”

  “No, silly.” Kari laughed. “A dancer! Ashley, I want to be a dancer!”

  Ashley’s whole face smiled. She put her hands on Kari’s sequined shoulders and jumped a few times. “Of course! Because you already are a dancer!”

  For the rest of the show, Kari and Ashley watched from the wings near Mandy and Liza. Veronica was hilarious, and Mac the Magician had greatly improved his act from the audition.

  Darlene sang “Tomorrow” from Annie, and not every note was perfect. But she never stopped smiling, and that had to count for something.

  “And now… for our final act…” Miss Patty sounded like she had the biggest secret. “Please give it up for the Terrific Three Teachers!”

  What was this? Kari looked at Ashley. She’d never heard of this group. Darlene was supposed to be the last act of the night. Then from the opposite wings, three grown men made their way to the stage. They wore brightly colored disco outfits, long wigs and oversize sunglasses.

  “Mr. Garrett!” Ashley nearly screamed as she hit Kari on the arm. “It’s Mr. Garrett! And Mr. Stone!”

  “And Mr. Chambers!” Liza and Mandy shouted at the same time.

  Kari couldn’t believe it. Sure enough, taking the stage were Ashley’s teacher, the school’s PE teacher and their principal. The intro music told Kari exactly what was about to happen. The song played on the radio all the time.

  “ABC” by the Jackson 5!

  Just like Kari and her friends, the men sang along with the song. But their moves were mostly disco slides across the stage and quick spins, which they did with a great deal of dramatic effect.

  Who knew these guys were so talented! Or that they could pull off such a great surprise!

  The three men ended the song and two other teachers popped confetti cannons over the audience. It was the most epic end to a talent show ever. Ashley and Kari, Mandy and Liza cheered from the side.

  With the talent show officially finished, the lights came up and people started to mingle. Kari and Ashley ran with the other performers to the auditorium to find their families. The Baxters were easy to see.

  They were in the front row.

  “Congrats to our two stars!” Dad hugged Kari and Ashley and handed them each a single white rose.

  Kari sniffed her flower and smiled. “Thank you!”

  Mom pointed at Kari and then Ashley. “You girls were amazing! So proud.”

  “Ashley…” Luke stepped forward. “I like your new ending to Peter Pan. It should always be like that.”

  “I think Ashley took some artistic liberties.” Brooke smirked.

  Ashley looked proud. “Exactly. I thought it would be better if Wendy didn’t grow up. What do you think about that, Brooke?”

  Brooke laughed. “It was very entertaining.”

  “I can’t wait for fourth grade so I can join the talent show!” Erin smiled at Kari and Ashley.

  “We’ll come watch you when it’s your turn!” Kari hugged her younger sister.

  “Kari!” Ms. Nan approached, clapping as she walked. She was with Brittany, a girl from Kari’s class. The girl had done another fantastic dance routine in the show tonight. Ms. Nan put her arm around Kari’s shoulders. “That was incredible. You looked like a star.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Nan!” Kari couldn’t wait to tell everyone her career choice.

  Ms. Nan looked at Brittany. “You know Britt?” She pointed at the girl. “She’s in our class.”

  “Sure.” Kari nodded. “Hi! You did great tonight!”

  “Thanks!” Brittany handed Kari a flyer. “My mom has a dance studio. We do recitals and showcases. It’s a lot of fun. I think you’d be really good!”

  Kari looked at the flyer and her heart began to race. The pictures showed some kids dancing onstage and a beautiful room with bars and mirrors. It looked like a dream place. “You mean…” Kari looked at Brittany. “I could dance there? With you?”

  “Yes.” Britt grinned. “You’re an incredible dancer!”

  After all the doubts and not knowing from the past month, Kari felt something she hadn’t expected. She felt her world falling into place.

  “That looks great.” Mom ran her hand over Kari’s hair. “I think Kari would really enjoy taking dance lessons.”

  Kari smiled and looked at her classmate. “Thanks, Britt! See you Monday.”

  “See ya!” Britt ran off to find her family.

  “Anyhoo.” Ms. Nan adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. “I don’t want to keep you. Just thought I’d connect the dots.”

  Mom shook Ms. Nan’s hand. “Thank you. We really appreciate you helping Kari.”

  “Kari’s a great student.” Ms. Nan turned to Kari. “Oh! Enjoy that meteor shower Sunday night. Can’t wait to talk about it Monday!” Ms. Nan smiled and walked off.

  “The meteor shower!” Kari whispered to herself. With the buildup to the talent show, she had almost forgotten. This was the perfect weekend!

