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How to Make Things to Sell on Teacherspayteachers

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How to Make Things to Sell on Teacherspayteachers

There are so many products you can sell on Teacherspayteachers.com. If you have an idea, look into what other products are out there. Teachers need all kinds of materials. You’d be surprised by what you see there.

But here’s the thing— this is a lot of work. I’ll explain.

I finished another Tpt product which I’ll probably upload in the next day or so.

Deborah Baldwin teaching
This is one of my favorite photos of myself teaching.

People ask me the reason for having my Teacherspayteachers Store.  Simple–I stayed home with our daughters when they were young and that put me behind financially. When I retired from my career, I was out half of my pension had I taught the entire time instead.

My goal is to make up that money.

Some folks also ask if it is difficult creating the product. They are curious as to how much time it takes to create one.  

Since I taught for gobs of years creating the lesson or unit for the product is easy for me.

  • I taught drama classes for thirty-eight years, both public and private.  Girl, that gives you LOTS of experience and LOTS of materials.
  • My bachelors degree is in theater and my masters is in education with an emphasis on creative arts learning–arts integration.
  • Plus, I directed over 250 plays and musicals with adults and children alike.

You put all of those ingredients together and you get a brain full of lessons, units, methods, resources and materials which float around up there until you need them.

Generally, I work about six or seven hours each day.  The entire time isn’t spent creating a product, but a great portion of each day is spent bent over my laptop doing so.  How many hours do I put in each day? I say, “When my back starts hurting and I can’t ignore it anymore, I stop.”  Yup, that’s about it.

A Week in the Life of a Teacherspayteachers Product

Day One:

Usually, I make a power point (8.5 by 11) of about 15 slides on my laptop.  I have a template for this as each product requires certain things–table of contents, dear teacher page, copyright, page number and probably a border or two. Each product requires a terms of use and a feedback/sources page, too.  Don’t be too impressed by this excellent form or organization.  It is very common for me to forget I have these templates and re-build them every time.  It’s my right brainedness. Duh.

First, I figure out how many days this particular product will encompass.  Mine are usually for one to three days, but several are for much longer.  For instance,  my radio theater unit is three weeks long and the set design unit is ten days in length and so forth.

I throw titles on each slide just to give me an outline of sorts which is just another way to organize my thoughts, really.

I rough in certain slides just to get a feel for what else I need. Usually, I begin with the Dear Teacher note because it helps me find a thesis statement.  Or, I think about what I want the teachers to know about the product before they start.

How to Make Things to Sell on Teacherspayteachers

At this point, I am really tired (and the hurting back thing…) so I stop and do some mundane task like the laundry, or make dinner or just veg’ out and rest my brain. Switching gears and walking away from the creative problem solving gives me a fresh outlook when I hit it again.

I work in the morning from 7:00 to 12:00 and usually  in the afternoon from 1:00 to 3:00 or 4:00 to 6:00ish. In the evening, I am checking my website, blog and some Pinterest collaborations, looking at my Instagram page and Tailwind community of which I am a member.

Day Two:

I begin to create each slide.  Quite frankly, typing up the lessons is a synch for me, because of my resume and you know, I’m ancient.

But the killer is the layout!

I think about colors, different borders, photos, video clips, music clips, etc.  If I have adapted a folk tale into a class play, I talk with my husband about what I am needing.  He is my composer, having done so for many years when he was an instrumental music teacher.  (This is a bonus I didn’t realize when I married him 38 years ago…..a delightful surprise!) Tim begins thinking about the music we need for the play.

Tim and I

Day Three, Four, Five, Six and Probably Seven:

A product of around fifteen pages will take me several days.  Obviously, the larger the product, the more days I spend on it.  Radio theater units take several weeks (they are about 70 pages in length). Ironically, the Denzel Washington biography took me at least sixty hours to complete (because he has such a huge resume) and it’s only ten pages in length.  Honestly, I never know how long it will take until I’m finished–ha!

