1 Itchy
tulle, bright make-up, tap shoes, and more. Katie loved going to dance class.
2 She wore a pink
leotard, pink tights, a pink tutu, and pink
ballet shoes. It was a good thing Katie’s
favorite color was pink.
3 Her teacher, Ms. Anna, danced in many ballets and loved Katie’s class most of all.
4 Katie was a superstar at turns and leaps. She didn’t even have to
practice.
5 One day Ms. Anna was ready to teach them something new. Katie could not wait to find out what it was.
6 Ms. Anna told her students about the importance of
flexibility in dance. She went on to slide her front foot
forward and her other foot
backward all the way to the floor. Ms. Anna told the students that this was a front
split, and before the students could do this, they would have to work on their stretches.
7 Katie knew she could do this and started to do a front
split. She was not even halfway to the ground when pain rushed up both her legs. Katie quickly got up. She looked at Ms. Anna,
confused. Ms. Anna said, “There are things in life that we do not get the first time. These are the things that we must
practice and work on until we get them.”
8 Katie worked on her stretches every day. She would get closer and closer to the floor but never made it all the way.
9 Ms. Anna walked over and asked Katie what was wrong.
10 Katie said, “I will never get this! I have practiced and practiced, and it still hurts! I give up!”
12 Ms. Anna told Katie her homework every night until the next
practice was to think about what Thomas Edison said. He said, “The most
certain way to
succeed is always to try just one more time.”
13 The next day Katie sat in her room and
thought about this. She said to herself, “Just try one more time.” Katie stretched and tried her
forward split. She didn’t make it all the way to the floor.
14 Katie did this every night, saying to herself to try one more time, and every night she got closer, but she did not make it.
15 When it was time for a class, they all started their stretches, and with a heavy
sigh, Katie said, “Just try one more time.” This time when she did her
forward split, she slid down to the floor with
ease. Katie looked at Ms. Anna, and they both smiled.