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AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT



Bong bong bong bing!

Ms. Sanchez, my third-grade teacher, played the start-of-the-day song on her xylophone. Everyone in room 5, including me, sat up straight at their desk and got quiet.

“Happy Monday, class,” Ms. Sanchez said. “Buenos días!”

That means good morning. Ms. Sanchez was teaching us Spanish.

“Buenos días, Señora Sanchez,” I said along with my classmates.

“We have a special guest this morning,” she said.

Just then, Mrs. Tasker, our principal, walked into the room. Even though we were already sitting up straight, we all sat up a little straighter. The principal is like the boss of the school. If a student gets into trouble, he or she gets sent to the principal’s office.

I, Jasmine Toguchi, try hard to stay out of trouble. But sometimes trouble finds me. That’s what my mom says, at least. I like to climb my neighbor’s apricot tree, play dress up with my best friend, Linnie Green, make collages, and eat brownies without nuts. Sometimes I tear my jeans while climbing, lose track of time, get glue on the table, and leave crumbs on the floor. All things my mom wishes I wouldn’t do.

“Good morning,” Mrs. Tasker said.

“Good morning, Mrs. Tasker,” I said with the rest of the class.

She had a stack of papers in her hand. Was she giving us homework? I glanced at Ms. Sanchez for a clue. She was smiling. It couldn’t be a bad thing if she was smiling. Then again, she smiled when she gave us homework. She had a strange sense of what was fun.

“I have an exciting announcement,” Mrs. Tasker said. “This Saturday, we’re having a school-wide talent show. All of your families will be invited.”

Tommy Fraser raised his hand from the front row. “What’s a talent show?” he blurted out without waiting to be called on.

“I’m glad you asked, Tommy,” Mrs. Tasker said. “A talent show is when students can show off a special or fun talent. Like singing, or playing an instrument, or reciting a poem you wrote. Anything, really! You can choose to do something on your own, with a group, or with the entire class. I’ll let Ms. Sanchez help you make that decision.”

Linnie and I smiled at each other.

“Put on your thinking caps,” Mrs. Tasker said. “Fill out the form with your special talent and get a parent to sign it. The show will be in the auditorium on Saturday night.”

Wowee zowee! This sounded like fun! I had many talents. Which one would I choose to perform for the talent show?


Text copyright © 2018 by Debbi Michiko Florence

Illustrations copyright © 2018 by Elizabet Vukovic