Anza Books

Annie smiled wide and her eyes sparkled as she saw her Grandfather show her what it was to dance. She didn’t get up and start dancing, but she sure was happy thinking about the next time she would dance. As a matter of fact, this moment with her Grandfather was the very first time since the kids at school had laughed at her that Annie did not feel sad when she thought about dancing again. Annie now felt like she had a secret inside which would unlock the way to find the footsteps of a sure footed yet light footed dancer. The secret could show Annie a way to dance that she could enjoy with confidence.

Many weeks passed as Annie continued to learn to listen to music and move to the sounds as she chose to listen. She never spoke about her dancing with anyone and she especially never let anyone see her practicing. She danced in the privacy of her room with the door shut tight. She wanted to make sure she could dance right – listen long throughout a whole song – before anyone saw her. Annie practiced alone in her room after she came home from school every day.

Finally, the day of the big dance contest arrived. Nobody knew that Annie was planning on entering to win their school dance contest! Annie brought her own music to school to play but she kept it hidden in her bookbag and waited for the moment when she would take it out to play her much practiced to beloved familiar to all of her friends orchestra music.

The cafeteria was filled with an enthusiastic audience. One at a time the dance contestants took their turns on the dance floor. Billy Bee Bop went first. He always thought he was so great. Annie hoped she would have as much confidence as hi did. Billy Bee Bop danced his heart out to a popular song with a dance style that everyone thought was cool. All the girls squeeled as he moved across the floor smiling, as usual. The music got real loud just before Billy Bee Bop lowered down to thrash around on the floor. He actually fell to the ground and proceeded to roll around. Then he jumped up and threw his hands up over his head. He rocked his head back and forth a lot until he stopped and flopped himself back down onto the ground in exaggerated exhaustion.

Annie thought Billy Bee Bop was just dancing like a big show off and couldn’t have been listening to the music if he tried.

The following contestants danced similar in style to Billy Bee Bop’s routine. As Annie watched, she gained confidence that she could dance better than all of the other contestants.

Then the judges asked,”Will there be any more contestants?”

Annie stood up. “I’d like my turn, “she spoke loudly as she walked over to the dance floor.

The audience was very surprised to see Annie about to participate. Some of the spectators were even starting to giggle and whisper before they saw what her dance would be like. But Annie did not care what the spectators thought. Annie had prepared to dance before the judges – and she knew that she could do a good job.

…to be continued…Annie took her ipod out of her book bag and let the sound be heard. The music played slowly at first and then it sounded louder and more clear. Annie stood still as if she were frozen in place. When the sound of a loud trumpet blasted forth, Annie became alive with movement. She danced around and around without ever noticing that the crowd had hushed. They were staring at her with amazement. Annie just danced. She moved her feet in rapid forward motion and then back again. She clapped her hands. She bent her knees and kicked her feet. She was moving in perfect time to the music and she kept her mind perfectly on what she was doing. As her confidence soared, Annie danced further around. She did a terrific job dancing. And then she was done. She walked off of the dance floor, ipod in hand, all the while smiling.
Everyone applauded Annie, but it was more in a polite sort of way than an encouraging way. Annie could tell that noone quite knew what to think of her dance. She was surprised. She thought she was great. “Why doesn’t anybody tell me I did good?” she wondered.
“O.K. Attention Everybody. It looks like that’s it for the dance contestants. The judges have a winner.”
Annie’s thoughts were interrupted.
“The winner iiissss, Billy Bee Bop. The second place award goes to Sally Streamer. Congratulations.” Nothing more was said as the ribbon prizes were awarded.
Annie could hardly believe her ears. Could she listen any lower? Why did those judges not choose her as the winner? She knew she danced well. She had listened to her favorite piano play all the way through the song. She never fell down. She had perfect concentration. She danced as if she could have been dancing across the keyboard to play the music with her toes. How was it possible that Annie did not receive first prize or any prize at all and not even a mention from the judges?

