Once there was a girl
Whose hopes and dreams were high
She aspired to become a ballerina
And touch the seventh sky

She enrolled for dancing classes
At a very young age
But alas, she could never keep balance
Much to the teacher’s fury and rage

Then one day, there came the big news
The class was enacting “The Swan Lake”
But the only role fit for her
Was the disgraceful, waddling drake!

She begged and begged for a bigger role
Finally the teacher said yes
And gave her the role of the nimble deer
It was the next to the best

The girl though, was extremely nervous
What if she forgot her steps?
Made a fool of herself in public
By falling and breaking a leg!!

Crying, she rushed to her darling mother
And asked her for advice
She just couldn’t perform on stage
After all, she was just a novice!

Her mother took out a pair of dancing shoes
Oh! they were so beautiful!
“They’re magic,” she told her daughter
“They’ll help you balance and make you look graceful”

The girl was filled with wonder and surprise
She couldn’t believe her ears
Next time, when she wore her shoes and danced
It looked as if she had danced for years

Everyone was amazed and astonished
When she danced on the final day
A huge round of applause greeted her
She had never seen a brighter day

Gay and happy she rushed to her mother
And thanked her for all she had done
But was surprised, when her mother smiled and said
That she had made the whole thing up

“It wasn’t the shoes my dear
They were simple and ordinary
It was your belief in yourself
That made your dance extraordinary”

The moral of the story, dear friends
Always believe in yourself and have self-confidence
It will help you fight all obstacles
And reach the pinnacle of success!!

Rhea Kumar is in Class VII, New Delhi

Image under license with Gettyimages.com