At the Charlotte’s Web rehearsal the next day, Delaney tried to focus on her lines and ignore the fact that a pink, wiggly tail was pinned to the butt of her jeggings.

“You look cute, Laney,” Sophie giggled. “The snout…it’s really you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Delaney replied. “At least I don’t have legs hanging all over me.” Attached to Sophie’s black sweatshirt were four long, black spider legs. She used one to swat Delaney over the head. “Come on, have some fun!”

Since the babysitting episode with Milly, Delaney had learned that she could be herself and be responsible. So even in a pig costume, she would give the part her serious attention. She just wished everything and everyone in her life wasn’t baby-crazy!

“This big barnyard scene should be a showstopper,” Ms. Kutchen directed them. “Cows and lambs, you’re in the back. Wilbur, Templeton the Rat, and the geese, you’re up front. Charlotte, climb up on the step stool above them.”

The kids all stood there, looking bored. “This is so lame,” Harrison grumped. He wasn’t thrilled to be playing a dirty rat and yanked at his long, black tail. “Can’t I be a rat without a tail? Maybe a leather jacket and sunglasses?”

“Like a biker rat?” Delaney teased. “Maybe you can ride around the barnyard on a moped.”

“Exactly!” Harrison replied. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

Ms. Kutchen handed out sheet music. “Really?” Harrison groaned. “‘Homer Zuckerman had a farm, E I E I O’?”

Sophie shook her head. “We have to do something, Laney. Musicals are not Ms. Kutchen’s thing. Charlotte’s Web is going to be the laughingstock of the Weber Day School mini-term.”

‘You’re not kidding,” Olivia Issacman, aka Gussy the Goose, whispered. “All I do is sit here laying eggs! I don’t even quack.”

“Geese don’t quack,” Harrison corrected her. “They honk.”

“That’s even worse!” Olivia groaned.

The old Delaney would have jumped in and rallied the troops. She would have broken into a crazy rendition of “Who Let the Pigs Out?” and led a conga line across the stage. But the new Delaney had to be both clever and practical—she’d learn that from her babysitting escapade. She had a role to play and directions to follow. Still, there might be a way to make Ms. Kutchen’s musical just a little cooler and more, well, fun. She raised her hand.

“Ms. Kutchen, do I stand in front of the cows during the E I E I O part, or behind them?”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Laney, snap out of it! Please!”

Delaney hushed her. “Relax, Soph. I have a plan.”

“Um, let’s try it in front,” Ms. Kutchen replied, checking the notes on her clipboard. She got out her harmonica and blew a note. “Everybody, on the count of three, let’s try ‘Homer Zuckerman Had a Farm’…”

Delaney’s hand shot up again. “Yes, Delaney?” Ms. Kutchen sighed.

“I think maybe everyone knows this song—there’s no element of surprise,” she said.

Ms. Kutchen raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? It’s a classic.”

“I just mean that Charlotte’s Web has a message that’s just as important today as it was when it was published in 1952. Shouldn’t we somehow communicate that?”

Delaney knew that Ms. Kutchen loved when kids participated in class discussions and had strong opinions about the books the class was reading.

“And what do you think that message is, Delaney?” Her teacher took the bait.

Delaney thought hard for a moment. She twirled a strand of strawberry blond hair around her fingertips. “Well, it’s about friendship. How important it is to stand by the people who are important to you. To be there when they need you. And it’s about the cycle of life. When Charlotte dies, her babies are born.”

“And even though we’re all animals, we act like people,” Sophie added. “Charlotte is an insect, but she has human thoughts and feelings. She really cares about Wilbur and wants to save his life.”

“And Templeton figures out he can eat the pig’s slop—which is really pretty disgusting, but I guess, smart,” Harrison threw in.

“He means that he’s a survivor,” Delaney explained. “He may seem mean and selfish, but he actually does help Charlotte and Wilbur. He’s not as tough as he wants everyone to believe.” She glared at Harrison.

“Yeah, that’s what I said…” he added.

Ms. Kutchen nodded her head. “I’m very impressed. Maybe I should let you guys direct the musical.”

“Yes!” Delaney pumped her fist in the air. “I mean, yeah, that would be really great if we could pitch in.”

Ms. Kutchen handed Delaney her clipboard. “Okay, Delaney. This barnyard scene is all yours. What do you think we should do to make it better?”

Sophie gave Delaney a little push forward. “Go on! Work your magic.”

Delaney walked around the stage, taking it all in. How could she turn the Old McDonald song into anything remotely cool?

“I think we should rap it. You know, make it really modern and edgy.”

“Totally!” Sophie backed her up. “Like Justin Timberlake…or Macklemore.”

Delaney tapped her sneaker on the stage to start the rhythm. “Homer Zuckerman had a farm. Give it up! Give it up! Had a farm. There were sheep and cows, and they rapped along. Give it up! Give it up! On the farm!”

“A rat called Templeton had lots of charm. Give it up! Give it up! On the farm!” Harrison added.

“And a goose named Gussy became a mom. Give it up! Give it up! On the farm!” Olivia chimed in.

“Then there was Wilbur—who felt alarm. Give it up! Give it up! On the farm!” Delaney rapped. “His best friend, Charlotte, said, ‘Fear no harm!’ Give it up! Give it up! On the farm!”

“And that little black spider spun a yarn. Give it up! Give it up! On the farm!” Sophie added.

“Hold on! Hold on!” Ms. Kutchen stopped them.

Uh-oh, Delaney thought. She hates this idea.

“I think this is amazing! I want to write it all down and figure out how you can bust some moves in the barnyard. Delaney, I’m counting on you for the choreography as well.”

“Hooray!” the class cheered.

“You did it, Delaney,” Sophie whispered. “You saved our musical. Charlotte’s Web is going to rock, and we owe it all to you.”