Talent Show Turmoil

By Amy Tindell and Michael Verrett

Joanie enjoys singing and dancing, as well as helping her many friends, but when the school talent show is announced, she realizes she can't do it all. Somewhere between a princess birthday party, exploding glitter balloons, and gymnastics, Joanie has to put her thinking cap on and make some difficult cho

• Language: English
• Publisher: Monkey Muffin
• Release date: Sep 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798986060576

Amy Tindell

Originally from Alabama, Amy completed her first degree in journalism from Troy University before spending two years as a missionary in Mozambique. Upon returning to the US, she received her masters degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, which is also where she met her husband, Thomas. Amy has spent 19 years teaching both regular education and special education in private and public schools, while raising two neurodivergent children and fostering several more. Her son, "Isaac", was born in 2011 and has high functioning Autism. Their daughter, "Joanie", joined the family in 2016. She was later diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Amy and her family currently live in Louisiana, where she has recently stepped away from teaching to write. She has a blog called Neurodiversity & Faith and has started writing the Think a Little Different series of books for children and young adults.Through her writing, Amy uses humor and compassion to show some of the challenges neurodivergent children face today.Connect with Amy Tindell at:Neurodiversity & Faithhttps://www.amytindell.com

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Taco Friday

Chapter 1

The golden glitter sparkled under the hallway lights and reflected off the ceiling. TALENT SHOW was written in big bubble letters across the poster. FRIDAY, MARCH 25 was written in blue glitter underneath. That was next week. There were also red and green glitter lines around the edge of the poster. It stood out against the white brick wall behind it. The poster was so bright and pretty…

Joanie, pay attention. The line is moving, Mrs. Taylor said.

I tore my eyes off the poster and looked forward. Most of the rest of my class was already at the end of the hallway. I was near the back of the line, so only a few people had to run with me to catch up. We were still a hallway away from the cafeteria, but I already smelled that it was taco day. I liked taco day. The line went around the corner towards the big green double doors that had the word CAFETERIA on them in bright white letters. I couldn’t wait for tacos and chocolate milk.

Then something horrible happened. As we passed the gym doors, they swung open, and an awful smell came out. The wonderful taco smell was suddenly gone, and the smell of stinky wet socks and boys took its place. I covered my mouth, trying not to be sick. That wasn’t keeping the smell out, so I pulled the collar of my shirt over my face. It still didn’t work. I had totally lost my appetite at this point. Maybe, just maybe, if I could reach the lunchroom doors and get inside, I could escape that terrible smell.

Joanie! Get back in line! Mrs. Taylor did not sound happy. I looked around and realized the line had stopped, but I hadn’t. I had passed up half my class trying to get to the lunchroom. I pulled my collar down below my eyes and scurried back to my place in line.

Really, Joanie, the smell isn’t that bad, Mrs. Taylor said, shaking her head.

She motioned for the line leader to go ahead into the lunchroom. That would be Nathan. His last name started with A, so he got to be the first person in line for everything. Not me, I was near the back. Nathan wasn’t too bad…for a boy. He actually liked playing tag with us at recess, and he made all A’s just like his last name. He sneezed every time we went outside and he looked at the sun, which was a little funny.

Joanie, you’re falling behind again, Mrs. Taylor said. And fix your shirt. It looks silly up over your face like that.

I pulled my collar down a little more to see the line ahead of me was already in the cafeteria, so I ran to catch up. It was warmer in the lunchroom, which meant the air conditioner wasn’t working again. Thank goodness it was still winter for a little longer. Spring break was only a week away. Mom said it would officially be spring at spring break, and that meant my grandparents would be coming to visit soon.

Punch in your number, sweetie, the lunch lady said nicely after she waved at me to get my attention. I pushed the buttons for my lunch number, and the computer beeped. It was the good beep that meant I did it right this time.

Hey, Joanie, do you want chocolate or strawberry milk? That was Darcy. She was my best friend, and she stood in front of me in line.

Chocolate, I said. She handed me a chocolate milk carton that was wet because it was so cold.

So, are you going to dance with us for the talent show? Darcy asked. Libby and I really need a third person to do our dance.