Amelia Bedelia Dances Off Read online

  Dedication

  For Susan & Chris Bryan-Brown

  Keep dancing!—H. P.

  With love to Karen Ninos Carpenter,

  my Bunny Ballerina—L. A.

  Dedication

  Chapter 1: Wanda Dance?

  Chapter 2: Who’s That Tapping on My Door Street?

  Chapter 3: Care to Dance? NO!!!

  Chapter 4: Say What Kind of Mall?

  Chapter 5: You Say Flamenco, I Say Flamingo

  Chapter 6: The Best Teacher, Barre None

  Chapter 7: Breaking into Dancing

  Chapter 8: Ballet—What’s the Pointe?

  Chapter 9: Salsa Inside and Out

  Chapter 10: Difference Makes All the Difference

  Chapter 11: “Do It for Dana!”

  Chapter 12: Birds of a Feather Dance Together

  Chapter 13: And Now, from a Lawn near You . . .

  Chapter 14: Wanda Around

  Amelia Bedelia’s Wild World of Dance

  Two Ways to Say It

  Back Ads

  Credits

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Amelia Bedelia had been looking forward to this moment all week long. She had finished her homework, made a yummy snack, poured a giant glass of apple juice, and arranged everything on the table next to her father’s favorite chair, a recliner covered in soft leather.

  This was where he always sat to watch sports on TV and catch up on his sleep. Amelia Bedelia’s mother jokingly called the recliner his “throne” because he loved to sit there so much, like a king ruling the kingdom. Amelia Bedelia wouldn’t dare sit in her dad’s recliner if he were at home. Luckily, he was still at work!

  Now, she climbed into it and got comfortable. The recliner actually lived up to its name. Amelia Bedelia thought that was probably why it was her favorite chair too. After all, the armchairs in her house did not have real arms. The footstool did not have any feet. The coffee table was not brown, and it had never made a pot of coffee. It just held magazines. But the recliner really reclined. When she pulled on the handle and snuggled back, a cushion popped up for her feet.

  Amelia Bedelia’s dog, Finally, put her front paws on the seat and got ready to jump into the recliner too.

  “Down, girl!” said Amelia Bedelia. “King Dad would throw us both in the dungeon if he found us here.”

  Finally walked in a circle three times and settled under the footrest.

  “Ahhhhhh!” Amelia Bedelia sighed as she sank back into the soft leather cushion. No wonder her father never wanted to get up. She aimed the remote control at the TV.

  “Three, two, one—blastoff!” Amelia Bedelia pressed the ON button.

  Her timing was perfect. Trumpets blared a fanfare as a deep-voiced announcer declared, “Welcome to this week’s episode of The World Is a Village.”

  This was followed by a close-up shot of a hand sticking a pin into a specific spot on a map. Each episode took place in a remote corner of the world that Amelia Bedelia had never studied in geography or even heard of. That was what made it so great. Plus, The World Is a Village was popular years ago, and it was so old that sometimes the episode was in black and white instead of color. That didn’t matter to her. She just loved learning about the awesome customs and costumes and ceremonies from around the world.

  “In these remote rain forests . . . ,” said the announcer as the camera panned over tall trees draped in vines, “two tribes celebrate a year of peace by sharing their ceremonial dances.” Tall figures in incredible costumes were swaying back and forth. Amelia Bedelia would have given anything to wear a costume like that, even for one day. Drummers were drumming furiously in short, percussive bursts. Amelia Bedelia began drumming on the arms of the recliner. She wanted drums of her own!

  POP-Pu-POP! POPPUPOP-Pop-Pop-POP Patta-POP POP POP!

  It sounded so realistic, the drums could have been in the next room.

  “Cooks prepare a feast that goes on for days,” said the announcer. “Mmmmm . . . honey-dipped grasshoppers, anyone?”

  “Yuck!” Amelia Bedelia inhaled sharply. To her surprise, she smelled a delicious aroma. She looked toward the kitchen and there was her mother, coming through the doorway carrying a bowl of popcorn. It had been the percussion section and the feast, all in one.

