Don't Tap-Dance on Your Teacher Read Online Free PDF

favorite place to tap.
    My mom decided I was going to have to clean the bathtub.
    But it was worth it.
    I was a tapping fool. A crazy tapping machine.
    I was going to love, love , LOVE tap dancing!
    Forever.

7
Surrounded
    Finally it was time for my very first tap lesson.
    Emma’s mom drove us there.
    The tap dance place was an old brick building. It had a sign that said TRIXIE’S TIP-TOP TAP STUDIO .
    We were a little late. So Emma and I ran inside as fast as we could.
    A lady with her gray hair in a twisty circle on her head was standing near the door.
    She had on a black skirt and shiny tap shoes with bright red bows.
    â€œEmma! Slow down, dear! We are just about to start class,” said the lady.
    â€œMiss Trixie, this is Roscoe Riley,” Emma said. “He’s new.”
    â€œWonderful!” said Miss Trixie. “I am ecstatic to have an enthusiastic young gentleman like yourself join our ranks!”
    I looked at Emma. She likes big words more than I do.
    â€œShe’s glad to have you in the class,” she explained.
    â€œOh,” I said. “I’m glad to have me in the class too.”
    We followed Miss Trixie into a giant room.
    The shiny wooden floor looked just like the one in the school gym. One wall was made of mirrors.
    I waved to myself.
    Emma and I rushed to a bench by the wall and put on our tap shoes.
    The air was full of clicks and clacks .
    Miss Trixie clapped her hands.
    â€œTappers! Let the glorious fun begin!” she cried.
    â€œThat means it’s time to get in line,” saidEmma. “Stand next to me.”

    Miss Trixie went to the middle of the room.
    â€œLadies,” she said, “I am most delighted to introduce the newest member of our tap team, Mr. Roscoe Riley! Roscoe, take a bow, won’t you?” Miss Trixie asked.
    My face got hot. But I bowed.
    As I straightened up, I saw myself in the wall of mirrors.
    I saw my tap shoes. And my ears thatstick out a little too much.

    I saw my pink cheeks. And my striped shirt and my nice worn-in jeans.
    I saw a long row of tappers.
    I saw tall tappers and freckled tappers and tappers with missing teeth.
    But there was one thing I did not see.
    I did not see one single other boy.

8
The Gentleman
    I was in a totally guyless room.
    A boy-free zone.
    A sea of pink.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me there aren’t any boys in this class?” I whispered to Emma.
    Emma looked surprised. “Does it matter?”
    â€œYes, it matters!” I whispered back.
    I wasn’t even exactly sure why it mattered.
    Except that it meant maybe Max had been right, after all.
    Maybe tap dancing was For Girls Only.
    That meant kids at school would tease me.
    Bully-breath Wyatt already had a long list of bully nicknames for me.
    I did not need to have him add another one.
    â€œLet’s start with some heel-toes,” Miss Trixie said.
    I raised my hand. “Miss Trixie?”
    â€œYes, dear?”
    â€œI…uh…” I swallowed. “I’m going to sit on the bench for a minute. There’s a stone in my shoe, I think.”
    â€œBy all means!” she said.
    I sat down on a bench and yanked off one of my tap shoes.
    Tinkly music filled the room.
    â€œLet’s start with our dance called ‘The Mice and the Elephants’!” said Miss Trixie.
    The girls began to tap their toes.
    â€œTwinkle toes! Twinkle toes!” Miss Trixie said. “Tip-tap! Tip-tap!”
    While she twinkled, Emma looked over her shoulder at me.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked.
    I nodded.
    But I wasn’t okay.
    I was the only boy in a gigantic roomful of girls.
    I pretended to look for a rock in my shoe.
    â€œLet’s heel-toe in a circle, lovely littlemice!” Miss Trixie called.
    Everyone tiptoed. All those clicks made a wonderful sound.
    The music changed. It got slow and loud and thumpy.
    â€œTime for the elephants!” called Miss Trixie. “Clomp and stomp like