As I continue creating slides I ask myself certain questions:

  • Do I need to script this part for the teacher?
  • Will directions for the game or warm up suffice?
  • Would a diagram help to explain something better than words?
  • Should I add a sound byte to explain something further?
  • Do I need non-royalty clipart or photos to complement the lesson? I peruse several free photo sites I can depend upon (wikicommons, pixabay, unsplash, creative commons, etc.) I’m subscribed to Depositphotos.com and highly recommend them.  This includes derivations of the subject I’m seeking–dance steps (I don’t like the ones I find) which leads me to dancers (too specific) to dance shoes, for instance. Many times I trash the clipart ideas and just let them sit in my brain for several days until I tackle it again. I have to watch this part because I can get sucked in the rabbit hole very quickly and spend all afternoon looking for clipart.
  • How many slides is this exercise going to require?
  • Is this lesson too big?
  • Should I break it up into several lessons?
  • Is it too complicated for the age group?
  • Is it too simple for the age group I’m targeting?
  • Should I offer it in different formats, like the Famous Artist Series?

Lin Manuel Miranda cover

When I put together a radio theater script, I discovered if I add a blank slide between the pages of script it helps with run over.  THIS IS A BEAR TO CREATE. Radio theater scripts are numbered, each cue on each page and the numbered cues don’t continue on to the next page. The next page begins with number one again.  So, if you make any changes (which of course, I do several times) that blank page in between the typed pages gives me leeway to tweak the script and also keeps me sane.  Otherwise, I whine to my husband and he fixes the pages for me.

A Week in the Life of a Teacherspayteachers Product

How to Make Things to Sell on Teacherspayteachers

From my set design unit.

Sometimes, I must create the product so they can be photographed.  That’s pretty easy and fun for lessons on costume design, for instance.  However, the set design unit took me several days of creating the entire product so I could photograph the various stages of completion.  After that, I must send the photos to myself, download them into the power point and fix the image (using several photoshop resources–cropping, brightening the whites, etc).

Whenever I run out of steam, I work on the covers.  I LOVE creating the covers, because they are fresh ideas and enjoyable to develop.

Recently I settled on a look I want for the covers–each has a border reminiscent of a theater marquee, a large rectangle for the product’s title and a smaller one for its subtitle. It includes the grade level and my Dramamommaspeaks logo.  (Recently, I hired someone to make that a new logo for me–this is not in my wheelhouse.)

            DramaM

 

 

 

I use the same font on all the print on the cover, so they have a uniform look.  However, I’m known to change the font to something which gives a particular feeling for the title of the Broadway musicals or plays, for example.   Hopefully, if people see all the products together they will recognize them as mine.  Or at least that’s the hope. This is what I mean—

 

     

Nearing the end of the product’s creation I must wrangle font size.  Gad, it is the bane of my life! I am always in a quandary whether to have each page the same size font size or vary it depending upon what the page will be used for.  Would a teacher appreciate larger font when they are lecturing from the pages or will they be used as slides to be projected on a white board?  Should I add photos to those pages or will they be distracting to the students?  Maybe clipart will help them remember the information?

This process can last up to two weeks depending upon whether I need to create different lessons for the unit, my husband is composing music for one of the fifteen minute plays or a variety of other things.  I’m a Rockstar grandma, too so that keeps me busy seeing our granddaughters and being available to our daughters if they need our help.  Sometimes I choose to be grandma and put the lesson to the side.  You gotta do what you gotta do, you know? 🙂

The goal is to create 2.5 lessons each week.  I’m sitting at 60 as of today, but the goal is around 200.  I never thought I could create 60, so to have done so is nothing short of incredible to me.  However, the longer I create, the more the lessons comes flooding back into my memory.

If you are looking for a sampling of my work, check out this bundle: Drama Curriculum Units and Lessons

How to Make Things to Sell on Teacherspayteachers

This product can last a semester, quarter or month depending upon how many times you meet with the students. and…it’s a growing bundle which means I’ll add more products to it as I create them.

If you’d like more information about selling Teacherspayteachers, check out Teacherspayteachers.com Sales Expectation Versus Reality

Do you have an idea for a product?  I’d love to hear about it.

So, if you are thinking of creating lessons to sell on Teacherspayteachers.com, I hope this information helps you.

Do contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or through DeborahBaldwin.net if I can help you.

If you’d like to know about other products of mine, check out: There’s a Place for Everyone in Theater

or maybe you are looking for a free lesson  Ice Breaker Storytelling Using Jig Saw Puzzle Pieces 

Deb

The Majority of Drama Teachers do this and You Should Too!

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studenst-reading-play

Music Rehearsal for Willy Wonka, Jr. Apex Home School Enrichment Program  2014

Note:  Recently, I wrote several pieces concerning reading and literacy for Litpick.com.  This is a re-publish of the latest article. 

I’m not a Wizard, but I can do Magic and so Can You!

