As Danny put his lunch tray onto the cafeteria table, milk spilled all over his sandwich.
As
Danny
put
his
lunch
tray
onto
the
cafeteria
table
,
milk
spilled
all
over
his
sandwich
.
"This is the worst thing I've ever done!"
``
This
is
the
worst
thing
I
've
ever
done
!
''
he said, "It's not that bad," said his friend Elena, who was sitting across from him.
he
said
,
``
It
's
not
that
bad
,
''
said
his
friend
Elena
,
who
was
sitting
across
from
him
.
"Just get another sandwich."
``
Just
get
another
sandwich
.
''
"Sandwich?
``
Sandwich
?
What sandwich?
What
sandwich
?
I am talking about the talent contest.
I
am
talking
about
the
talent
contest
.
It's only two weeks away and I don't know what I'm doing!
It
's
only
two
weeks
away
and
I
do
n't
know
what
I
'm
doing
!
Everybody will laugh at me.
Everybody
will
laugh
at
me
.
There's no way to avoid it!"
There
's
no
way
to
avoid
it
!
''
"Don't be so negative, Danny," said Elena as she rolled her eyes.
``
Do
n't
be
so
negative
,
Danny
,
''
said
Elena
as
she
rolled
her
eyes
.
"You're going to be great.
``
You
're
going
to
be
great
.
You have the skills to do just about anything."
You
have
the
skills
to
do
just
about
anything
.
''
Danny moved his lunch tray to the side and rested his head on the table.
Danny
moved
his
lunch
tray
to
the
side
and
rested
his
head
on
the
table
.
"Sit up Danny," ordered Elena, "I have an idea.
``
Sit
up
Danny
,
''
ordered
Elena
,
``
I
have
an
idea
.
Let's brainstorm a list of things you could do.
Let
's
brainstorm
a
list
of
things
you
could
do
.
We'll divide the list into categories or groups.
We
'll
divide
the
list
into
categories
or
groups
.
Let's start with music.
Let
's
start
with
music
.
You play the piano, right?"
You
play
the
piano
,
right
?
''
"I stopped taking lessons in the third grade," said Danny.
``
I
stopped
taking
lessons
in
the
third
grade
,
''
said
Danny
.
"What about singing a song?"
``
What
about
singing
a
song
?
''
suggested Elena.
suggested
Elena
.
Danny shook his head no.
Danny
shook
his
head
no
.
"Let's move on to another category."
``
Let
's
move
on
to
another
category
.
''
"What about performing magic tricks?"
``
What
about
performing
magic
tricks
?
''
asked Elena, as she twisted thin strands of hair around her finger.
asked
Elena
,
as
she
twisted
thin
strands
of
hair
around
her
finger
.
"I don't know how to play magic tricks!"
``
I
do
n't
know
how
to
play
magic
tricks
!
''
Danny almost shouted.
Danny
almost
shouted
.
"Stop being so ..." Elena paused, "That's it, DRAMATIC!"
``
Stop
being
so
...
''
Elena
paused
,
``
That
's
it
,
DRAMATIC
!
''
Elena shouted excitedly.
Elena
shouted
excitedly
.
"You could do a dramatic reading.
``
You
could
do
a
dramatic
reading
.
You definitely have the talent for it.
You
definitely
have
the
talent
for
it
.
Mrs. Pace always calls on you to read aloud in class.
Mrs.
Pace
always
calls
on
you
to
read
aloud
in
class
.
You could read a play aloud.
You
could
read
a
play
aloud
.
Maybe you could even get extra credit from Mrs. Pace.
Maybe
you
could
even
get
extra
credit
from
Mrs.
Pace
.
She rewards students with points for doing extra reading work."
She
rewards
students
with
points
for
doing
extra
reading
work
.
''
Danny thought for a minute.
Danny
thought
for
a
minute
.
Then he smiled.
Then
he
smiled
.
"Elena," Danny said, "You are a great friend!"
``
Elena
,
''
Danny
said
,
``
You
are
a
great
friend
!
''
Elena smiled back.
Elena
smiled
back
.
"I just want to make sure you are a bright, shiny star when you step out on stage."
``
I
just
want
to
make
sure
you
are
a
bright
,
shiny
star
when
you
step
out
on
stage
.
''
As Danny put his lunch tray onto the cafeteria table, milk spilled all over his sandwich. "This is the worst thing I've ever done!" he said, "It's not that bad," said his friend Elena, who was sitting across from him. "Just get another sandwich."  "Sandwich? What sandwich? I am talking about the talent contest. It's only two weeks away and I don't know what I'm doing! Everybody will laugh at me. There's no way to avoid it!"  "Don't be so negative, Danny," said Elena as she rolled her eyes. "You're going to be great. You have the skills to do just about anything."  Danny moved his lunch tray to the side and rested his head on the table.  "Sit up Danny," ordered Elena, "I have an idea. Let's brainstorm a list of things you could do. We'll divide the list into categories or groups. Let's start with music. You play the piano, right?"  "I stopped taking lessons in the third grade," said Danny.  "What about singing a song?" suggested Elena.  Danny shook his head no. "Let's move on to another category."  "What about performing magic tricks?" asked Elena, as she twisted thin strands of hair around her finger.  "I don't know how to play magic tricks!" Danny almost shouted.  "Stop being so ..." Elena paused, "That's it, DRAMATIC!" Elena shouted excitedly. "You could do a dramatic reading. You definitely have the talent for it. Mrs. Pace always calls on you to read aloud in class. You could read a play aloud. Maybe you could even get extra credit from Mrs. Pace. She rewards students with points for doing extra reading work."  Danny thought for a minute. Then he smiled. "Elena," Danny said, "You are a great friend!"  Elena smiled back. "I just want to make sure you are a bright, shiny star when you step out on stage."