5. The Amazing Coolness of Noisy Shoes

Chapter 5 The Amazing Coolness of Noisy Shoes "I just had my first tap dance lesson yesterday," Emma said. She put on the shoes. When she walked on the carpet, they just sounded like plain old everyday shoes. But on the hard floor, an amazing thing happened! Emma's feet went click! click! click!

Those tappers made some serious noise. Emma tapped and twirled, and we all clapped for her. "Amazing tapping, Earth girl," I said into my Mr. Megaphone.

"Very nice, Emma," said Ms. Diz. "And that's probably enough Mr. Megaphone for today, Roscoe. For the year, actually." I put down the megaphone and raised my hand. "Can boys do tap dancing?" I asked. Wyatt laughed. "Guys don't tap-dance," he said. "Guys do football and soccer."

"Girls can do soccer," Emma said. Coco stood up. She put her hands on her hips. "Also, I would like to point out that girls rule and boys drool." "Coco, please watch your words," Ms. Diz said. Gus raised his hand. "Ms. Diz?" he said. "Dogs drool. Cats not so much." "Thank you for that, Gus," said Ms. Diz. She took a deep breath. She breathes a lot, actually. "As it happens, Wyatt, there are many famous male tap dancers," said Ms. Diz. "And Emma is right. Some of the best soccer players in the world are girls." She thought for a second. Then she snapped her fingers.

"There's something I want you all to see," Ms. Diz said. "I'll give Ms. Bunelli a quick call right now!" Ms. Bunelli is the school media center specialist. But she says just call her the Library Lady. There are about a kazillion books and DVDs and cool things in the library. I do not know how she has time to keep track of them all. I think maybe she never goes home. A few minutes later, Ms. Bunelli came to our class. She was rolling a tall cart with a TV set on it. "Class," said Ms. Diz. "Ms. Bunelli has brought us a DVD of an amazing tap dancer. I think you're going to enjoy this!" Ms. Bunelli pushed some buttons on the DVD player.

And suddenly, there on the TV, was a man tap-dancing! Rat-tat-tat BOUNCE! Rat-tat-tat BOUNCE! "Hey, that guy is a guy!" Wyatt said. The tapping man spun and jumped and tapped so fast it made my eyes and my ears dizzy. Rat-tat-TAT! He whirled faster and faster—and got louder and louder. RATATATTATATATTATATAT! I never dreamed feet could make so much noise! "Those tap shoes are the best," I whispered to Emma. "If I had those, I would tap twenty-four hours a day!"