  “Can the princess scoot over and share the throne?” asked her mother. “The queen needs a break.”

  “Certainly, Your Highness,” said Amelia Bedelia, making room for her mom. “Will you share your bounty of popped corn?”

  Her mother slid into the recliner next to Amelia Bedelia, and they both grabbed a big handful of popcorn.

  “Why is that guy leading a goat around the village?” asked her mother.

  “I’m not sure,” said Amelia Bedelia. “You were getting into the throne when the announcer was explaining that.”

  “Is that the chief being carried ahead of the others?” asked her mother.

  “I guess so,” said Amelia Bedelia.

  “How come that beautiful woman has feathers coming out of her armpits?” asked her mother.

  “I have no idea,” said Amelia Bedelia. “Stop asking questions and listen! Then we’ll both find out.”

  Now she knew why her father got so annoyed with her mother. Her mom had the habit of wandering into the family room and peppering everyone with questions at the exact moment a show was getting good!

  Just then, Finally’s paws appeared on the footrest.

  “Down, girl,” said Amelia Bedelia.

  But Finally hated to be left out. She jumped onto the recliner.

  “Hold on, sweetie!” yelled Amelia Bedelia’s mother.

  The recliner snapped back and the bowl went flying, showering the family room with popcorn. The recliner had reclined all the way, and now it was a bed. Finally dove for the spilled popcorn, and Amelia Bedelia and her mother began laughing hysterically.

  “Shhhh!” her mother said suddenly, putting her fingers to her lips. “What’s that noise?”

  CLICK-A-CLICK, CLICKTY-CLICK CLICKITY-CLICKTY-CLACK.

  “It’s part of the show,” said Amelia Bedelia. “On the TV.”

  “No, not that noise,” said her mother. “That noise.”

  “Finally, NO!” shouted Amelia Bedelia. Finally was loudly spitting up popcorn and looking pretty sorry for herself. “I guess Finally doesn’t like popcorn, Mom.”

  “No, not that noise,” said her mother. “THAT NOISE!” She pointed at the window that faced their front walk. They both slipped off the recliner and crawled through the spilled popcorn to peek out the window.

  “Is that . . . ,” said Amelia Bedelia’s mother.

  “Aunt Wanda!” yelled Amelia Bedelia, jumping up. She raced to the front door, flung it open, ran down the walkway, and jumped into Aunt Wanda’s arms. Wanda was a large woman, but it had been a while since she had held Amelia Bedelia.

  “Easy, easy,” said Wanda, laughing. “You’ve grown since the last time you did that!” She let Amelia Bedelia slip down to the ground and gave Amelia Bedelia’s mother a hello hug.

  “We’re so glad to see you, Wanda,” said Amelia Bedelia’s mother. “For someone who lives so close by, we don’t see enough of you!”

  “This is all of Aunt Wanda,” said Amelia Bedelia, pointing to her aunt. “Look, Mom.”

  They both gave Wanda a good look, and that’s when they noticed her costume and the shoes.

  “Are those tap shoes?” asked Amelia Bedelia’s mother.

  Wanda replied by shuffling her feet. CLICKTY-CLICK-CLICK-CLACK. “You bet they are,” she said. “I need your help. We’ve got a state record to set. Come on, my car is waiting.”

  “State record?” said Amelia B
edelia. “Come on, Mom!”

  “Slow down!” said Amelia Bedelia’s mother as Aunt Wanda veered around a curve, tires squealing. “Where are you taking us?”

  “To Tepper’s Department Store,” said Wanda.

  “To shop?” asked Amelia Bedelia.

  “To shuffle-shuffle-shuffle-shuffle-tap,” said Wanda.

  Wanda was talking even faster than she drove. Now Amelia Bedelia really understood why her father had nicknamed his big sister “Motor Mouth.”

  “Every year, they close off the street in front of Tepper’s,” said Wanda. “How have you missed this? Tap dancers flock from all over for one big tap dance. Hundreds of people show up for Tap into Tepper’s, the store’s big sale. My friend Dana is in charge of teaching everyone the Tepper routine.”

