|
The Little Rooster Story
The kids saw Anna coming and ran to meet her.
They reached in her
pockets, scratching for bubble gum. Mouths full and bubbles blowing,
they followed her inside where Anna sat down in a chair and strummed
her guitar. The girls and boys gathered around her on a blanket
in the floor. Anna sang
"I love my little rooster my rooster loves
me
I cherish my rooster 'neath the green bay tree
My little rooster goes cocka dedo
De doodle de doodle de doodle de do"
Then all the children began to crow like a rooster
and all fell over laughing and blew some bubbles and burst them.
"Hey, I'm gonna' call you the Bubble Gum Kids!" Anna yelled
as she left.
LETS HAVE A TALENT SHOW
Anna noticed that the Head Start Center did not have a piano so
she talked the teachers into letting her have a talent show and
charging admission to raise money to buy a piano for their school.
"Hey Kids' Anna said 'Lets put on our own talent show and charge
admission and buy a piano". And all the kids said "Yeaaaahhhhh!'
and
giggled happily. Anna went to work and taught the little girls and
boys to dance and sing. The talent show was a great success. They
ended the program with their rendition of "I lLove my Little
Rooster" . There was just enough money to buy the old piano
that Mrs. Olson wanted out of her way . The kids were very proud
of themselves.
WE WANT MORE!
The kids outgrew HeadStart and entered the big Nantahala School
where students were grades one through twelve. The kids sent word
to Anna that they wanted to have another talent show. So Anna came
to prepare them. On the night of the talent show Anna called them
out from behind the curtain
one or two at a time and introduced them. They stood shyly before
the audience of parents teachers students and friendly neighbors.
Then they helped Anna sing "I love my Little Rooster"
and they all crowed loudly "Cocka- doodle- doo" and giggled.
When the show was over Anna gave them a backstage hug. So each year
thereafter they sent word to Anna that they were ready to do the
talent show and each year she came. But it had been a long time
since they had asked her to sing "I Love my Little Rooster".
HIGH SCHOOL
When the kids reached tenth grade they sent word that a rehearsal
for the talent show was now in progress if Anna would like
to drop by. Surprised that they had started without her she went
to see her Bubble Gum Kids and try to help them. How the kids had
grown! Looking at their faces now almost grown she remembered when
she had once cupped each small face in her hands to give them bubble
gum kisses when they were barely more than toddlers. Now they were
confident young teens with budding bodies and hormones.
ANNA WATCH US SHINE!
When the big night came they greeted Anna handed her a microphone
to host the show but controlled everything else! They sang and danced
in brightly colored costumes they had made themselves. One boy played
a guitar solo another played the piano and sang a duet with his
sister and three girls and a guy formed
a sweet sounding quartet..... They had grown up to be confident
performers. Anna's eyes filled with tears as they escorted two little
first grade boys on stage hugged them and helped them find the courage
to sing a song. When the show was almost over the now almost grown
Bubble Gum Kids formed a large semi-circle on stage and placed a
chair in front of them and motioned for Anna to sit down. They announced
to the corwd " Now we are going to sing a song for Anna Prince"
They each popped bubble gum in their muths chewed a few moments
then began to sing loudly
"I love my little rooster my rooster loves
me
I cherish my rooster 'neath the green baby tree
my little rooster goes cocka de do
De doodle de doodle de do"
|