By Marcia Maynard
Illustrated by Erin O'Connor
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"Shuffle-hop, step," Loretta said and moved to the left. "Shuffle-hop, step," she moved to the right, repeating the words her teacher said to help her remember the patterns.
She looked at her poster of tap dancing partners above her mirror then posed elegantly like the female partner.
"When did you know you were a great dancer?" she asked and held her pose.
Loretta tapped each step she learned in class then pretended she had a partner for jumps and twirls. She practiced until it was time for bed.
The next day as Loretta walked to school, she saw Shabro across the street.
"Loretta," he yelled holding up his shiny black shoes. "How do you like my new tap shoes? All the famous dancers wear these."
Loretta's stomach ached.
"See you at recess," he said and ran towards school.
Later that morning, after math lessons, Loretta turned to Erin.
"I think it's going to rain," she said.
"It's sunny outside," Erin said.
"Maybe we'll have a fire drill right before recess."
"We just had one, remember?" said Erin.
Loretta looked across the hall and saw the other second grade class putting away their books. Five minutes left until recess. She snuck behind the coat rack, stretched her legs and ankles, then put on her tap shoes.
"Shuffle-hop, step," she whispered as she quietly warmed up.
"Ding," the recess bell rang.
Loretta and Erin stood outside on the blacktop.
"You'll show him Loretta," said Erin as their friends gathered around.
Loretta took a deep breath and raised both arms above her head. Snap-tap, she danced a quick ball-change for her friends.
Click-clack, click-clack. She heard Shabro's new pair of tap shoes. He squeezed through the crowd.
"I'm Shabro," he reminded everyone. "I'm the best tap dancer around." He glanced at Loretta and then turned back to his audience.
"This is the step I'm famous for," he said, "The double shuffle."
He lifted his arms to the sides. His left foot brushed forward. Tap. Quickly it brushed back, with an even louder tap. His right foot did the same. Tap. Tap. He moved from left foot to right foot again and again.
Loretta stared. He was dancing the same steps she had practiced the night before.
"Wow, he's good," she heard someone say.
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