  “We don’t have tap shoes,” said Amelia Bedelia.

  “You provide the feet,” said Wanda. “I’ll provide the shoes.”

  A parking spot appeared just around the corner from the store, and Wanda snagged it. She grabbed a shopping bag off the backseat.

  “Try these on,” she said, handing a pair of tap shoes to Amelia Bedelia and another pair to her mother. The pair for her mom was scuffed and about three sizes too big.

  “No problem,” said Wanda, handing two pairs of cotton socks to Amelia Bedelia’s mother. “Put these on and they’ll be snugger. Those were my first pair of taps.”

  Amelia Bedelia’s shoes were brand-new and fit perfectly.

  “Happy birthday,” said Wanda. “This is part one of your gift—just a little bit early!”

  Amelia Bedelia reached over the back of the driver’s seat and hugged her aunt. “Thank you, Aunt Wanda!” she said.

  “No practicing on our hardwood floors, sweetie,” said Amelia Bedelia’s mother.

  The Tepper’s tap lesson was just starting. Amelia Bedelia and her mother followed Wanda into the thick of the crowd, which parted for her, until they were on the sidewalk in front of the store. Dana was right above them, standing on a small platform covered with red bunting. Wanda waved at Dana, and Dana waved back.

  Dana was wearing a red, white, and blue sequined outfit with a star-spangled scarf tied around her neck. She sported shiny red tap shoes, and she was holding a bullhorn.

  “Okay, all you Tepper Tappers!” she yelled. “We’re going to learn the simple steps first, so you can all participate. Experienced tappers, help your neighbors! First, take your right foot and tap your toe four times.”

  She demonstrated the step, and everyone did it together as she counted, “One, two, three, four.” Then they did the same thing with their left feet.

  “Now,” Dana said, “Lift your right heel and tap—one, two, three, four.” They sounded better this time. They did the same thing with their left heels.

  “You’ve got it! Now let’s try some more toe taps,” said Dana.

  “Bend your left knee, letting your right leg slide out. Now tap your right toe on the ground.” They did that eight times, then they did the same thing with the other leg.

  “Wonderful! Now this is called the brush-and-drag,” Dana hollered into the bullhorn. “Right foot brush!” When she said the word “brush” they all imitated her, swinging their right feet forward like they were kicking a ball, while skimming their toe taps on the ground. A scratchy metal sound arose from the crowd.

  “Now drag,” she said, and they all swung their right feet back, letting the taps on their heels hit the ground as they did so. They did the sequence seven more times to make sure they had it, then switched to the other foot for another eight brush-and-drags.

  “Now let’s put it all together,” said Dana. She started the music. “Glue your eyes to me.”

  Amelia Bedelia was stunned. She had followed the steps up to now, but putting glue in your eyes is a terrible idea. What grown-up would say that? She looked around. She was relieved to see that no one had any glue. Everyone was watching Dana very closely and doing just what she did.

  Dana started them off just tapping their toes right-left right-left right-left right-left. Then they tapped their heels right-left eight times. That led into eight toe taps with each foot, then to eight brush-and-drags, then to eight more toe taps on each foot, then heels again, then toes again. Then they were back to where they started.

  Smiles began appearing on the faces of the dancers. Amelia Bedelia was sure that everyone was thinking just what she was thinking. She turned to her mom, who was tapping away next to her. “This is fun!” she said. “We sound amazing!”

  When Dana finished the routine, everyone started clapping. Dana held up her hands and clapped right back at them. Then she leaned over to hear what a man in a coat and tie was saying to her. She smiled and picked up the bullhorn again.

  “Bravo, Tepper Tappers! We just set a new state record: three hundred and forty-eight dancers were all tapping to the same tune!” Cheers and applause broke out once more. Everyone started to tap and twirl and hug their neighbors. Amelia Bedelia’s mother grabbed her hands and swung her around.