Teaching has its up and downs, but one of the most rewarding experiences of teaching is seeing a student’s eyes light up once some learning connects with them. I like to teach “magically” if I can. I bet a lot of teachers do, too!

I don’t wear a wizard’s robe and pull out a magic wand —I have no idea how that is done. I mean when a student learns something when they don’t think they are doing anything, but having fun. Teaching and learning become effortless and almost enchanting!

I use many drama games and exercises in my classroom. I’m especially fond of Viola Spolin’s book Improvisation in the Classroom. But that’s not today’s subject…. (my right brained-ness kicked in there for a moment). Sorry.

I find that when I am teaching a concept that a student is focused upon and I am using a particular activity to demonstrate the concept, the learning becomes “like butter”—smooth, enriching and tasty. (Okay, I do have a fondness for butter I will admit, but you get the point.)

Drama Class and Reading

Reading skills can be strengthened through drama. No joke! Sometimes students don’t realize when they enroll in my classes that we will read aloud in class—that’s a given. And we read A LOT. Of course we read the occasional theatre textbook chapter, but mostly we read plays. I mean, obviously we read plays, right? Also, we perform the readings, so the words become memorized easily.

Families can do this at home, too! The benefits of reading plays aloud are varied, but suffice to say that if a group gets together and reads a play, a child’s reading skills will be honed.

Dialogue

Oh my gosh, play dialogue is so fun to read aloud! It’s far better to read a play aloud than to read it silently. That’s because it was created to be spoken. A playwright depends upon his characters’ dialogue to tell a story. That’s the whole point. Playwrights work for months, maybe years, to find and create just the right meaning in a sentence.

Presently, I am preparing to direct a summer youth theatre camp production of Tams Witmark’s Music Library version of The Wizard of Oz musical. Here is a tidbit of dialogue from the production:

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WICKED WITCH:

They’re gone! The ruby slippers! What have you done with them?

Give them back to me, or I’ll—

GLINDA:

It’s too late! There they are, and there they’ll stay!

Awesome, don’t you think? The dialogue is precise, rhythmical and exciting. A playwright’s goal is to express a particular message, right? She wants the audience to continue listening to her play. Her dialogue must be excellent. There can be no excess words, very few challenging words or word pronunciations that an audience member must struggle to understand.   Since theatre is live, it is essential that the play is engaging right from the first word. When one is not enjoying a book that she is reading, she can put the book down. But at a play? The confused person might just walk out of the performance. Eeek!

Form

Young readers love to read scripts aloud once they understand the form. It’s a little daunting, you must admit. There are no markers—no “he said” or “she yelled” In particular moments, emotions are written in for the actor to use. Generally, a playwright leaves it up to the director and actors to convey the required emotion. That’s more interesting for everyone involved. It allows the director to create her own concept of the play—sort of like painting a picture using her own thoughts about the story. That’s more interesting for everyone involved.

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Usually, I read aloud the stage directions so that the students can create the atmosphere or plot in their minds. The plot of a play must be very clear to understand although surprises are always welcome. That’s what makes for excellent theatre, I think.

Once when my class of middle school students read aloud the “Tom Sawyer” play, I purposely stopped us at an exciting moment—scary Injun Joe hid behind a tree and overheard Tom and Huck discussing the big bag of money they found. Many of the students were reluctant readers. I heard groans of “Oh man, Mrs. B. can’t we continue reading?” But instead, I handed out paper and pencils and asked them to draw what they thought would occur next. I’m a tricky teacher….

Research

In researching this article, I came upon a tremendous website–Readingrockets.org. who says it much better than I can.

  1. Listening to others read develops an appreciation for how a story is written and familiarity with book conventions, such as “once upon a time” and “happily ever after”.

  2. Reading aloud demonstrates the relationship between the printed word and meaning – children understand that print tells a story or conveys information – and invites the listener into a conversation with the author.

  3. Listening to others read develops key understanding and skills. Reading aloud demonstrates the relationship between the printed word and meaning – children understand that print tells a story or conveys information – and invites the listener into a conversation with the author (Bredekamp, Copple, & Neuman, 2000).

  4. Reading aloud makes complex ideas more accessible and exposes children to vocabulary and language patterns that are not part of everyday speech. It exposes less able readers to the same rich and engaging books that fluent readers read on their own, and entices them to become better readers. (Fountas & Pinnell, 1996).

