Annie was excited, along with everyone else in her class.
The children were getting ready to start rehearsing for their annual play.
This year the play was The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Their teacher, Ms. Fisher, had been reading the story to them for weeks now, and they all knew it by heart.
Everyone wanted to be in the play.
Everyone, that is, except Henry.
"I just want to stand in the corner and be a tree," Henry told Annie.
"Come on, Henry! Being in a play will be fun!" Annie said.
Ms. Fisher tried to get the children to quiet down.
"I need everyone to listen!
We're going to have our first rehearsal now.
Who knows what a rehearsal is?"
Annie raised her hand.
"It's when we practice for the play."
"Yes, Annie. This year, everyone is going to have a speaking part, so we have to practice saying our lines," said Ms. Fisher.
"Nobody will stand around as a tree.
There are four parts:
the first goat, the second goat, the third goat, and the troll.
Everyone will share a part.
I've already chosen who will play what."
Someone called out, "I know what Henry is going to be—the troll!"
All the children laughed except Annie.
"No, I'm not!" yelled Henry, as he ran under a table.
"I don't want to be in a stupid play!"
Ms. Fisher said patiently, "Henry, if you stay under that table, you'll miss our first rehearsal.
Then you can't be in the play.
Don't you want to join us?"
Henry shook his head.
"Okay, then you will sit in the corner and watch us.
You know where to go,"
said Ms. Fisher, pointing to a chair in the corner of the room.
Henry sat in the chair and sadly watched the rest of the class.
Annie was chosen to be one of the first goats.
She wanted to make Henry feel better.
She tried smiling at him.
But he didn't look at her.
Later, during lunch, Annie tried talking to Henry.
But he ignored her for the rest of the day.
He didn't care if he had to sit in the corner during every rehearsal.
He would not be in the play.
The next day, the class rehearsed again.
The goats were practicing walking over the bridge while saying, "Trip, trap, trip, trap."
But Ms. Fisher wasn't pleased.
She said, "Something is missing.
We need to make the goats' footsteps louder.
Each goat should sound heavier than the one before it.
We'll have to think of something."
Meanwhile, Annie was trying to think of how to make Henry interested in the play.
The kids had music class next.
They were all allowed to choose their instruments.
Annie chose the tambourine.
Henry chose the drum.
They paraded around the room with their instruments.
First they played softly.
Then they played loud, louder, and loudest of all.
When the class was over, the music teacher praised everyone, especially Henry.
"Wonderful, Henry! You did a great job playing the drum louder and louder each time."
Suddenly, Annie had an idea!
She hurried to Ms. Fisher to tell her.
The teacher liked the idea.
Then Ms. Fisher walked over to Henry and said,
"I heard you played the drum very well today, Henry—is that right?"
Henry smiled with pride.
"Would you like to play the drum during the play?
We need someone to make the sound of goats walking over the bridge."
Henry nodded his head excitedly.
"It's not a speaking part," Ms. Fisher said, "but we would be happy if you joined us."
"We're going to be in the play together!"
Annie shouted as she hugged Henry.
The play was a big success.
At the final curtain call, all the children lined up and bowed.
Henry and Annie looked at each other and smiled.
Annie gave Henry the thumbs-up.
"I knew you could do it!" she whispered.