Darryl loved third grade. He especially loved music class and writing.
“Great job, Darryl!” said his teacher as she handed back his poem. There was a big A+ on it. “You should recite this at the talent show!”
“Really?” asked Darryl. He was proud of his poem, but he wondered, was it really that good?
After school, Darryl headed to the talent show sign-up sheet. He wrote his name at the very bottom.
“What do you think you’re doing?” said a boy named Charlie. “What talent do you have?”
Darryl didn’t know what to say, so he held up his poem.
“WOW! What a nerd, ” said Charlie. “And you have the dumb glasses to match.”
A girl named Denise joined in. “Look, guys! Darryl’s so weird with his stupid poems and his stupid A+. He’s going to make a fool out of himself at the talent show!” Everyone laughed. Darryl was so upset that he crossed his name off the sheet.
By the time Darryl got home, he felt totally defeated. “Mom,” he said. “I wish I didn’t wear big glasses and get good grades. The other kids don’t like me.”
“Not everyone will like you, Darryl,” his mom said. “What’s important is that you like yourself and you stay true to who you are.”
Darryl didn’t agree. He ran upstairs into his room.
“I wish I could be someone else,” said Darryl as he fell asleep that night. Before long, he drifted off into a dream…
Comprehension Questions
1. What did Darryl want to do in the talent show?
A. Read a story
B. Sing a song
C. Read a poem
2. Why did Darryl cross out his name?
A. He was bullied
B. He was too nervous
C. He got sick
A. He was bullied
B. He was too nervous
C. He got sick
Your Thoughts
3. Did you like this excerpt? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.