Amanda's New Day
by Kathy Warnes
"Wake up, Amanda! We'll be late for school."
"School! You said school was almost over! Why do I have to wake up already?"
From her hiding place, Amanda saw two sneakered feet race across the wood floor. The sneakers were blue and white and were laced with pink polka dot laces.
"Come out and see my new sneakers," Josie coaxed. "Mama says they'll be wonderful for riding my bike and playing tag. It's spring, Amanda. You said you'd come to Show And Tell with me at school.."
"You showed me your new sneakers. I'll tell you they're pretty. But, I 'm still sleepy and it's dark and quiet here under the bed," Amanda said. "It's like my grandmother's cave."
"You promised, Amanda" Josie said.
"Sweet dreams are waiting for me to close my eyes, and my sleeping bag is snug and warm," Amanda protested.
"There's some sweet honey in the refrigerator, Amanda. I'll take it out and warm it in the microwave so you can have on your toast for breakfast.." Josie pulled up the corner of the blanket. "Come on, A manda. Spring's no fun without you!"
"I can't, Josie! I'm not finished hibernating!"
Josie stetched out flat on the floor so that she and Amanda touched noses. "I have a squiggly feeling in my stomach about school being over and summer coming. But we can do this together. You're my best friend, Amanda."
"Will you still be my best friend in August when I'm warmy and furry?"
"Amanda, I like you warm and fuzzy."
"Furry! I said furry!"
"Furry or fuzzy, you're still Amanda!"
"I am not-- Before Amanda could finish her sentence, the dust motes danced under her nose. "ACHOOOOOO!" Amanda sneezed..
"That's exactly my point, a brisk voice said. A new pair of feet stood beside Josie's sneakers. These feet wore large, dirty white sneakers with a hole in each toe. "It's time for spring cleaning, and that includes under the bed."
Josie got up on her knees and held out her hand to Amanda. "Let's go to school and do Show and Tell. Then after school, we'll help Mom with the spring cleaning. Then we can go roller skating!"
Amanda slowly came out from under the bed. "New things aren't so unBEARable with a friend like you," She folded her sleeping bag. "Where's that honey?"..
"Wake up, Amanda! We'll be late for school."
"School! You said school was almost over! Why do I have to wake up already?"
From her hiding place, Amanda saw two sneakered feet race across the wood floor. The sneakers were blue and white and were laced with pink polka dot laces.
"Come out and see my new sneakers," Josie coaxed. "Mama says they'll be wonderful for riding my bike and playing tag. It's spring, Amanda. You said you'd come to Show And Tell with me at school.."
"You showed me your new sneakers. I'll tell you they're pretty. But, I 'm still sleepy and it's dark and quiet here under the bed," Amanda said. "It's like my grandmother's cave."
"You promised, Amanda" Josie said.
"Sweet dreams are waiting for me to close my eyes, and my sleeping bag is snug and warm," Amanda protested.
"There's some sweet honey in the refrigerator, Amanda. I'll take it out and warm it in the microwave so you can have on your toast for breakfast.." Josie pulled up the corner of the blanket. "Come on, A manda. Spring's no fun without you!"
"I can't, Josie! I'm not finished hibernating!"
Josie stetched out flat on the floor so that she and Amanda touched noses. "I have a squiggly feeling in my stomach about school being over and summer coming. But we can do this together. You're my best friend, Amanda."
"Will you still be my best friend in August when I'm warmy and furry?"
"Amanda, I like you warm and fuzzy."
"Furry! I said furry!"
"Furry or fuzzy, you're still Amanda!"
"I am not-- Before Amanda could finish her sentence, the dust motes danced under her nose. "ACHOOOOOO!" Amanda sneezed..
"That's exactly my point, a brisk voice said. A new pair of feet stood beside Josie's sneakers. These feet wore large, dirty white sneakers with a hole in each toe. "It's time for spring cleaning, and that includes under the bed."
Josie got up on her knees and held out her hand to Amanda. "Let's go to school and do Show and Tell. Then after school, we'll help Mom with the spring cleaning. Then we can go roller skating!"
Amanda slowly came out from under the bed. "New things aren't so unBEARable with a friend like you," She folded her sleeping bag. "Where's that honey?"..