Dancing in Class

Georgia is sitting in class. Her professor is standing in front of the room. He is talking. He is talking a lot. Georgia
is finding the class a bit boring.

In Georgia’s mind, she is doing something else. In Georgia’s imagination, she is not sitting in class. She is
dancing on a stage in front of hundreds of people. She is wearing a beautiful costume. She is tapping. She is
twirling. She is spinning on one leg.

The stage lights are shining in her eyes. She is closing her eyes and concentrating on the music. She is having so
much fun! Her heart is beating fast.

The music is changing. She is changing costumes. Now she is dancing again. She is kicking her feet. She is
leaping. She is flying through the air.

Soon, she is finishing her show. The audience is standing on their feet. They are clapping and shouting, “Bravo!
Bravo!” Georgia is taking a bow. Georgia is smiling for the cameras. “Bravo! Bravo!” She is having so much fun!

“Georgia?”

Georgia’s classmates are staring at her.

“Georgia?” her professor is saying, looking at her with concern. He is not teaching anymore.

“Yes?” Georgia is feeling a bit embarrassed. Her cheeks are getting red.

“Are you feeling okay? You are shouting ‘Bravo! Bravo!’ in class.”

"Oh, yes, professor. Sorry. I am just enjoying the class so much! Bravo! Bravo!"
 Paying Attention

Four-year-old Diego is playing in the pool. His mother, Darlene, is sitting in the sun beside the pool. She is reading
a book. At least, she is trying to read a book.

"Hey Mom! I am swimming!"

"Yes honey, you are swimming."

"Mom, are you watching me?"

"Yes, honey. Of course I am watching you!"

Diego is trying to splash water onto her book. She is trying to ignore this.
"Mom! I am holding my breath under water."

The book is getting really exciting. The police are solving a crime. Diego’s mother is trying to concentrate.

"Mom! You are not even watching me!"

"Yes, Diego! I am watching you and I am reading a book. I am doing both things at the same time."

"Mom, are you paying attention? I am doing a handstand."

In the book, the police officer is chasing a suspect. Diego’s mother is hardly breathing.

Diego is being quiet for once. Too quiet. Suddenly, Diego’s mother is looking around for Diego. She cannot find
him. Suddenly, time is standing still. Suddenly, she isn’t breathing at all.

"Diego! Diego! Are you hiding from me? Diego! You are not being funny!" She is trying not to panic. She is walking
around the pool, looking in the water.
"Boo!"

Out of nowhere, Diego is standing right behind her.

"Diego! What are you doing?" Suddenly she is crying and hugging him tightly.
"I am making sure you are paying attention, Mom!"

"Well, I am paying attention and now we are going home!"

 An Amazing Performance

Michael's phone is ringing and vibrating in his pocket.

"Hello?"

"Hi honey, is the play starting yet?"

"No, not yet, Cari. We are all still waiting for the show to start." Michael is sitting in the third row, waiting to see
their son Joe in his very first play. "What are you doing? Are you leaving yet?"

"I am finishing up some work and then yes."

"Okay, as long as you are hurrying. … Oh, they are pulling up the curtain right now. The show is starting."

"Oh good. I am listening. I am keeping you on speaker phone."

Michael is whispering into the phone now. "Cari, only two actors are walking onto the stage. Joe is not joining
them yet."

"Okay. I am waiting. I am trying to be patient." Cari is laughing into the phone. After a few minutes, she is getting
impatient. "What is taking so long?"

"Shhh! We are trying to be quiet, silly! Good job being patient. His part is coming up soon."

"Okay." She is sighing.

"Oh! Here he is coming! Are you hearing this? He is doing a great job! He is remembering his lines. He is really
enjoying this!"

"Shhh! I am trying to hear him, not you!"

"Okay, sorry. I am just trying to keep you updated. Oh, wow, he is doing something amazing. Oh wow! He is …"
An usher is walking down the aisle toward Michael. The usher is holding a finger up to his lips.

"Uh honey, an usher is shushing me. I am getting into trouble. I am hanging up now."

"No! What is he doing? Something amazing is happening? What is happening?" No noise is coming from her
phone now. She is getting very upset, but at least her son is amazing at something!
 A Very Important Game

Duke is watching a basketball game on TV. He is paying very close attention to the game. His favorite team, The
Celtics, is losing to the Bulls.

Darlene, Duke's wife, is having a bad day. She is trying to talk to him about it.

"Honey, I am feeling very stressed out."

"Okay. Wow! Are you watching this? The Celtics are really trying to lose this game!"

"Um, honey? Are you listening to me?"

"Yes. Of course I am listening to you. I am listening to you and watching the game at the same time."

"Duke! You are not listening to me!" Darlene is getting frustrated with her sports-loving husband.

"I am listening, Darlene. What is stressing you out?"

"My job is stressing me out. I am thinking about quitting."

"Okay. Are you watching? The Celtics are missing every shot!"

"I am trying to talk to you. I am thinking about quitting my job. What about paying the bills? What are you thinking
about?"

"Okay."

"Okay? Okay, what?"

"Okay. Good."

Darlene is getting mad now. Why is her husband ignoring her? "Fine!" She is shouting now. Duke is still staring at
the TV. "Fine! Okay! I am quitting my job. And I am never paying another bill. I am letting you pay all the bills from
now on! I am walking toward the door!"

"Where are you going?" Duke is still staring at the TV.

"I am doing the only thing I can to get your attention. I am driving to Boston. I am trying out for the Celtics!