SinEaster: A Novel Page 6

CHAPTER 5

  Deon’s Song

  The music began to play and Deon began to sing. He didn’t dance, but stood still, while staring down at his notepad.

  He sang:

  Springtime comes—are you wishing?

  Tadpoles sprout—are they swishing?

  A wonderful day, the Toad hops today.

  Hopping on an Easter lily pad.

  Oh, I’m dreaming of a green toad Easter,

  With every boiled egg I see.

  With tadpoles wriggling,

  And children giggling,

  And Toad hopping round so gleefully.

  Now tadpoles have disability,

  And cannot walk so adequately,

  And cannot bounce so hoppily,

  But then they growww.

  And Winter turns to Spring’s warm breeze,

  And tadpoles grow both legs and knees,

  And hop around just as they please,

  And then you knowww.

  That Easter hops down on your face.

  The toads smash down to your disgrace,

  And springtime wins the seasons’ race.

  And now behooold…

  It’s Easter time, with knees so grand!

  It’s Easter time, all you can stand!

  It’s Easter!

  Deon stopped singing and shyly stared down at his notepad.

  Everyone clapped, except for the toad, who was unable to, and Charlee, who sarcastically said, “An Easter song about disability? How politically correct.”

  Deon didn’t lift his head.

  Silvia just stood with her arms folded and a neutral expression on her face.

  The toad said, “I liked your use of the tadpole motif. It’s symbolic.”

  Deon raised his head, then meekly replied, “Yes, it’s like me. Before, I couldn’t walk, but now I can.”

  Charlee snarled. “But tadpoles can swim. What makes you think they want to walk? Do all fishes want to walk too?”

  Silvia said, “Fish.”

  Charlee turned to face her. “What?”

  Silvia said, “The plural of ‘fish’ is ‘fish.’”

  Charlee replied, “Well that’s just stupid. They’re the same word.” She turned her head. “What do you think, Princess?”

  “I agree,” the Princess said. “If ‘fish’ is the same word used, then the singular and plural of them are the same, which they most definitely are not, in most cases.”

  Charlee smirked at Silvia. “See, I was right.”

  “Whatever,” said Silvia.

  The Princess looked at Deon, then said, “Thank you for your performance.” She turned to Charlee. “You’re next.”