For the Duration: The War Years (5 page)

During class, the school secretary, Miss Philomena, came in and said, “Tommy, Miss Burke would like to see you in her office.”

What did I do now?

As we walked down to the principal's office, Miss Philomena said, “Don't worry, Tommy. You're not in any trouble.”

I sat on the bench under the big clock and waited until Miss Burke came to the door of her office. “Please come in, Tommy,” she said. “Have a seat.” I got in the chair opposite her desk.

“I hear that there was some . . . trouble in the school yard. Is that right?” Miss Burke said.

I nodded.

“I was told that some of the older boys were teasing you and throwing your tap shoes around. Is that true?”

“Yes, ma‘am,” I answered.

“Well,” Miss Burke continued, “we can't have that kind of behavior in the school yard. I am going to have a talk with ALL of the older boys, not just the ones who teased you. That way no one will try to ʹget even with you.‘ Does that sound all right?”

“Yes, ma‘am.”

“Now, would you like me to call your mother to come and meet you after school so you can get to Dancing School without any trouble?”

“No, ma‘am,” I answered. “One of the sixth-grade girls is going to walk with me. She lives on the way.”

“Good,” Miss Burke said. “And, by the way, Tommy, I suggest that the next time you have to bring your tap shoes to school, you bring them in a paper bag or something. So they won't be so noticeable. You can go back to your class now.”

After school, the girl—whose name was Lorraine—was waiting out front for me. The boys didn't bother us.

I told Lorraine about being King Neptune, and Carol and Patty and Billy, and the song I was going to sing. Lorraine was very nice.

I said good-bye to Lorraine at the train tracks and went on to the Hamrah Building and up to Miss Leah's.

She was waiting for me. There was a big chair in the middle of the dance studio facing the mirrors.

“Okay, Tomie. The show will start with you sitting in the chair, which will be decorated to look like a throne under the sea.” She showed me a drawing of what the throne would look like. It would be draped with fishnets, starfish, shells, and make-believe seaweed. “The whole scene will be set and the curtain will open. You'll wait until the spotlight hits you, then I want you to stand, holding the trident in your left hand, come straight down front, and begin your piece. Have you had a chance to learn any of it? You can read it today if you want.”

“I don't have to, Miss Leah. I've already memorized it,” I told her.

“Wonderful!” she said. “Here's your prop trident.” The prop trident wasn't the final one. It was made of heavy cardboard. The real one would be made of painted wood.

“Okay? Curtain. Spotlight.”

I stood up and walked forward.

I began. “I am King Neptune, the king of the sea. Tonight is the night for a bit of revelry.”

When I finished the first part, I backed up to the chair. “Wait,” said Miss Leah. “I have an idea. Why don't you turn around so you can twirl your cape and walk back to the throne, turn, and sit.”

I pretended I had a cape and tried it.

“That will be great,” said Miss Leah with a big smile. “Now, one by one, you will introduce each dance number.”

My favorite introduction was for “The Pearl in the Oyster Shell.” It was going to be an acrobatic dance. I couldn't wait to see that one.

Then, for the finale of Act One, I would sing my solo, “What Kind of a Noise Annoys an Oyster.” It was a very funny song. I rehearsed it with Mrs. Anderson a couple of times. I was very lucky because songs were easy for me to memorize.

As I was practicing, Mom came in with my baby sister, Maureen. When we had finished the rehearsal, Miss Leah said, “Floss, the material and pattern for Tomie's costume came today from New York.” Miss Leah unwrapped dark green velvet for the tunic, silver cloth for the decoration, and beautiful pale green soft China silk for the cape. Also there was a pair of acrobatic shoes that would be painted green. My silver trident and crown would be the rest of my costume.

My dad would make the trident out of wood and my crown would be made out of buckram (whatever that is) and painted with silver paint.

I was so excited that I talked about the rehearsal with Mom all the way home on the bus.

But I still wished that Miss Leah would let me wear that long white beard.

Chapter Four