There’s No Business Like Show Business

A few days later, the Wind Dancers found themselves in another backstage dressing room. But this time, they weren’t in the forest. They were in Leanna’s school.

School desks were cluttered with mirrors, pots of makeup, scripts, and sheet music.

The only things missing were the children! That’s because Leanna and her classmates were onstage, putting on their big talent show.

“I still don’t get it,” Sirocco said as he and the fillies flitted around the room. “Why are we back here in the dressing room instead of in the audience, watching the show?”

“Because,” Sumatra declared, “we have a job to do here. And besides, it doesn’t matter if the show is perfect.”

“Or if there’s a jazz hand out of place,” Brisa volunteered.

Suddenly, Sumatra jumped. She could hear the thunder of footsteps and the chatter of excited children.

“Quick!” she urged her friends. “We have to finish!”

The Wind Dancers stopped chatting and began to fly from desk to desk, focused on their task. They finished just as the dressing room door flew open and children spilled into the room.

The horses flew up to a windowsill to watch.

“This is actually like a show! I can’t wait to see what happens,” Brisa said breathlessly.

“Shhh!” Sumatra said with a smile. “It’s about to start.”

The horses watched the kids high-five each other and shout out congratulations. Then one girl’s voice cried out: “What’s this?”

“Look!” Sumatra said, pointing her front hoof. “That was Leanna!”

It was indeed. Leanna was standing in front of her desk, gazing at a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. A similar bundle of congratulatory flowers lay on every desk in the room.

Leanna’s teacher gazed at all the bouquets in surprise. Then she turned to the class.

“A star should always be given flowers,” she said with a perplexed smile. “I’m just wondering who brought all of you these bouquets.”

Everyone looked happy, but bewildered, too, as they scooped up their pretty flowers. But Leanna didn’t look puzzled at all.

She gazed up at the window where the Wind Dancers were perched, almost as if she could see them.

It’s the Wind Dancers! she thought to herself, hugging her fragrant bouquet tightly. “I just know it.”

Sumatra grinned at her friends.

“I think that’s our cue,” she said with a wink. “Take a bow, everyone.”

Laughing, Brisa, Kona, Sirocco, and Sumatra bowed and blew invisible kisses to the celebrating children. Then they turned and flew out the window.

And as they headed off, they twisted, flipped, and danced joyfully through the air.