Never Grow Up

of my sounds.” He cleared his throat.
The room was quiet. A high-pitched noise blasted through the speakers for a second, which caused everyone to cover their ears. Another teacher ran over to the soundboard and messed with some of the knobs. It was silent again.
Someone in the back coughed.
“Okay. Here we go.” Tyson cleared his throat again. “Ooooowaout!” He scooped his voice from low to high. “Heeeeshaw!” Somehow, his voice got higher. “Bleech! Blaach!” This time it sounded like he was coughing.
Kari squinted her eyes. She wasn’t convinced that this was a talent. She exchanged looks with Liza and Mandy. They all tried their best not to laugh. Mandy had to cover her mouth. It wasn’t that they were laughing at Tyson. But the sounds were so silly.
Which maybe was a talent.
He finished with a final “Wompawindah!” A loud shout that echoed through the whole theater. Then, he stepped forward, bowed and left the stage.
Kari wasn’t sure if Tyson’s sound act would make the show. But Tyson had done his best and given everyone a few minutes of laughter. So there was that.
Miss Patty slumped into a chair at the front of the stage. Her smile looked tired. “Thank you… Tyson. For your… creativity.” She looked at her clipboard. “Last, but not least, we have the three Dancing Queens. Kari, Liza and Mandy.”
Kari took a deep breath. Help me remember the moves, God. She handed one of the parent volunteers the tape with “Under the Sea”.
Mandy linked arms with Kari. “I’m nervous.”
“It’s just the audition.” Liza didn’t look scared at all. “We have time.”
As they reached the top of the stairs, Kari turned to the girls and grabbed their hands. “Let’s have fun!” They got in their positions. Kari gave the parent volunteer a head nod and the music began.
The song started and ended in a blur of dance moves. Despite a few slipups, Kari thought they’d done a fantastic job. Miss Patty stood and clapped. “Bravo! You Dancing Queen girls are great. Keep practicing.”
Liza and Mandy and Kari hugged each other and hurried down the stairs and off the stage.
“Great job, everyone. See you at swimming later.” Mandy waved as she headed off to where her dad waited for her.
Liza left with both her parents and Kari ran to her mother. “We did it!”
Her mom hugged her. “You really are a dancing queen!”
“Thanks for being here.” Kari slipped her backpack on. “You’re the best.”
Mom ran her hand over Kari’s head. “Of course! I wouldn’t miss it. Your dad would be here, but he’s helping Luke and Erin with homework.”
“I know.” Kari smiled. “Plus, they’ll all be at the talent show.”
“They will.” Mom spun around. “Kari… you know you got your moves from me, right?” Mom twirled again. “Under the sea… under the sea…” She kept singing the song, which made Kari laugh. By the time they reached the parking lot, they were both singing and dancing.
Kari was thankful for a lot of things. But especially her mom. Someone who was there for her no matter what. Whether she and the girls would’ve ripped their sleeves or tripped over themselves and landed on the floor, her mother would be here. Always.
Because that’s what moms do.

10
Lost in the Corn Maze
ASHLEY
Late October was Ashley’s happiest time because it meant three things: Mom baked more. The trees were dressed in their best yellows, reds and oranges. And this year Ashley’s class was taking a field trip to the pumpkin patch.
It was Sunday afternoon and Mom was baking again. In the last week she’d made pies and muffins, scones and cookies. Every day the house smelled like brown sugar and warm cinnamon. This afternoon it was apple oat bars. The mixture of sweet spiced apples with the crunchy oat topping was Ashley’s most loved snack.
Ashley sat on the back porch and stared at the tree a few steps away. She had her sketchbook and pencils. The sun was going down so the light was perfect. Golden hour, her dad called it. Also Ashley loved autumn leaves. The sort of living masterpiece only God could paint.
With little strokes, she began to bring the colors to life. Most of the leaves were on the ground now. Soon they’d all be there, which made Ashley a little sad.
She wished autumn could last forever.
A leaf wiggled on the closest branch. “Don’t fall!” Ashley whispered. “Hang on, little leaf.” A gust of wind blew across the yard and the leaf left the tree and swirled toward the grass.
Ashley dropped her art supplies and chased the leaf as it floated on the wind. Just when she thought she would never catch it, the wind stopped and the leaf landed in her hand. “Wow!” She studied the colors and the lines. “You’re the most beautiful leaf in the whole world.”
She placed it in her sweater pocket, careful to not ruin it.
Sitting back down with her drawing, Ashley took a quick look at her picture and smiled. It was one of her favorites. The pretty tree, leaves dancing to the ground. Also a little bench near the trunk where she drew herself with her sketchbook.
Sometimes it was fun to put herself in the drawing.
The air got colder and Ashley joined her family for dinner. Everyone went around the table and said what they liked most about the day. Brooke was glad for no homework and Kari was happy about Mom’s apple oat bars. Erin was thankful for time with their family and Luke was excited about training Bo to sit.
“What about you, Ashley?” Dad smiled at her. “I bet you’re happy about your drawing. It’s one of your best.”
“Yes.” Ashley tapped her fingers on the table. So many good options. “That’s a nice one. But I think my very favorite is that today is one day closer to tomorrow.”
Her family waited a few seconds and then Kari giggled. “What’s that mean?”
“It means…” Ashley stood and spread her arms out to her sides.