The Big School Play
Sofia loved being on stage. Tonight was the big school play, The Forest Parade, and she was playing the role of a fox. She had her costume ready: a fluffy orange tail, pointy ears on a headband, and her shiny black shoes.
But just before the curtain was about to rise, her best friend Mia came running into the dressing room. Her face was pale. “Sofia! I’ve lost my shoe!” she cried. Sofia gasped. Mia was supposed to play the forest queen. Her dress sparkled with silver leaves, but on her feet there was only one shiny shoe.
“I can’t go on stage like this,” Mia whispered. “Everyone will laugh.”
Sofia’s Brilliant Idea
Sofia took her friend’s hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll fix this.” They searched everywhere – under the chairs, behind the curtains, even inside the prop chest. But the missing shoe was nowhere to be found. The teacher called from the wings, “Two minutes until showtime!”
Mia’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s no use. I’ll have to stay backstage.” But Sofia shook her head. “No way. Every queen needs her crown—and her shoes. If we can’t find it, we’ll make one.”
Sofia dashed to the craft corner, where the children had made props earlier. She gathered supplies: cardboard, glue, silver glitter, and ribbon. “Hold still!” she said.
In record time, Sofia snipped and folded the cardboard into the shape of a slipper. She glued glitter all over until it sparkled almost as brightly as Mia’s real shoe. Then she tied it around Mia’s foot with the ribbon. Mia wiggled her toes. “It feels… a little funny.” Sofia grinned. “But it looks perfect.”
The Queen on Stage
The music began. The curtain lifted. Mia stepped onto the stage, trying to walk gracefully. At first, she was nervous. But when the stage lights hit her sparkling dress and glittery shoe, the audience gasped in delight. “She looks like a real queen,” someone whispered.
Mia smiled. She twirled, her silver leaves shining, and for a moment she forgot all about her missing shoe. Sofia, dressed as a fox, scampered across the stage, bowing deeply before her queen. The audience clapped and cheered.
After the play, the children gathered in the dressing room. “Mia, you were amazing!” said the teacher. “And your shoes looked wonderful.” Mia beamed. “It’s all thanks to Sofia. She made this shoe out of cardboard and glitter!” Everyone crowded around, admiring Sofia’s clever creation.
“That’s what friends do,” Sofia said proudly. “When something goes wrong, we find a way to make it right.”
The Glitter Shoe Surprise
Later, as they cleaned up, Sofia noticed something shiny under the stage curtain. She pulled it out. Mia’s missing shoe! The girls burst out laughing. “All that searching, and it was here the whole time!”
Mia hugged her. “I think I like the glitter shoe even better. It’s one of a kind, just like our friendship.” Sofia smiled. “Maybe next time, we’ll make both shoes.” And as the two friends skipped home, one shoe clacking and one shoe sparkling, they agreed it had been the best performance yet.
The End.
Discover how performing arts can build kids’ confidence at Scholastic. Or, keep the magic going with another friendship story: Ollie the Owl Who Forgot How to Hoot.
