We began library staring in disbelief at the New York Times kid crossword puzzle. It was a full two page spread with hundreds of acrosses and downs–so many they needed a separate page to give the clues. We opted to turn the page and look at the macro photos of small parts of things and trying to identify them: a blackberry, fruity Pebbles, staples!
Then we launched into our improv program. I had a jar of opening lines. The kids paired up. One kid would read the line and the other respond. Being a fairly chaotic bunch, audience members would jump up and join the skit at will.
One of my favorites was Astrid asking Olivia what she planned to do with her lottery winnings. Olivia did a great milquetoast voice, asserting that she would buy mayonnaise and pickles. Jars and jars of them.
We did an interview skit, in which Olivia was asking the runners at a fundraiser for “homeless and desperate kids” about why they were running. All the runners were famous people: Beyonce, Justin Beiber–even Michael Jackson (being dead was no impediment to running this race). Michael Jackson (played by Jayda) followed every answer with a piercing, “Woo!”
There was, of course, time outside, despite the spitting rain. Klark and I played HORSE. Olivia, Jayda, Brianna, Astrid, and VIvienne disappeared into the back yard to pick camellias.
Meanwhile, inside, Mr. John was playing mad scientist,with three boiling pots of tomatoes–with the food pantry we sometimes freeze tons of tomatoes to keep them from deciding to be compost–the palls of steam rose–and on the other counter Klark and Jayda were making icing for the cake (one bowl of purple, one bowl of green) and drizzling it on the confetti cake.
It was a boisterous, fun gathering at the library. We definitely overcame the dreary drizzle.
