The Tree in the School Play

Sam had practiced his roar for two weeks. He had practiced it in the bath, in the garden and, once, by accident, in the library. He was going to be the dragon in the class play. He was sure of it.

On Monday, Ms. Kowalski pinned up the list. Sam ran to it. Dragon: Amara. Knight: Felix. Sam ran his finger down and down. Tree Number Three: Sam.

Tree Number Three had no lines. Tree Number Three stood at the back and waved its branches when the wind blew.

Sam didn't say anything all the way home. At dinner he pushed his peas around his plate. "I'm just a tree," he said finally. "Trees don't even do anything."

His mom put down her fork. "That sounds really disappointing," she said. "You worked hard on that roar."

"Amara's roar isn't even that good," Sam muttered. Then he felt bad for saying it.

His grandad, who was visiting, chuckled. "I was a rock in my school play," he said. "A rock! I sat still for twenty minutes. But I'll tell you a secret. The rock was the only one who saw everything."

At rehearsals, Sam stood at the back with his arms out and his cardboard leaves on. And because he had nothing to say, he watched. He learned everyone's lines without trying. He knew when the lights changed and when the knight came on and when the dragon's big entrance was.

On opening night, the hall was packed. Sam's family sat in the second row. The play went beautifully, until the most important moment.

Felix the knight stepped forward to say his big speech. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out. He had forgotten it.

The silence went on. Someone in the audience coughed. Felix's face went bright red.

Sam knew the line. He knew all the lines. But trees don't talk. Or do they?

He shook his branches, rustle, rustle, and said in a deep, creaky tree voice, "The wind whispers that the brave knight must say: I will not fight you, dragon. I will be your friend."

Felix looked at Sam with enormous relief. "I will not fight you, dragon," he said, loud and clear. "I will be your friend!"

Amara roared, a big, happy roar, and the audience laughed and clapped. The play carried on as if it had been planned that way.

Afterwards, Ms. Kowalski found Sam backstage. "A talking tree," she said, shaking her head and smiling. "Best idea of the night."

Felix gave Sam a high five. Amara said, "Want to help me practice my roar for next time? I think yours is better."

On the way home, Grandad put his hand on Sam's shoulder. "See?" he said. "The tree saw everything."

⭐ The End ⭐