Frosty Elena Sugawa

Lucy made her stage debut tonight! She had the title role in her class skit in International Night, the Indian Montessori answer to the Christmas pageant. The program was held in a nearby church auditorium, complete with a real piano. The first class was the youngest of the bunch: the 18-month to three-year-olds singing/mumbling "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Maybe the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life. Wincingly cute. Where oh where was the film crew and the good holiday product I could be hawking with these darling, off-key creatures?

The only thing that could top those little stars? MY little star! Her class, the 2 1/2 to 5 year-olds, came out holding hands, dressed in winter finery despite the 80-degree day. They formed two circles, with the youngest kids on the inner circle holding snowflakes and the older kids circling the outside. Lucy/Frosty danced in the middle with a slightly dour look on her face (I neglected to give Lu the advice that Leslie's mom gave her before dance recitals and has apparently served her well her whole life long: "Smile your ass off!"). But she was DANCING, DOING IT! That was the cutest thing I have ever seen (see for yourself). Especially when they walked "off-stage," hand in mittened hand, and someone pulled Lu's mitten off and kept walking. She stood frozen, staring at her bare hand, holding up the line. She got a huge laugh. Then she cried.