Free Ripple Effect by Sylvia Taekema

in a thin, straight line.
    “No, Julia, that’s not what I mean.” Janelle looked around the circle. “I want to thank you, so many of you, for everything you’ve done for me these last few months. You’ve helped me in all kinds of different ways, and I’m very grateful for all your support. But this is really very simple. The lead role should go to Dana because she would be great in it. She’s very talented, and she’s a very special person. She deserves it.”
    Janelle sat down. Julia had a puzzled look on her face. Dana’s heart missed a beat. She let out a huge breath and looked up.
    Everyone was quiet. They all looked at Dana, then back at Janelle. “Oh, and Mr. B., I need to tell you one more thing,” said Janelle. “I don’t know if it makes a difference, but the part I really wanted was the—”
    “Wicked Witch?” asked the teacher.
    Janelle looked surprised. She smiled. “Yes, I think my limp will work perfectly with that role.”
    Mr. B. laughed. “I’m sure it will add to it wonderfully, Janelle, but limp or no limp, I already had you pegged for that role the first time I heard you cackle.”
    Dana looked up. “That was you?”
    “Who else?” said Janelle. She cackled wickedly. The whole class laughed and applauded.
    When it quieted down again, everyone looked at Dana. “But Janelle,” she asked slowly, “Dorothy? Me? Do you really think so? What about my…” She hesitated. She cleared her throat. “What about my hair?”
    “What about your hair? There’s a wig, of course.”
    “Oh.” Of course. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Dana stood up. “Okay, I think it’s great that some of you think I can play the lead role.” She stole a look at Jason. He was busy stuffing his shoelaces inside his shoes and didn’t look up. “But, even if it sounds weird, I need to tell you that the part I really wanted was the—”
    “Scarecrow?” asked Mr. B.
    Dana nodded. She smiled. “Yes, the Scarecrow.”
    Julia looked even more puzzled.
    “That’s exactly what I thought. You’d be perfect for that part, Dana. It’s yours.”
    Dana sat down. Everyone applauded. She felt her cheeks get hot.
    “Jason,” continued Mr. Bartholomew, “I have you as the Tin Man.”
    Oh. Dana felt her cheeks getting hotter still. The Tin Man ? The Tin Man needed a heart. Jason needed a heart. A heart that had room in it for more than kickball. This was perfect. It couldn’t get any better if Dana had chosen the parts herself.
    “And Mickey,” said Mr. B., “you’re the Lion.”
    Oh well.
    Mr. B. waved the papers he had in each hand. “I have a list here for everyone who will play the Munchkins, and a list here for everyone who will be a Flying Monkey. Allie, you’re Auntie Em. Trey, you’re the Wizard. Let’s put that great voice of yours to work. Amber, I’ve chosen you to be the Good Witch. You’ve got such a lovely smile, we want to see you use it!”
    That Mr. B. He saw the potential in everyone.
    He went on for a few more minutes. “Well, class,” Mr. Bartholomew said at last, “that’s everyone, I think. We’re off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of—”
    “No, wait,” piped up Julia, shaking her head. “Mr. B., if you didn’t choose Janelle or Dana to be Dorothy…” She looked around. “Who did you pick?”
    “Ahhh, of course. Dorothy. I almost forgot.” He slapped his forehead and smiled. “Well, Julia, you’ll remember I said I had a difficult time choosing between two people?” She nodded. “One of them was you.”
    “Me?” Everyone was stunned. Even Julia seemed surprised.
    “You would be fantastic.”
    “I would?”
    “She would?” asked Mickey. Allie poked him.
    “Of course she would,” said Janelle. She started to clap, and soon everyone joined in.
    Julia looked confused. She held her hands up, asking for quiet. “Wait. Wait.” She put her hands on her hips. “But Mr. B.,” she said, “don’t you need me to be the director? I didn’t see