  Dad gathered everyone and they walked back to the van. “Friday night… two celebrities fresh off their Bloomington debut.” He smiled at Kari and Ashley. “I say we get ice cream.”

  Luke jumped up. “Yes! Chocolate chip!”

  “You know, Kari girl.” Mom took Kari’s arm in hers. “You really were so good tonight. Like a professional.”

  “Which reminds me.” Kari stopped short of the van and faced her family. “I know what I want to be when I grow up. God showed me up there on the stage!”

  “Not a mermaid,” Ashley whispered to the group.

  Kari laughed. “No, not a mermaid.” She took her time. “I want to be a dancer! More than being a doctor or a zookeeper or a politician or a lawyer. More than being a swimmer… I want to dance.”

  Dad was the first to pull her into his arms. “That’s wonderful, Kari. I think dance lessons are definitely in order!”

  Everyone congratulated her, and Mom squeezed her hand. “I knew the answer would come.” Mom looked straight into her eyes. “I believe, Kari, you will be a very, very good professional dancer!”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Kari realized something. She would always need the support of her family. Now and when she was a professional dancer someday. Her family gave her one more reason to be thankful.

  They had their fill of ice cream and back home they played with Bo before turning in for the night. Ashley was drawing in her sketchbook, so Kari decided to write her thoughts in her journal. The happiest thoughts she’d had in a long time.

  Tonight was the talent show. Me and Liza and Mandy were the Dancing Queens and everyone loved us. And guess what? I decided during the show that I want to be a dancer! For a career! Then just to show me it was the right choice, a girl talked to me after and invited me to take dance lessons. Mom and Dad believe in my decision. And that’s the best support a girl could have.

  Good night.

  KB

  P.S. TWO DAYS UNTIL THE METEOR SHOWER!

  20 Never Grow Up

  ASHLEY

  Today was a full day for Ashley. Not only was she going to Sunset Hills Adult Care Home with her mother and some other volunteers from church, but after that visit, they were going to Luke’s first basketball game.

  Which was why Ashley got up early to paint him a surprise sign. She sat at the kitchen table, working her paintbrush over a huge piece of cardboard.

  Luke really was the best little brother Ashley and her sisters could ever have.

  Right now he was outside dribbling his basketball. He told everyone he planned to do that for an hour before his game. Ashley was painting to the rhythm of the bouncing ball.

  FWAP… FWAP… FWAP…

  Ashley had already painted the letters for GO LUKE! Also she had added in a fine-looking basketball. Now she was working on painting NUMBER 1 on the poster.

  “Morning…” Kari came into the kitchen and poured a bowl of cereal. “You’re up early.”

  “Yeah!” Ashley held up th
e sign. “It’s for Luke.”

  Kari took a bite of her breakfast. “I like it, Ash! Good job!”

  Just then, Luke came in through the back door. His basketball was under his arm. “Whew!” He smiled at Ashley and Kari. “I’m thirsty!”

  “Oh! Hello!” Ashley turned the sign over as fast as she could. “Don’t you have… another hour of dribbling?”

  “What’s that?” Luke pointed at Ashley’s sign.

  “Nothing.” She spread herself across the sign. “Just me and the table here. Nothing to see.” She forced a smile.

  “Are you making a sign for my game?” Luke grinned as he took a drink of water.

  Ashley shrugged and then zipped her lips shut and threw away the key.

  “That’s really nice, Ashley. Thanks.” Luke took another drink and he laughed. “Because I can see the cardboard.”

  Kari took the seat next to Ashley. “Are you excited for the game?”

  “You know it!” Luke dribbled the ball on the kitchen floor a few times. “When I grow up I’m gonna be in the NBA! I have to be ready!”

  Ashley felt her mouth fall open. There it was again! Another sibling looking to grow up too fast. What was with everyone? She wanted to tell Luke to put the basketball away and skip his game. Go out back and look for frogs or lizards.

  But she didn’t want to ruin his happy day. So she kept her thought to herself. Besides, she had zipped her lips and thrown away the key.

  Luke moved to the sink for more water. Just then, Mom walked into the kitchen buttoning up her jacket.

  “Ashley, dear. We need to go.” She grabbed her purse. “It’s chilly this morning… you should get your coat.”

  “Already?” Ashley glanced at Luke and then back at Mom. “I just need a few more minutes.” She stood on her chair and pointed down at the cardboard sign. “Just a few… more… minutes.”

  Mom’s eyes said she was clearly confused. “Ashley… you know we don’t stand on chairs.”

  “Mother.” Ashley dropped to the floor and looked hard at her mom. Luke was facing the table now. He could see everything. This time Ashley held up one hand for cover, and then secret-like she again pointed to the sign. “I am not… quite ready. Get it?”