Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade (4 page)

“These old things are ready for the trash,” said Miss Lee. “But I can't bear to part with them.”

“Posey is the same way,” said Gramps. “She would wear her ballet outfit to school every day of the year, if she could.”

“I know exactly how she feels.”

Miss Lee squatted down so she could look into Posey's eyes. “I bet your tutu is comfortable, isn't it?” she said.

Posey nodded.

“My shoes are, too,” said Miss Lee. “It's too bad we can't wear our favorite old clothes to school, isn't it?”

Posey stared back at her, round-eyed. “Why can't we?” she asked.

“Why can't we?” Miss Lee sounded surprised.

“Why can't everyone wear what they want to school?” Posey said bravely.

Miss Lee stood up. She squeezed her lips together and thought.

“Well, I guess because then we'd have pirates and clowns and super-heroes and ballet dancers in our class,” she said at last.

“What's wrong with that?” said Posey.

“Now, Posey . . .” said Gramps.

“It's all right,” Miss Lee told him. She smiled at Posey again.

Posey thought Miss Lee was pretty.

“That doesn't sound very much like a first-grade class, does it?” said Miss Lee.

“No,” said Posey. “It sounds like a parade.”

P
osey couldn't sit still. The invitation had come in the morning mail.

It was for Miss Lee's “First Day of First Grade Parade.”

Posey's tutu was clean and almost like new. Her mom had mended the hole and the tear.

Now Gramps was coming over to give Posey a present. She bounced up and down on the couch. She ran to the window to look out.

“He's here!” she shouted when Gramps's truck pulled into the driveway. She ran outside and hugged Gramps as hard as she could.

“Hang on now.” Gramps laughed. “What's all the excitement?”

Posey's mom came out onto the front porch holding Danny. “Let Gramps get inside,” she called.

In the living room, Gramps handed Posey a shiny box with a silver bow.

“Go on, open it,” he said.

Inside was a beautiful pink veil covered with stars. Posey held it up.

The stars sparkled like magic. They were blue and green and red.

“Put it on,” said Gramps. “Let's see how it looks.”

The veil fell around Posey's shoulders like a cloud.

A sparkly pink cloud.

Posey started to twirl. She twirled and twirled as if she would never stop.

“Posey, slow down,” said her mom. But Posey couldn't slow down. She was Princess Posey, the Pink Princess. Princess Posey was floating.

Around and around and around like a dream.

When Posey bumped into the couch, Gramps put his arms around her.

“You know what makes that veil so magic?” he said.

“What?”

“You and that brave heart of yours. It's all you will ever need.”

Posey knew Gramps was right.

“
P
oor Danny,” Posey said as she got into bed. “He can't go to first grade tomorrow.”

She curled up on her side so she could look at her veil. It was hanging on the back of her chair.

“How about a book?” said her mom.

“Not tonight,” said Posey. “I want to fall asleep fast so it's tomorrow.”

Her mom sat on the edge of Posey's bed.

“Now, remember,” she said. “Tomorrow I'm going to stop the car at the Kiss and Go sign.”

Posey nodded.

“You'll give me a kiss and walk up to the school, okay?”

“Miss Lee will be waiting,” said Posey.

“Right.”

“Miss Lee smiles a lot,” Posey said sleepily.

“I'm glad,” said her mom.

Her mom kissed her good night and turned off the light. But Posey didn't close her eyes.

She wanted to see if her veil sparkled in the dark. It did.