Junior Vocab
Ananya's Stage Fright
Ananya: "My stomach feels all twisty, Amma. I don't want to say my poem on stage."
Amma: "Your poem about mango pickle? You've practiced so much, kanna."
Ravi: "I'll be right behind you on stage, Ananya. I'm saying my cricket poem."
Ananya: "But my legs are shaking like the ceiling fan! What if I forget the words?"
Ravi: "My hands are sweaty too. I almost dropped my tiffin box just now."
Amma: "Both of you are feeling something big before the show, hmm?"
Ananya: "It's like my heart is doing drum practice inside my chest."
Ravi: "Yeah, like dhol beats before Ganesh Chaturthi starts!"
Ananya: "Everyone will stare at me. My cheeks are already hot."
Amma: "When I was little, before school dance, my tongue went dry like papad."
Ravi: "Then why did you still dance, Amma?"
Amma: "Because those twisty feelings were just my nerves waking up, telling me this moment matters."
Ananyanerves?": "So these shaky, jumpy things inside me are my…
Ravi: "My nerves are doing high jumps right now. They won't sit quietly at all."
Ananya: "What if my nerves make me run away to the bathroom and never come back?"
Amma: "Or what if your nerves help you say every line loudly, so even Paati in the last row hears?"
Ravi: "My nerves helped me hit the winning four last match. I was scared, but I still swung the bat."
Ananya: "Hmm. Maybe my nerves can help my voice go big and round, like a ladoo."
Amma: "Exactly. Hold my hand, take one deep breath, and let your nerves be your cheerleaders."
Ravi: "Okay, nerves, stop jumping and start clapping for Ananya now."
Ananya: "Fine, nerves. You can stay… but you have to help me shine on stage."