That afternoon as Annnie walked home from school with her brother, Annie was sad.
“You danced real good,” Timmy said hoping to cheer her up.
“Do you think so? I thought so.” Annie replied with her head down.
“So cheer up,” he said. “Isn’t that what matters – you knowing that you danced well.”
“Not when somebody else takes the prize,” said Annie.
They walked along in silence for awhile until Timmy said, “You know, Annie, you can’t really expect those judges to know a good dancer when they see one. They couldn’t even tell a good sound when they heard one.”
“Thanks for trying to make me feel better, Timmy, but I just don’t want to talk about it. I’ll probably never dance again. Let’s just forget about it.”
“But Annie,” you shouldn’t forget about dancing, “Timmy insisted. “I mean it. You were really good. I liked the way you danced. You could really move.”
Annie continued walking home in silence. Her brothers words were ringing in her ears. She knew he was right. She knew she danced well. Although she had wanted to show everybody how well she could dance before the contest, she now didn’t feel like dancing in front of anybody ever again…anybody, except for Grandfather. Annie knew that if she could show her Grandfather how she danced, he would know why she did not come home with the prize.
So that night, Annie asked her parents if she could visit Grandfather on the weekend. They said, “O.K!”
…to be continued…
Timmy went along with Annie to Grandfather’s house. Together, the three of them figured out the answer to the question of why Annie did not win a prize at the school’s dance contest. Annie’s dance was certainly terrific – and Grandfather even said so himself – after Annie danced for him.
“The music was beautiful,” declared Grandfather. “However, both the music and the dance were different than the style of all of the other dance contestants. While everyone else had molded their dance routine after Billy Bee Bop’s, that is, winding up and getting out of control, Annie chose a unique and refined style of dance.” Was as good an explanation as anyone could come up with. While most of the other music sounded as loud as screeching street cars and horns blaring, Annie’s music sounded with elements like a soft summer breeze through the oak tree leaves and had only hints of sounds that could be classified as loudness.
“Just because your dance was different does not mean that you did not do a great job of dancing,” Grandfather told Annie. “You danced great and you can be proud of yourself for learning to do what you did. That dance must have taken a lot of practice to learn!”
“Gee, thanks, Grandpa.” Annie said in a happier tone of voice.”I did learn how to dance, didn’t I?”
“You sure did, honey,” said Grandfather.
“You sure did,” agreed Timmy.
“But I still wish I won the prize,” whispered Annie even though she did not feel like crying one bit anymore.
Timmy encouraged Annie, “wether anyone else knows it or not, You know it. You can dance.”

Time passed and the summer season rolled around. Annie continued listening to nice sounds and taking dance steps with her feet. Two of her girlfriends learned to dance along with Annie. The three friends had a lot of fun dancing in the yard that summer. The most amazing thing occurred at the end of the summer when the teachers were all back in school planning for the upcoming school year. A new teacher was starting to work at the school because the school found a need for a new course of study. The new teacher was a special teacher who was hired to teach music appreciation and dance to the students. As a result, the students would be able to learn exactly about what Annie had done when she learned to listen and dance to music.
The judges had liked Annie’s dance routine after all. The judges were the ones who convinced the school committee to hire the new teacher!
Later, Annie discovered that the dance award had been given to the sort of dancing that was most popular with the students – just as Grandfather had suspected. The new music appreciation teacher told Annie about what the judges had told her about the dance contest last year. Now students would be required to listen to Annie’s favorite type of music as they learned to listen to the different sounds of a variety of musical instruments. Annie’s favorite music would probably become more popular.
Annie and her friends earned to listen and to dance. When they laughed, they did not laugh at each other – they laughed with each other instead. They laughed together in fun.
As more and more students learned to listen to beautiful sounding musical compositions, they learned to dance and feel great about themselves as well. Annie always remembered about the secret she held in her heart the year before when she taught herself to listen to music while learning to dance.
THE END

Bob Odenkirk’s New Screenplay Is a (Sort of) Update of Annie Hall (nymag.com)
Leapin’ Lizards – “Annie” Makes its Way to Minneapolis! (eon.businesswire.com)
SMU Dancers and Symphony Host Night of Historic Firsts at Winspear Opera House (smudailymustang.com)
Ballet Black, Linbury Studio, Covent Garden, review (telegraph.co.uk)
Black Prairie: Feast of the Hunters’ Moon (pastemagazine.com)

“Temperance”…part one… from The Fruit of the Spirit, a collection of stories for children c1986 revised by Maryann Scheufele for Anza Books

Maryann — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:36:03 +0000

Once upon a time there lived a girl named Annie who had a lot of trouble learning how to become a dancer. She always wanted to dance like the best of all dancers, and one day she did become a very good dancer. Annie found that the most difficult part of becoming a very good dancer was learning how to dance.

When Annie was barely tall enough to reach the door knob to answer a most mysterious knock upon the door, was when her mother first noticed that Annie may have an interest in dancing, or a not yet discovered ability to dance. Grandfather was knocking on the door with a rap a tap tap tap rap a tap tap like he was playing some sort of tune on the wooden door. The sound of the knock a rap a tap tapping grabbed Annie’s attention as she twirled around and skipped over to answer the door.

Grandfather had a distinguished way of walking and a sturdy was of talking. Annie was happy to see her Grandfather. Grandfather had come to pick up Annie for an outing. They were going to hear some music that Annie had never before heard.

They arrived at an outdoor park where Annie saw many people of all ages dressed in kilts. She saw many different colors of kilts. As a matter of fact, Annie could practically see only kilts whichever way she looked. Grandfather told Annie that they were at The Gathering of The Clans. Annie knew that he was talking about Scottish Clans. Grandfather told Annie to look for her family plaid in the colors, so Annie looked and looked at all the kilts, looking and looking at many different colors. Annie kept searching the colors in kilts for that special blue color that she knew was unique to her family plaid. Everybody was so happy at The Gathering of the Clans, and there were sounds of good ole greetings and chatter everywhere.

Annie saw many groups of men in kilts forming lines and walking in rows together as if they were marching. Each group of men wore their distinct colors in their kilts. Then Annie heard the sound of a very high pitched humming noise begin to play. The sound inspired Annie to hold her head up high to listen as the humming began to repeat the rhythmical resounding hummm with a beat, a man shouted, a drummer joined in and all of the clans knew right then and there that The Gathering of the Clans was in a march. Annie and her Grandfather followed.

