Amelia practiced her buffalo step in the lunch line. She shuffled while brushing her teeth. She did ball changes as she helped Mom with the dishes.

“Careful!” said Mom. “They’re breakable!”

“I have to practice,” said Amelia. “The recital is next week.”

Amelia was doing a dance to the song Shuffle Off to Buffalo in the tap recital. She had a cool costume with sparkly gloves. She had a fake suitcase with travel stickers all over it. During the dance she circled around it and then sat on it. It was the perfect prop.

Last year Amelia had been in the back row during the recital. Mom could barely see her. In all the pictures, the girl in front blocked her from view.

This year would be different. Amelia had a solo! It was exciting. But it also meant that she didn’t want to make any mistakes. They would be too noticeable.

So Amelia practiced. She practiced on the playground. She practiced on the porch. She practiced in shower, until Mom said it was too slippery.

On the day of the recital, Mom did her makeup. She got rosy cheeks and red lips. Mom tied her bow tie and helped her with her gloves. She was ready.

The lights went down and the curtain went up. Amelia smiled. She was nervous, but her feet knew what to do.

She shuffled around the suitcase. She did the buffalo step across the stage. She sat on the suitcase and waved her sparkly gloves. The audience applauded. Brava!

Amelia made one tiny mistake, but she didn’t let it throw her off. She kept going. Her feet still knew what to do.

Mom said no one even noticed the mistake. And Amelia was front and center in all of the pictures. The recital was a big success. “Are you proud of yourself?” asked Mom.

“Yes!” said Amelia.