Alyssa: Child of Shyness

This week was all about Alyssa. On Tuesday, it was "Lights, Camera, Action!" the 4th grade music production. They sang a half-dozen songs from various kid movies. Alyssa had been given a CD with the music on it so she could practice, and I actually caught her singing and dancing and doing the hand motions in her room several times. Despite her knowledge of the songs, I really wondered how well she would really do up on stage.

We got a message from her aide that she did very well during the school performance in the morning, but I held my optimism in check until we had a chance to watch the parent performance that evening.

We bundled Alyssa in her jammies, (she was a "hot chocolate" kid from the Polar Express) and delivered her to the school early, as requested. A couple of friend from her class swooped right in and took her under their wings while I went back home and got Kara and Anna.

The curtains opened to reveal the 4th graders, with Alyssa right in the middle of the stage. Then the music started, and all the kids began singing and swaying and doing their hand motions. All the kids, that is, except Alyssa. She stood there, not moving a muscle, except to stick her tongue out when she saw Anna running the video camera. The kids on either side tried to encourage her, and even pulled on her jammies to see if they could get her to sway, but all to no avail.

Then the "Hot! Hot!" song from Polar Express came on, and amazingly enough, she did the hand motions - and did a pretty good job, too. We clapped and laughed when we saw her actually participating.

Since that song fell right in the middle, we had high hopes that she had overcome her stage fright and would finish out the program in style. But unfortunately, that was the end of her performance. Except for another four or five tongue stinking outs.

She said he had fun and enjoyed herself, so I guess that's what counts.

Then on Friday, we made an "unscheduled" visit to the local independent bookstore, where our Writing Group meets. They were hosting Cookies and Cocoa with Santa, and poor Alyssa was hiding behind her hands as soon as she saw the jolly old elf through the large plate-glass windows.

"Santa scares me," she said, although I think a better word would be 'intimidates,' as she is absolutely fascinated by Santa and all things Christmas. She drank cocoa and ate a cookie, but it was all we could do to get her to talk to Santa from a safe ten-foot distance, and that was after fifteen minutes of prompting and prodding.

She told Santa she wants a camera for Christmas. I think that's a gift he should be able to deliver.