The musicians played the strangest looking instruments Annie had ever seen. No more chatting while they all walked. Large cloth bags with black tubes sticking out were making the high pitched melodious sound. The music was produced by blowing into the tubes and squeezing the bag at the same time or intervals, Annie was not sure – but she watched with great interest. The sound was very high and fast. The beat of the sound was faster than anything she had ever heard before. Grandfather had told Annie before that the musical instruments were called Bagpipes.

After listening to the sound of the Bagpipes for a few minutes, Annie did what seemed to her the most natural thing to do – she began to move her feet. She moved her feet faster and faster until they moved as fast as the sound played on the Bagpipes; well almost as fast. She spread her hands out and raised her arms to the side so that she could balance.

There were people standing next to Grandfather who began clapping their hands in a rhythmic beat to the sound of the bagpipes and Annie’s dancing feet. The clapping hands were intended to help Annie dance, but when Annie started to listen to all that clapping her feet tripped over each other a bit. Annie then noticed that a small crowd of people were being entertained by watching her dance and she forgot to listen to the Bagpipes altogether. Trying to keep her feet moving fast, Annie covered her face with her hands; then she lost her balance and fell down to the ground in a heap.

Grandfather had to take a sad Annie with a cut knee home to find a band aid.

Annie did not try to dance again for a long time. She remembered too clearly how silly and humiliated she felt at The Gathering of the Clans day when she fell from dancing and hurt her knee. The pain of the hurt knee was not the reason Annie stopped dancing. Annie stopped dancing because crowd of people who were watching her seemed to her to laugh when she danced and laugh even more when she fell. The experience was strange and uncomfortable.

After a few years had passed, when Annie was much taller than the doorknob, she was capable of many accomplishments and she rode to school with other neighborhood children aboard a big yellow school bus. Annie would often be found busy working on schoolwork or playing with friends in the schoolyard.

The winter season had passed and smells of spring were in the air when Annie’s father brought home a new sound. The sound was the twang of Banjo strings. After hearing the sound of the Banjo play, Annie, for the first time in a long time, started to think about dancing.

The Banjo looked sort of like a guitar, but was round. Annie’s father told Annie that cowboys played the Banjo around a campfire. Annie’s father sat down next to Timmy, Annie’s brother. Father showed both Annie and Timmy how to pick the strrings of the Banjo. The Banjo made a happy twanging sound each time a string was moved.

“You just need to give it a little flick with your finger,” said Father before Timmy could pull at the strings too hard.

Timmy smiled every time he heard the Banjo twang. Making music was fun.

“Would you like to have a turn with the Banjo?” Father asked Annie.

“Sure!” she answered.

Timmy passed the Banjo to his sister and Annie pulled at the strings. There was something very comfortable about making musical sounds from the Banjo with family. Annie pulled gently at the strings, twang twang, twang, twang, twang, she played on until her little fingers began to hurt.

Then she passed the Banjo back to Timmy. “Here you do it, Timmy,” said Annie. She got up to walk away.

Father thought Annie looked sad. “Annie,” he asked, “I thought you liked music?”

“I do,” answered Annie. “unfortunately, I would rather dance to music than play music on a banjo or any other musical instrument.”

“Dance to music!” said Father, rather surprised. “I did not realize you considered yourself a dancer.”

“I am not really a dancer,” Annie quickly answered with a pout on her face.

“I’ll bet you could become a great dancer, Annie,” Father spoke encouragingly. “Timmy, play a tune for Annie and she will dance for us.”

“No I will not! I will not dance!” shouted Annie. “No no no nooooo’” Annie shouted as she ran out of the room as if she were running from a fire.

“Ha ha ha,” Father and Timmy laughed with wonderment. They wondered why Annie was sooo upset.

That night at dinnertime, Annie was happy again as she helped her mother in the kitchen. Annie was preparing to set the table with the family’s best dishes. Annie also folded napkins perfectly before placing silverware down.

Annie and her family were all seated around the dinner table when Mother mentioned a new dance theatre opening in their town. The local community interested in developing the arts was sponsoring the theatre. Businesses in their hometown were all contributing to benefit the dance theatre.

“I think we ought to go to the opening night show,” she said to Father, “don’t you think so, darling.”

“Why, of course. Absolutely we will go,” said Father. Then as he looked over at Annie, he added, “I do think we ought to make it an extra special night and bring Annie out with us.” Annie could barely contain her big smile. “Did you know that Annie is very interested in learning to become a dancer?” he asked Mother.

Annie put her head down and laughed, ”not at a theatre, Dad. I could never do that.”

“How could you know until you try,” was his reply.

“I never thought about dancing at a theatre,” Annie answered. “I was just thinking about being able to dance with friends in the cafeteria at school.”

“Oh?” asked Mother. “How do your friends dance in the cafeteria at school?”

“Welllll, like jive stuff,” said Annie. The seventh grade class was more interested in trying to dance like they looked cool than anything else.

“Well, would you show us?” Father asked.

“Naaaaaaaa,” Annie shook her head back and forth.

Timmy said, “I’m hungry. Please pass the macaroni noodles,” and the subject was changed.

