«DANCE AWAY» by George Shannon
(Mulberry Books. New York, 1991)
Rabbit loved to dance. He
danced in the morning. He danced at noon.
He danced at night with the stars and the moon. Every
time he danced, he smiled a big smile. Everywhere he danced, he sang his
dancing song:
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around…
When he saw his friends, he
would begin to dance with them.
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around…
His friends liked to dance,
but not all the time. Still, every time Rabbit met them, he would make them
start to dance.
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around!
Rabbit’s friends began to
hide when they saw him coming. "Watch out!” they would call, "here he comes
again”, as Rabbit danced by singing:
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around!
But one afternoon when
Rabbit danced toward hid friends, no one moved. No one went to hide. Rabbit
called, "Hello”, but no one said a word. As Rabbit got closer, he knew the
reason why. They were trapped by Fox. Caught for his supper. "Good”, growled
Fox as Rabbit came near. "Another for dessert!”
Now all of them were
trapped. They knew they could not all safely run away. Most sat and shivered as
Fox began to choose which rabbit would be first. But Rabbit asked, "Please”, as
he nodded to the others, "could I dance with my friends just one more
time?” Before Fox could answer, Rabbit
took a friend’s hand and began to sing his song. Then each took another’s and
they all began to dance.
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around!
Fox was so surprised he did
not know what to do. But when Rabbit danced by, he told Fox what to do.
"Dance!’ Rabbit said and they grabbed his legs.
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around!
Fox screamed "Stop!’ but the
dance went on.
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around!
Rabbit kept singing and they
all kept dancing. Every step they took, they danced a little faster.
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around!
As they came to river,
Rabbit sang with a shout:
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
TURN
AND JUMP!
Everyone jumped, but halfway
across the river they let go of Fox! He crashed splat splash into the cold
river water as rabbit and his friends landed safely on the grass.
Then before Fox had time to
swim back to land, Rabbit and his friends danced home as fast as they could go:
left
two three kick right two three kick
left
skip right skip
turn
around home!
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