Colin Bunnyshnikov the dancing rabbit

At school on Monday morning the teacher told the children that there would be a show on Friday.
‘It is for talented animals’ she said. ‘Write the name of your pet on this form to enter and make sure you ask your mums and dads first’.

Everyone was very excited.
At playtime Jane said ‘my dog will win. He can sit up, roll over and fetch a ball’.

‘No no’ said Jack. ‘My rat will win. She can find her way through a maze to the cheese at the end in record time’.

‘That is good,’ said Sarah ‘but my parrot Charlotte will win. She can sing the ‘if you’re happy and you know it song’ all the way through’.

‘Wow, maybe Charlotte will come second then’ said Simon. ‘After all a singing parrot is quite good but my hamster is better, he can do acrobatics, he’ll win for sure!’

Then suddenly Emily said ‘My rabbit Colin can dance’. There was a stunned silence and Emily wished she hadn’t said anything especially since all Colin did was twitch his nose and eat carrots.

‘I bet he can’t’ said Jack crossly.
‘Wait and see’ said Emily.

After school Emily put on her tutu and found some jumpy, bouncy music. She showed Colin how to hop and skip and jump up high. Colin just sat there twitching his nose and eating his carrot.

At playtime on Tuesday Jane said ‘your rabbit can’t really dance, can he?’
‘Wait and see’ said Emily with more confidence than she felt.
After school Emily raced home, she put on her swishy dancing skirt and found some float like a feather music. She showed Colin how to smile at the audience and move his front legs. They practiced until teatime. Emily was exhausted. Colin just sat there twitching his nose and eating his carrot.

At playtime on Wednesday Simon said ‘your rabbit can’t dance, I don’t believe you!’
‘Wait and see’ said Emily wishing she had kept her mouth shut in the first place.
After school Emily put on her best leotard and found some loud marching music. She showed Colin how to point his toes and balance on one leg. Emily danced and danced but Colin just sat there twitching his nose and eating his carrot.

At playtime on Thursday Jane said, ‘your rabbit can’t dance and you know it’.
‘Wait and see’ said Emily feeling really nervous now and quite convinced Colin would never be able to dance.
After school Emily found her brightest dancing shoes and found some being a fairy type music. She showed Colin how to curtsy and bow and how to skip. They practiced until teatime and then after tea until bedtime. Emily danced until her feet hurt. She smiled until her face ached. It was no good, Colin just sat there twitching his nose and eating his carrot.

On Friday morning Emily felt sick. Mum and dad took her and Colin to school for the show. They put on their costumes and waited.

Jane’s dog sat on the stage. He rolled over and everyone cheered and he started barking. He got so excited that he ran off into the audience. Jane shouted and stamped her foot really hard but he didn’t come back.

Jack’s rat raced through the maze and got lost so she curled up in a little ball and went to sleep. Everyone said Ahhhh and Jack was so embarrassed that his face went bright red.

Charlotte the parrot sang ‘if you’re happy and you know it’ and was doing really well but then the audience clapped and she forgot the words. That made Jane cry and run off the stage.

Simon’s hamster hung by his front legs and then his back legs from the top of his cage, which was quite good but not really as acrobatic as Emily was expecting. Suddenly she didn’t feel quite as nervous. Emily cuddled Colin ‘I love you’ she whispered ‘even if you do only twitch your nose and eat carrots’.

At last it was their turn. Emily put Colin onto the stage in his starting position. He looked at her, twitched his nose and had a nibble of his carrot. Emily sighed. Then the music started and the most amazing thing happened. Colin’s ears pricked up, he stretched his legs and then he hopped! He pointed his toes, held out his paws, smiled at the audience and then he was dancing right there with Emily. Jumps, skips, spins and twirls all over the stage. Everyone was on their feet applauding as Emily curtsied and Colin took a well deserved bow.

‘WOW’ said Jane, Simon, Jack and Sarah.
‘See’ said Emily proudly as she scooped Colin up into the winner’s cup to take him home for a celebratory carrot.