Mother began to discuss how long noodles ought to cook until they are done ardente style or not.

Obviously, Annie had shown a genuine interest in dancing. However, there was a problem. Annie was afraid to dance.

Two weeks later, Annie went to Grandfather’s house for the day. The weather was beautiful as the sunshine warmed grandfather’s back yard. Mother and Father had gone shopping and they left Annie and Timmy with Grandfather for the day. They planned on raking leaves as spring clean-up duty was a tradition they all enjoyed.

“Well, Well,” Grandfather said. “How’s my girl doin’ today?” he asked Annie.

“Fine, Grandfather,” Annie answered.

“I heard about the local road race. Will you be running Timmy my boy?” Grandfather asked Timmy.

“I Sure am planning on racing and I have been practicing running. Would you like to see how fast I can run?” Timmy spoke as he stretched one leg forward into the get ready position. “On your mark. Get set.” He added.

Grandfather smiled and then turning towards Annie he asked, “What have you been doing lately? Will you be joining your brother in the race, Annie?”

“Naaaa,” she said. “I don’t want to race.”

“What would you like to do, Annie?” asked Grandfather.

“I don’t know,” Annie answered with her head down.

“C’mon Annie,” Timmy looked at her. “Tell Grandfather about dancing on the school cafeteria.”…

to be continued…

…

“What do you know anyways?” she asked her brother.

“Annie, I’ll bet you’re a terrific dancer,” Grandfather contributed to the conversation.

All of a sudden Annie felt that ache in her throat that came along whenever the subject of dancing was brought up. This time, the ache hurt so much that she began to cry. She covered her face with her hands.

Grandfather put his arm around Annie, and let her cry on his shoulder. “there, there, my little one.” He said after a while. “Stop cryin’, now, and tell your old Grandpa what seems to be the trouble.”

So the story came out at last. As it happened, Annie had been with her two girlfriends in the school cafeteria. Along came Billy Bee Bop, with the black shiny shoes. He told Annie and her friends that he was going to win a blue ribbon for the best dance routine. Then he told Annie to stay out of his path on the dance floor. Annie wanted to practice for the dance contest so she didn’t pay much attention to Billy Bee Bop…until he said that she had frog’s feet. A few people started to laugh when he said that. Annie fellt as if they were laughing at her. Then she tripped over her own feet and fell.

“I see,” said Grandfather when he was done listening. “And you haven’t danced since?” he asked.

“No,” said Annie.

“Why not?” asked Grandfather.

“Because I don’t want to fall and I hate it when people laugh at me,” Annie confided to her Grandfather.

“What made you fall?” asked Grandfather.

“I don’t know, Grandpa. I just try to listen to the music when I dance and then the sounds get all mixed up and I fall.” Annie did her best to explain.

“I know what you mean,” said Annie’s brother. “I’ve seen dancers do that, but the fall is part of the move. Alls you need to do is keep moving while you’re down on the floor.”

“Not me,” said Annie quickly. “If I dance it will be on my feet. If I can’t do that then I’m not even going to try.”

Grandfather invited the children out to his back yard garden. Grandfather’s garden was Annie and Timmy’s favorite place. There were many different colored flower blooming in the garden. The grass was soft and thick – and there was a fence with grapes growing on it all around the edge of the Grandfather’s whole big back yard garden. The three of them sat next to each other on a large wooden swing that hung between two trees under the blue canopy sky.

“Now, today we will play the listening game,” Grandfather told Annie and Timmy.

“The listening game?” both Annie and Timmy said at once. “How do you play the listening game?”

“First you have to listen loud,” said Grandfather.

“Listen loud?” questioned Annie.

“Yes,” replied Grandfather. “What is the loudest sound that you can hear?”

“I can hear a truck on the street out front,” said Annie.

“Oh I get it,” said Timmy enthusiastically. “I can hear the sound of a police sirene.”

“o.k., O.k., very good,” said Grandfather. “Now listen a little bit lower.”

“Oh, like I can hear the sound of Grandmother putting away dishes in the kitchen,” said Annie.

“And I can hear the sounds of some children playing in the yard next door,” said Timmy.

“Now, a little bit lower,” said Grandfather softly. “Listen a little bit lower.”

“An airplane,” said Timmy pointing at the sky.

“That is a very good little bit lower sound, Timmy.” Grandfather asked,”can you listen any lower?”

“I can not hear anything lower,” said Annie.

“Birds!” exclaimed Timmy.

“Oh ya, birds,” agreed Annie quickly and quietly.

“Now listen lower,” commanded Grandfather.

Annie and Timmy sat quiet for a few minutes as they listened hard.

“Do you hear the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves of the big oak tree?” Grandfather asked them.

Annie and Timmy both turned to look up at the tree, They saw the leaves blowing ever so gently and then they heard the quiet hush from the sound of the delicate breeze. Their faces looked amazed as they heard the lowest very low sound of a quiet breeze and they both nodded their head.

When their Mom and Dad came to take them home, Annie and her brother were sort of sad to say good-bye to their Grandfather. Visits with Grandfather were always filled with interesting things to do. Annie and Timmy never forgot the many wonderful things they learned when they were with their Grandfather.

