Never Grow Up

Amy a flower crown.
Amy placed the crown on her head. “I always wanted to be a warrior princess!”
“Miss Baxter.” Mr. Garrett handed Ashley her packet.
Ashley gasped. She couldn’t believe what she saw. ASHLEY BAXTER—WENDY. Her prop was a necklace with an acorn on it. Like the one Peter Pan gave Wendy in the story. Peter called it a kiss. It was her kiss necklace. She looked up. “Are you sure?”
“I am.” Her teacher smiled. “You’ll be the perfect Wendy.”
“Thank you.” Ashley stood, arms wide. “You’re right. I already am the best Wendy, Mr. Garrett. I won’t even have to act for this part.”
Mr. Garrett laughed. “I’m glad you’re happy.” He raised his eyebrows. “You can sit back down now, Ashley.”
“Yes, sir.” Ashley stared at the acorn necklace. She was more than happy. Mr. Garrett could have given the part to someone who wore dresses all the time, like Natalie. Or someone with perfect hair, like Amy. Instead he saw what Ashley had seen a long time ago.
She and Wendy were practically twins.
“Elliot.” Mr. Garrett gave Ashley’s friend his part along with a green hat and red feather. “No debate about it. You are Peter Pan.”
Elliot stood and saluted. “It is an honor to play the boy who never grows up as I, myself, have aspirations of doing the same. I won’t let you down!” He crowed a few times, a wild rooster crow, like Peter had done in the book. The class gave Elliot a round of applause.
“Natalie.” Mr. Garrett gave out her role last. “I chose you as Tinker Bell.” He handed her the packet and a bag of glitter. He held one hand up alongside his mouth like he had a secret. “Don’t worry, she doesn’t have any lines.”
“Congrats!” Ashley gave her friend a high five.
Natalie sighed. “I hope I’m not on stage much. I am so happy I don’t have any lines.” She thumbed through the packet a bit.
“Also, you’ll probably get a pretty costume, and wings!” Ashley was trying to highlight the good since Natalie truly was stage shy. “Plus. You’ll be with Elliot or me the whole time basically. So this is the best of both words.”
“Worlds.” Natalie still looked nervous.
“Worlds?” Ashley blinked.
“Yes.” Natalie giggled a little. “It’s supposed to be the best of both worlds. Not words.”
“Hmm.” Ashley shrugged. “Seems like if it’s the best of Elliot or me it’s the best of both words.” She thought about that. “Elliot. Me. Two words. But whatever you say.”
Mr. Garrett was back at the front of the room. “We will start on our class play tomorrow. Our show will include some lines, and narrating, and then two songs from the Disney film. I will bring the music in tomorrow. I passed out the props so you would know what belonged to you. But for now, let’s put them in the box and go back to our desks for a little bit of math!”
When Ashley got to the box, she held on to the kiss necklace for a few seconds before putting it back. She wanted to savor the feeling of it in her hand. “Thank you, Mr. Garrett. Come on, Tink, let’s fly to our desks!” She tapped Natalie and the two of them fluttered off back to their chairs.
Math could definitely use some pixie dust.
As Mr. Garrett and the class moved on to fractions, Ashley had a thought that she hadn’t had before. Maybe she didn’t need a class pet fairy after all. Because she had the best version of a fairy anyone could ask for in her new best friend, Natalie. The real-life Tinker Bell. Who, by the way, had real-life pixie dust.
And that was better than any class pet fairy she could ever find.

9
Talent Show Tryouts
KARI
After days of dancing under the sea in the living room, Kari believed they were finally ready for tomorrow’s audition. It wasn’t a real audition, Mom had read off the handout they took home. Because no one would be cut from the show for lack of talent. But if the “talent” wasn’t ready or the act wasn’t safe or appropriate for school, then the teachers in charge could use their adult powers to decline the act.
So, today, Kari was determined to make sure she and her friends weren’t booted from the program. Which was why she danced her way through the afternoon to Mom’s cassette as she waited for Mandy and Liza to arrive for their last practice.
They needed every move to be perfect.
“Kari.” Brooke sat on the couch. She was doing homework again. “You don’t have to worry. You’re a great dancer. They’re not going to cut you.”
Kari spun around and kicked her leg in time with the music. “How do you know that, Brooke?” She lifted her arms to the sides and did a half turn to the beat. “What if we’re not ready?”
“You are.” Brooke set her pencil down.
Erin lay on the floor, chin on her hands, watching. “I think you’re perfect. A superstar!”
Brooke agreed with Erin. “You’re well rehearsed. You have no live animals. And you’re not doing anything that crosses lines.”
Ashley walked into the room. “Crossing lines?” She plopped onto the sofa. “Is that like jumping fences?”
“Exactly.” Brooke smiled. “You aren’t jumping fences, either.”
For a few seconds Ashley took in Kari’s dance moves. “I say you’re an ideal act for a talent show.”
“I say so, too.” Erin sat up, cross-legged. “Dance it again. I’m trying to learn it.”
Kari paused the music and put her hands over her head to catch her breath. “I hope you’re right.” She paced a bit. “I can’t forget the steps tomorrow. I just can’t.”
Brooke closed her textbook and stood. “Here’s what you do.” She sucked in her cheeks, clasped her hands together and shot them straight in front of her. Then she pretended to swim herself from one side of the living room to the other.
Kari laughed. “You want me to be a fish?”
“Why not?” Brooke stopped swimming. “Your song