7. Surrounded

Chapter 7 Surrounded Finally it was time for my very first tap lesson. Emma's mom drove us there. The tap dance place was an old brick building. It had a sign that said TRIXIE'S TIP-TOP TAP STUDIO. We were a little late. So Emma and I ran inside as fast as we could. A lady with her gray hair in a twisty circle on her head was standing near the door.

She had on a black skirt and shiny tap shoes with bright red bows. "Emma! Slow down, dear! We are just about to start class," said the lady. "Miss Trixie, this is Roscoe Riley," Emma said. "He's new." "Wonderful!" said Miss Trixie. "I am ecstatic to have an enthusiastic young gentleman like yourself join our ranks!" I looked at Emma. She likes big words more than I do. "She's glad to have you in the class," she explained. "Oh," I said. "I'm glad to have me in the class too." We followed Miss Trixie into a giant room. The shiny wooden floor looked just like the one in the school gym. One wall was made of mirrors.

I waved to myself. Emma and I rushed to a bench by the wall and put on our tap shoes. The air was full of clicks and clacks. Miss Trixie clapped her hands. "Tappers! Let the glorious fun begin!" she cried. "That means it's time to get in line," said Emma. "Stand next to me."

Miss Trixie went to the middle of the room. "Ladies," she said, "I am most delighted to introduce the newest member of our tap team, Mr. Roscoe Riley! Roscoe, take a bow, won't you?" Miss Trixie asked. My face got hot. But I bowed. As I straightened up, I saw myself in the wall of mirrors. I saw my tap shoes. And my ears that stick out a little too much.

I saw my pink cheeks. And my striped shirt and my nice worn-in jeans. I saw a long row of tappers. I saw tall tappers and freckled tappers and tappers with missing teeth. But there was one thing I did not see. I did not see one single other boy.