Back at home that night, when Annie was brushing her hair in her room, she turned on her music player to listen to her favorite sounding music. The sound of the music was being played by an orchestra. No words were mixed with the music. Annie thought about the listening game while she listened to her favorite music.

Listening to the sound of the orchestra took on a new thrill for Annie. She heard the sound of her favorite piano louder than all of the other sounds. Then she heard the sound of the piano as it got lower and she continued to try to trace the sound of the piano all the way through the musical composition. As she listened to the tune, she almost lost the sound of the piano once because the piano’s sound got very low; but then it suddenly gout much louder. As she listened real hard, she realized the piano never actually stopped playing even when the sounds of the other instruments seemed to play louder.

Afterwards, she played the sound of the tune allover again and listened once more. This time she listened to a lower sound, the sound of the flute. She listened for the sound of the flute all the way through the musical composition.

The different sounds became more clear to Annie as she learned to listen for each one of them all the way through the musical composition which she played over and over again into the night.

…to be continued…

Monday’s pick of the day: Annie (timeoutny.com)

“Meekness” from The Fruit of the Spirit, a collection of stories for children c1986 Maryann Scheufele

Maryann — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:12:08 +0000

“Meekness” is published for Anza Books:
at Anza Books 2010, follow the link:

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“JOY” from The Fruit of the Spirit, a collection of stories for children c1986 Maryann Scheufele

Maryann — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:43:33 +0000

This version of JOY published was created http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anza-Books/62284893282 for Anza Books 2010.

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“Faith” from: The Fruit of the Spirit, a collection of stories for children (c1986) by Maryann Scheufele

Maryann — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:24:35 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Faith

Children’s voices could be heard but Sarah Anne could not see anyone. “Jeremiah, where are you?” she asked when she heard her friend’s familiar giggle.

“Here we are,” Jeremiah called out. “Up in the pine tree.”

The large pine tree in the yard held mysteriously placed colored hats. They were scattered in the swaying branches. Sarah Anne recognized the hats as belonging to her friends, and she heard the voices of her friends coming from the same direction.

Sarah Anne figured out the mystery. Her friends were in the pine tree.

Skipping across the yard, Sarah Anne shouted with joy, “I will climb up too. I will climb up the highest.”

When she got to the pine tree, Sarah Anne could not reach the bottom branch. She thought if she could jump up she might be able to grab hold of the branch. She could not jump high enough.

“I need a running start,” she said. She ran and began to leap, slipped on a pinecone and fell to the ground. “Woops.”

“Let me see,” she said as she looked at the tree carefully and thoughtfully. “Maybe I could shinny up.”

She hugged the tree trunk. Bark cracked off into her hand. Sap stuck to her. “Yuck,” she said. But she held on and tried to move her feet up as she hugged the tree trunk with her knees. The gang in the tree watched and hoped for her.

Sarah Anne reached one hand up towards the lowest branch. Her hand stretched half way around it. She could not decide what to do next. Either she would try shinnying a bit more or she would reach for the branch with her other hand.

She reached. It was the wrong move. In order to prevent herself from falling on her head, she had to let go with both hands and legs. The branch had been too far for her second hand to grasp.

She picked up her sap sticky hands from the ground and straightened out her hat. She was feeling a little discouraged.

Her friends cheered her on from the tree. “Don’t give up. Keep on trying. If you really want it, you can do it.”

Sarah thought some more. “I have to find a way to get up into that tree.” She studied the pine tree. “There has to be a way up.”

She looked away in discouragement but then she noticed something very interesting. Fresh milk was being delivered to her house. She was tempted to forget about climbing up the tree. A refreshing glass of milk with Mom seemed like a good idea.

“C’mon Sarah Anne, you can do better than that,” Jeremiah encouraged her back to the tree,” Try again.”

This time Sarah Anne jumped up and held onto the branch with one hand. Hanging there, she began swinging her legs. She hoped she could swing them high enough to grab on to the branch with her knees.

Unfortunately, her little hand simply could not hold tight enough. She fell to the ground again. Sap and dirt stuck to her hands. “I won’t try to climb anymore,” she said as she brushed pine needles off her pants.

All of the children up in the tree wanted Sarah Anne to keep trying. “You were doing great. Keep on trying. It’s fun up here.”

Sarah Anne went over to the trunk of the tree. If only she could get both of her hands to hold onto that branch. She reached up and thought.

Suddenly, Sarah Anne had an idea. It came to her as she refused to give up. She ran to the front steps and picked up the shiny red milk carton. “I’m finding a little help when I need it,” said Sarah Anne as she smiled and ran back to the tree.

“It’s perfect,” she said as she placed the milk carton underneath the lowest branch of the tree.

Standing on the milk carton, it was as easy as could be for Sarah Anne to hold on to the branch with both of her hands. That little bit of help gave her a good sure grip and things did not seem too difficult anymore. Her help came from a milk carton and the thought that connected it to her need came from faith.

One leg over and up she went. She was sitting on top of the lowest branch of the tree.

“Horaaaaay,” shouted all the children as Sarah Anne grinned with victory.

Jeremiah was so pleased that his friend was finally in the tree that he leaned over and said, “all right, slap me five.”

