Christmas Program
Preschool for the Arts
MacArthur Center, Norfolk, VA, 2003

The program was held in the middle of our byooteeful
downtown mall, which is decorated to the teeth with
glamorous and exciting Christmas decorations. Very lovely.
The kids had to line up beside Lenscrafters before going on "stage."
I asked Ms. Monique (dance teacher) when we got there
where she wanted Benny and she said, "Back of the line!" without
hesitation. Yikes!!!! Benny is infamous.

Benny escaped from line several times and had to be
hunted down by the patient and wonderful Ms. Claudia.
Ms. Claudia is Benny's music teacher at preschool.

"Oh, why do I have to stand next to Penrod!?"
thought the lovely and golden-haired Marjorie Jones.

Marjorie Jones, Baby Rennsdale, and Georgia Bassett are horrified
as Benny writhes around in his show clothes, sometimes even
falling down on the floor in an agony of harshly combed hair.

Mr. Steve gives the kids a thumbs up as they wait to make
the "Christmas Train" which will take them to the stage area.

Here's Benny turned the wrong way and doing the wrong thing
as Ms. Monique leads the children in a dance. He was not however
trying to get outside the rope, or actively torturing any other children
or hollering out anything, so... maybe he was
intimidated by his surroundings. That is to say, the four tiers of
parents holding video cameras and flash cameras outside the
rope that made the stage area kept him contained.

Here's Benjamin actually doing the proper thing at the proper
time -- they're singing about three little kittens who lost their
mittens and you can see him attempting to lose his like the others.
The little blonde girl with the red plaid skirt and black top
is Benny's favorite kid at preschool. He's always got a good
word to say about her after school. I think she appreciates his
burping and tooting humor, and his hilarious references to "stinky diapers!"

This dance was called, "Up and Dance, Down and Hide" as far
as I could tell. The kids all started out down on the floor and Ms.
Monique came around and touched them with a wand and they
got up and did pirouettes until she came and touched them with
the wand again and then they went back down to hide.

Here's Benny getting a bit impatient with the "down and hide"
part, waiting for Ms. Monique to come release him.

Finally Ms. Monique releases Benny. so he can get up and wander
around vaguely looking troubled and oppressed.

I have to take my hat off to the three teachers from the Preschool
for the Arts. They are truly magicians. Getting these kids organized
for this performance is nothing short of miraculous. Even my
belligerent offspring was reasonably well behaved! Good job
to Ms. Monique, Ms. Claudia, and Ms. Jessica! And of course
to Mr. Steve and Ms. Virginia! Yay!