DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY.
Mrs. Thurston looks up from her desk and announces 4th grade talent show at Sam Houston Elementary. This talent show always happened at the end of the school year. I crunch a Smartie between my teeth and begin to dream about a room quaking with applause from my marvelous performance. Now I just need an idea.
I call a meeting with my best buds Matthew Schlabach, who taught me all things Oregon Trail, and Josh Martin who was cute and from Michigan. The boys and I meet up and devise a master plan that will bring down the house, or should I say carpeted cafeteria.
A group of girls complete a choreographed routine and now it’s our turn to take the stage. We cue music, uh humm press Play, and begin. What we decided to do was lip sync to Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Josh and Matthew were dressed in tropical garb, looking ever so Tommy Bahama, singing along to the jam behind their wayfarers. I had a special role. When it came time for the “ohhhh, ohhh oh ohhhhh-oooo” portion of the song I stepped out dressed like a wolf with macaroni teeth, tilted my head back and howled at the ceiling.
Sometimes I wonder where I come up with these things. Maybe it was all so I could write about it all these years later. It should be noted, we got asked back for the 5th grade talent show to do another rendition. Don’t mess with my macaroni smile!
