THE RAPUNZEL AUDITION

Vani picked up the flyer on the ground, rolled it into a tube and started using it as a makeshift microphone.

- Sarvamitra

"Oh Prince Charming...," she sang.

Her best friend Shruti joined in. "Hey Vani, let me sing a song too!"

Vani gave the mic to her, and Shruti sang into it, "Let it go, let it go...!"

This carried on for a while until the mic was crumpled and out of shape.

Vani's eyes wandered and settled on a crow. Should I imitate it and draw in more crows? Wouldn't it be fun? "Caww caww," she cried out, and the crows replied, confused.

Meanwhile, Shruti opened the crumpled paper that was the microphone, and began reading what was written in it.

"Audition for.."

"What!" The word 'audition' grabbed Vani's attention.

"AUDITION FOR RAPUNZEL, THE PLAY," Shruti read aloud, "The Shakespeare Theatre School invites children to audition for the play RAPUNZEL. The selected children will be trained by us. Globus Auditorium, 8th March, 4 PM."

Vani jumped up and said, "I have always dreamt of being on stage, and this is my chance. I am going to audition for the role of Rapunzel."

"Haha, we do call you Drama Queen," Shruti said, "but I think you've forgotten something important."

"What?" Vani studied the flyer again.

"The date is not a problem. I will get permission from Amma."

"No," Shruti said, her eyebrows moving up and down.

"Is something wrong with you, Shruti? Are you okay?" Vani touched her friend's forehead.

"Oh! I am fine. I was trying to remind you of something," Shruti did that funny thing with her eyebrows again.

"I give up. What is it?" Vani asked.

"Your hair!" Shruti exclaimed.

Vani touched her hair and instantly realised what Shruti was trying to say. She had just had a haircut-a rather short one -on losing a bet to her brother.

"Rapunzel has long hair! Remember? It is the most important point of the story," said Shruti.

But Vani's resolve was firm. "I will do something about my hair," she decided.