  The man on the other side of Amelia Bedelia began dancing with a blond lady who was wearing a pink gown with fluffy feathers around the hem. His outfit was not so great. He carried a cane under his arm and wore a tall black hat that reminded Amelia Bedelia of the hats snowmen wore. He had on a stiff white shirt, black trousers, and a black jacket that was split up the back.

  Amelia Bedelia gasped. “I’m sorry to tell you this,” she said. “But your jacket is ripped in the back, right up the middle!”

  The lady in the pink gown laughed, and so did he. “Those are tails!” he said.

  “My jacket was designed like that on purpose. See how nicely my tails move when I dance?”

  The man did a quick tap dance, twirling around so fast that his tails flew out to the sides.

  “Wow!” said Amelia Bedelia. “That was amazing for someone who needs a cane!”

  The man and his partner laughed even louder.

  “I don’t need a cane to dance,” he said. “I make this cane dance, like so.”

  He repeated the dance steps, but this time he swung his cane in an arc through the air, striking the tip on the ground click-click-click as he tapped. He made his cane sound like a third foot tap dancing.

  Amelia Bedelia was amazed. This dancer could actually tap his feet, spin, tap his cane, and dance with a partner, all at the same time! A crowd had gathered to watch them. Naturally, Wanda pushed through it. She grabbed Amelia Bedelia’s mother by the arm and introduced both her and Amelia Bedelia to the wonderful dancers as soon as the applause had died down.

  “Georgie,” said Wanda. “Show my sister-in-law a step or two.” While Amelia Bedelia’s mother was getting a lesson in tapping and twirling from the man in tails and his partner, Amelia Bedelia spotted Dana approaching. She had come down to the street to mingle with her record-breaking dancers.

  “Wanda!” said Dana, hugging her. “Glad you made it!”

  Wanda introduced Amelia Bedelia to Dana. “Wouldn’t miss it,” said Wanda, eyes sparkling. “Dana, this is my niece. Amelia Bedelia, meet Dana. You’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.” Then Wanda winked.

  Dana smiled at Amelia Bedelia. Amelia Bedelia smiled back, but she couldn’t help wondering . . . how much more of Dana could there possibly be, and when would she be seeing it?

  Just then Amelia Bedelia’s mother came spinning to a stop. “Let’s go shop the sale!” she said.

  When Amelia Bedelia, her mother, and Aunt Wanda got back home, they were so surprised, they almost called the police.

  “What’s that noise?” said Wanda, putting her ear to the door.

  WHIRRRR-RRRRR-WWWRRRRR.

  Amelia Bedelia’s mother shook her head. “Sounds familiar,” she said.

  “Sounds like a vacuum cleaner,” said Amelia Bedelia, stepping inside. She saw something she had never seen before. Her father was running their vacuum cleaner back and forth, sucking up the popcorn that had landed all over the family room.r />
  “This is a proud moment,” said Wanda.

  “What?” bellowed Amelia Bedelia’s father. He turned off the vacuum cleaner and the room got quiet.

  “I’m proud of you!” yelled Wanda, cupping her hands to her mouth.

  “Thanks,” said Amelia Bedelia’s father. “So why are you yelling at me?”

  Amelia Bedelia’s mother put down the Tepper’s shopping bags.

  “Honey, what’s this?” said Amelia Bedelia’s father. “I clean up the family room and you clean out our bank account?”

  “Oh, please. It’s the annual sale,” said Wanda. “Your wife saved tons of money.”

  “We didn’t even use money,” said Amelia Bedelia. “Mom used a little plastic card.”

  Amelia Bedelia’s father shook his head and plopped down in his recliner. “I’m famished, family!” he said, “What’s for supper?”

  Amelia Bedelia’s mother turned to Wanda and said, “I’d ask you to stay for dinner, but we’re just having leftovers tonight.”

  “Oh, I adore leftovers,” said Wanda. “The flavors get more intense. I’ll whip up my anchovy-raspberry dressing for the salad.”

  Turning around to put down her purse, Aunt Wanda didn’t see what Amelia Bedelia saw. Her father rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue, and her mother arched her eyebrows and sighed. How bad could Aunt Wanda’s anchovy-raspberry dressing be?