“I said I would climb the highest,” she said as she eased up one branch after another. Once in the tree, all the branches were placed close together.

When at the top, Sarah Anne sat on a branch, held on to a twig for a steering wheel, and made believe she was soaring through the sky in an airplane.

The Thankful Tree (momblognetwork.com)

“Gentleness” from: The Fruit of The Spirit, a collection of stories for children (c1986)by Maryann Scheufele

Maryann — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:10:34 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Gentleness

Once upon a time during a bright, autumn morning, a little boy could be seen looking out of the window of a yellow house. Jeremiah was watching for his parent’s car to come down the street.
Enthusiastically, he greeted the arrival of his parents, especially his mother, who had gone away a few short days ago to give birth to his new baby brother. Jeremiah jumped up and down and shouted, “here they are, Grandma!”
With big hugs and kisses, Mom greeted Jeremiah. Dad, holding a curious bundle in his arms, looked on.
“Jeremiah,” Dad said, “I’m pleased to introduce you to Oscar, your new baby brother. You are a big brother now.”
Jeremiah was so excited that he was jumping up and down, tugging on the blankets and squeeling, “lemmee see, lemme seeeeee!”
Before Dad could go any further with his introduction, he lowered the bundle to Jeremiah’s level.
Jeremiah greeted Oscar with one quick poke to his new baby eye. Jeremiah did not exactly on purpose put his finger into the baby’s eye. It just seemed to happen that way all of a sudden. It must have had something to do with all the excitement. The sad part was that Jeremiah was really very happy to meet his baby brother, and he had lots of love to share; only he was getting in trouble before he knew what he had done.
“Be gentle!” echoed all three grownups and Jeremiah saw blood dripping out of his baby brother’s eye.
Little baby Oscar was crying and getting all sorts of loving attention.
Jeremiah sat all alone wondering. What had happened to make the baby cry? What in the world did gentle mean?
Grandma, noticing how sad Jeremiah looked, brought him into the kitchen. “Let’s go get a granola bar,” she said.
Jeremiah sat eating as Grandma spoke. “You’re a big brother now. Someday Oscar will grow bigger and be able to play with you, but for now you must be careful to be very gentle to the baby.”
“What’s gentle?” asked Jeremiah.
“Gentle is a way that we treat things delicately,” said Grandma. “I will show you what gentle is. Look at your granola bar. When you are gentle with it, it does not fall apart; but you could crush it if you wanted to make a big pile of crumbs. That would not be gentle.”
“Right,” Jeremiah said, “I could crush the granola bar if I wanted to break it.” And he flexed his arm muscle like a big strong man.
“That would be acting rough,” Grandma said,”gentle is when you do not act rough.”
Grandma took an egg out of the refridgerator. “We must be gentle with this or it will break.”
Jeremiah took the egg and carefully held it with his fingertips. “Like this?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Grandma. “Now act rough.”
Jeremiah slammed the egg down onto the table. “Smash,” he cheered.
“That was rough,” said Grandma. “Now you’ll have to do something gentle. I have just the thing.”
She brought out a freshly baked cake. “This is your baby brother’s happy birthday cake.” She said.
“You can help me by frosting this cake,” said Grandma. “Gentle is the only way to do it.”
“I’ll frost gentle so the cake won’t break,” said Jeremiah. Now he was as eager to be gentle as he had been about being rough.
He held the frosting tool as Grandma showed him how to frost with gentle care.
Grandma smiled as she watched Jeremiah frost the cake because she knew he was understanding what it was to act gentle.
Dad came into the kitchen. He was surprised to see what Jeremiah was doing.
“I’m being gentle,” Jeremiah told his father in a very serious tone of voice.
“I taught him to be gentle in a gentle way,” said Grandma.
“Which is much better than teaching by yelling at him, I’m sure.” Said Dad. “The baby is fine. Let’s go show Mom the cake.”
In front of the toasting fireplace sat Mom in the rocking chair with a happy baby Oscar in her arms.
Jeremiah entered the room and suggested sweetly, “Rock gentle, Mom.”
Dad and Grandma stood smiling and watching as Jeremiah gently rubbed the baby’s peach fuzz head.
THE END

The Old Rocking Chair (slideshare.net)
Nano’s Second Birthday (wmljshewbridge.blogspot.com)

“Patience” from: The Fruit of the Spirit, a collection of stories for children (c1986) by Maryann Scheufele

Maryann — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:50:28 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

“Patience” is a puppet show script from my Love Thy Neighbors puppet tour of 1982. The script was attached to the back of a hand painted set of four foot tall shutter screens which hid the puppeteer. Two simple hand held puppets spoke the dialogue and the preschool audience was encouraged to use their imaginations about the story. Props were gathered from around the house and among my children’s toys. The verses prompted the puppeteer to simply hold up and move a prop across the theatre’s stage when speaking coordinating lines of the script. Children in preschool and library story hours have enjoyed this story as a puppet show from me.

In this fast paced world, much like the world of years ago when this story was first written, patience is a virtue worth teaching children. For all of you Family Literacy advocates, I hope you find the story of patience a valuable lesson in reading for children learning to read around the world.

Today the story of ”Patiience” is being published at Anza Books for all of you young and old folks who may have been children once upon a time. Perhaps there is something that you are hoping to accomplish in life or maybe you would like to perform a puppet show or read to a child on occasion. Remember what it was like as a child when things were always learned and accomplishments seemed neverending. The challenges of childhood always required the encouragement of being patient with yourself. Believe and have patience in yourself today, and accomplish a task that only appears insurmountable without that extra special encouragement that children receive from those around them who love them so much. Take it from me, this bit of encouragement will remind you just what you needed as a child to accomplish huge success, and that bit of encouragement remains the same today for young and old folks too. I love you – you love me – we’re a happy family, a jingle created in my home when my sister and I were helping our children learn about the love in our family, was first performed in public by me as a puppeteer during a show’s finale , with a son, and neice, and of course the live preschool audience at The Needham Children’s Center. Sometimes, life’s accomplishments are bigger than we ever realized they would be – I suppose that makes us, a part of a prettty large family. As First Lady Barbara Bush said during a commencement speach to Wellesley College graduates, ”…believe in something larger thanyourself…” when she spoke of her involvement with literacy. I encourage you as well – realization of accomplishment happens when you, “acknowledge yourself with patience and determination”, Read On:

PATIENCE

Taken from The Fruit of the Spirit A Collection of Stories for Children

by Maryann Scheufele c1986MaryannScheufele Anza Books

Patience

Peter likes to play outside. When he is not with the other children in the circular area in front of his house, he is usually watching out the window as other children play. While watching out the window, Peter thought that riding bicycles looked like the most fun.

Sometimes Peter climbed up onto the seat of his big brother’s bicycle as it sat parked in the driveway. Peter’s legs were too short to reach the peddles, but he would pretend that he was really going places. Once, Peter’s big brother gave Peter a ride on the back of the bicycle.

Neighborhood children waved to Peter as he watched them ride their bicycles around the circle. Peter enjoyed watching and thinking about how he would be riding, as soon as his legs could reach the peddles.

Then one day, Peter was thrilled to announce his birthday surprise, a new bicycle, just his size! “Look everybody. I got a new bike,” shouted Peter to the gang in the circle.

Everybody admired the present. Peter was very proud.

“Now I will ride around the circle too,” said Peter.

With one foot oon a peddle and the other foot on the ground, Peter said, “O.K. here I go.” Before Peter could turn the peddles around two times, the handle bars steered into the curb. Peter fell down. The bicycle fell on top of him. All the children laughed. Peter almost cried.

“You forgot to watch where you were going,” said his father.

“Oh,” said Peter. “O.K. I’ll watch where I’m going this time.”

Peter began to peddle. He was carefully concentrating. “I’m steering the handle bars,” shouted Peter. The peddles turned around and around and around. The bicycle started to lean over to one side. “Woooa,” said Peter. Peter tried to turn the handle bars to steer the right way but he turned them a little bit too far. Down went the bicycle and down went Peter, with one leg stuck underneath the bicycle. He banged his elbow pretty hard against the street.

The neighborhood children laughed louder this time. Peter did look funny all tangled beneath his bicycle.

Peter cried.

The laughter stopped.

Peter’s father spoke up, giving Peter further instructions. “You must steer with the handle bars and peddle fast, both at the same time.”

“I can’t do it. I’ll never be able to ride my bike,” cried Peter.

“You can ride it Peter. You were riding it before you fell,” said his father.

“Oh ya, I was wasn’t I,” said Peter.

All the children laughed again.

“Every time you try again you will go a little bit further,” encouraged Peter’s father. “It takes patience to learn to ride a bicycle.”

“What’s patience,” Peter asked as he wiped away a tear.

Suddenly music filled the air. Children began to dance around. Father said, “this is a song about patience.” Peter then watched as everybody in the neighborhood took a turn singing a verse about what patience meant to them:

To look your best when you get dresses, it takes patience.

To pick up your toys without any noise, it takes patience.

To safely cross the street where the corners meet, it takes patience.

To draw a round ball you must color it small, it takes patience.

To get your hair brushed without any fuss, it takes patience.

To wait for cooked food when you’re in a hungry mood, it takes patience.

To learn to ice skate ‘til you become great, it takes patience.

To wait for your turn so your brother can learn, it takes patience.

In the warm summer breeze, for a popsicle to freeze, it takes patience.

To build your blocks high ‘til they reach to the sky, it takes patience.

So your undies don’t get wet, you will learn yet, it takes patience.

When Mom’s on the phone and you feel all alone, it takes patience.

To write your name better, learning to make letters, it takes patience.

Sometimes it seems like hours to wait for Mom to shower, it takes patience.

Grandma’s house seems so far when driving there in a car, it takes patience.

When a long train goes past, the caboose is not ‘til last, it takes patience.

To build a castle in the sand when you’ve only got two hands, it takes patience.

For flowers to bloom so you can put them in your living room, it takes patience.

For buds to become leaves, turn colors, and fall off trees, it takes patience.

To go to bed at night without giving your parents a fight, it takes patience.

For night to turn to day, when “good morning” you will say, it takes patience.

Then father sang to them all:

“Now go and be patient.

Learn things that are new.

It’s work to be patient,

But it’s fun to do.

And when you are done,

You’ll see that it’s true,

It’s fun to be patient,

For me and for you.”

“I’m going to try riding my new bike again,” said Peter.

“Don’t worry about riding all the way around the circle,” said Peter’s father. “Concentrate on going straight first. Put your foot on the ground to stop yourself from falling. Remember to use your brakes.”

Peter was riding, wobbling, and riding. He even turned successfully around part of the circle. Grinning, Peter put his foot to the ground as he came to a stop. “I’m doin’ it!” he exclaimed.

Even though he had not gone very far, Peter was doing it. He was learning to ride his bicycle a little bit at a time. That’s what patience is all about.

“Keep at it, Peter. Don’t give up. You’re doing great.” Peter’s father was proud of the wobbly bicycle rider.

Peter kept riding and wobbling and stopping and smiling. The children cheered and laughed.

“Can you believe it? I’m doing it. I’m riding my new bicycle all by myself.” Peter believed in himself as he rode a few feet further every time. Because he was patient, he never gave up. Soon he had made it all the way around the circle. He was so happy and proud of himself that somehow, music filled the air:

Believing and patience go hand in hand,

When you’re trying out something brand new.

Just watch what you’re doing, and you will land

On your feet, two by two.

So believe and be patient all the day through.

You’ll be happy and have fun too.

Believing and patience go hand in hand

All the time with whatever you do.

You’ll be doing your best when you can stand

To be patient for a minute or two.

So believe and be patient all the day through.

You’ll be happy and have fun too.

A published work, these days is like a written work of old, and may be published with similar intentions of the lyricist from Irish olden days writing on paper, as the Scottish St. Patrick taught the Irish folks to do - to preserve their story. Long live the blog.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

From Maryann.

Phillyist Reviews… Peter Pan (phillyist.com)
Postcards from Asia: Hanoi: Water Puppets & Dan Bau Instrument (core77.com)
Delfina : Peru (socialactions.net)
Wolf Tales | Theatre review (guardian.co.uk)
The Puppet Master and the Apprentice by Alex Hutchinson (walrusmagazine.com)
Today The Stranger Suggests (slog.thestranger.com)
Slides from Puppet HackDay (slideshare.net)
Puppeteer Ronnie Burkett wins Siminovitch Prize (cbc.ca)
Petrushka | Theatre review (guardian.co.uk)
Physics Puppets! (whatever.scalzi.com)
Toddler Must Have: Melissa and Doug Puppet Theater (momblognetwork.com)
Puppet Festival, Bangalore (prathambooks.org)

“Peace” from: The Fruit of the Spirit, a collection of stories fro children (c1986) by Maryann Scheufele

Maryann — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:19:27 +0000

: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

“Peace” is from my collection and was recorded as a song by Hilltop Records of Hollywood, California sung by Rusty Stratton on ”America” c1999.

C1986 Maryann Scheufele The Fruit of The Spirit a collection of stories for children

Peace

A garden was growing one bright, sunny day, with flowers arranged in the most colorful array.

Along came the gardener, with water to spray. To water that garden he came every day.

The gardener was saddened when he heard the sounds of a little flower bending, with its’ face to the ground. “I’m smaller than her and my stem is so blue. I’m different and tiny, boo hoo, boo hoo hoo.”

The gardener said, “Honey, don’t cry about that. Your distinguishing self is a matter of fact. I knew you were different when I planted you there. Your beauty’s delightsome. None other’s so fair.”

But she did not hear him. Her cry was so loud she began to disturb the rest of the crowd. All of the flowers that once were standing there proud, began looking inward unveiling a cloud which surrounded the garden when the flowers all feared that they weren’t very pretty and that nobody cared.

When all of a sudden up from the ground, came an enormous noise. It was a terrible sound. When the sound settled down and they looked at the ground, a brown, rugged root is what they found.

“Now listen here, flowers. I’ve got something to say.” Said the root as they all listened without any delay. “You’ve each got a job to perform in this garden. Without everyone working the ground will just harden. And then after that then nothing will grow. So stand up tall and look to the sun.

Looking into yourself is not always fun. I’m only a root, but I know it’s a fact, that charm and grace are as simple as that. I work all day long sucking water through my nose, just so that you flowers can stand tall and grow. I know that my job is important indeed. Stop thinking only of yourselves and your thoughts will be freed.”

After the flowers saw that the root was so bold, they stood straight and tall, just like they were told. They saw that together they created a sight that was splendid to behold and the gardener’s delight.

Peace reigns in that garden today as the flowers all listen to what the gardener has to say, “I’m here to feed you with my watering thing. Each life brings some beauty none other can bring. You shine to my glory each and every spring.”

LA Times Home & Garden Roundup 03.13.10 Los Angeles (apartmenttherapy.com)
Plant a flower (studio66design.com)
Choosing the Best Plants for your Garden (hbb2obm.com)
Container Gardening Tips For You And Me (backyardgardeningtips.com)
Gardening questions: 23-29 – Sarah Raven on flower gardens and the veg patch (telegraph.co.uk)
Choosing the Best Plants For Your Home Garden (backyardgardeningtips.com)

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