Libraries

How does a family select the right play to read together? I’d suggest checking out a public library. They have a fountain of plays to read including many versions of classics such as Anne of Green Gables, Peter Pan, Charlotte’s Web or Huckleberry Finn.

If reading an entire play script seems overwhelming, look into reader’s theatre scripts. They are short, concise, edited well and give the “nugget” of the story. They are a great stepping off point for young readers to pique their interest, giving them a feeling of success before they tackle the complete novel.

Reading Experts

Children’s literature consultant Susie Freeman states, “If you’re searching for a way to get your children reading aloud with comprehension, expression, fluency, and joy, reader’s theater is a miracle. Hand out a photocopied play script, assign a part to each child, and have them simply read the script aloud and act it out. That’s it. And then magic happens.”

Aaron Shephard

One of my favorite authors of reader’s theatre scripts is Aaron Shephard. Check him out at http://www.aaronshep.com/rt/. He has adapted a treasure trove of stories, many multicultural, including original ones of his own. I have used a host of his scripts including Legend of Lightning Larry with an ESL drama club, The Legend of Slappy Hooper with a creative dramatics class, and the beloved Casey at the Bat with an introduction to theatre class plus various other scripts.

So, the next time on a really hot summer day your family is stuck indoors and has exhausted every other avenue of entertainment or learning, pick up a play script! I promise you a magical and great time of reading.

There you have it:  this is what the majority of drama teachers do and you can too.  I can’t wait to hear how things go for you.  Do write me.

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

author's signature

To purchase a copy of my book, Bumbling Bea go to Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Bumbling-Bea-Deborah-Baldwin/dp/1500390356

 

Like Halloween? Then You’ll Enjoy This Costume Sale

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Like Halloween? Then You’ll Enjoy This Costume Sale

Do you like Halloween like I do?  Tomorrow, it’s almost October! Yippee! Have you found a theater’s costume sale you can peruse?

October is one of my most favorite months–the leaves begin to change to scarlet and gold, pumpkins are everywhere. And probably one of most favorite things is the air is crisp. No more muggy hot Kansas weather!

When our daughters were children, we had a rule: you couldn’t talk about Halloween until September 1st. No drawing pictures of what your costume should be, negotiating for some extravagant costume piece, and NO buying Halloween candy.

A Rare Peek Inside the RSC’s Costume Sale

Recently,  I ran on to an article in the New York Times about the Royal Shakespeare Company’s costume sale. Wow, that would have been a neat thing to see. I was in England in August and visited Stratford in Avon where the sale was held. If only I had visited a bit later…

Read on.

Ball Gowns, Lace Ruffs and Fairy Wings: Theater History for Sale

By Holly Williams

Like Halloween? Then You'll Enjoy This Costume Sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, England — Have you ever wanted to step into the shoes of a great Shakespearean actor? Over the weekend, shoppers here in Shakespeare’s birthplace, which is also the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, had a chance to walk away with a piece of theatrical history. This  legendary company held a sale of 15,000 costumes and other items.

By the time the sale opened at 9 a.m. Saturday, a line snaked down the street; the first fans had arrived at 5 p.m. the previous day, camping out to secure a spot. Such patience was rewarded, and customers emerged clutching treasures, from the sublime — period ball gowns, lace ruffs, fairy wings — to the ridiculous — gold lamé lion tails and grotesque pig suits.

The Royal Shakespeare Company has the largest costume department in British theater, and it employs 30 members of staff, including experts in armor and millinery. The sale was raising money for the company’s Stitch in Time campaign, to renovate its costume workshop and to finance specialist apprenticeships. Around a third of its stock — items too worn or too specific to be reused — was on sale at bargain prices: from 50 pence, or 67 cents, for a fan to 30 pounds, or roughly $40, for a velvet cloak.

Like Halloween? Then You’ll Enjoy This Costume Sale

Like Halloween? Then You'll Enjoy This Costume Sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The life-span of Royal Shakespeare Company costumes are recycled across productions and for up to 100 performances.  This is among what makes them special, and every item has a sewn-in label identifying the actor who wore it last, and in which show. Beady-eyed rummagers could pick up Anita Dobson’s grubby underskirt from “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” or Joanna Vanderham’s silver gown from “Othello.” One happy shopper claimed to have found a dress worn by Jane Asher.

It can be bittersweet, however. “What makes this so emotional for someone like me — I put on my first R.S.C. costume in 1966 — are the name tags,” said the British actor Patrick Stewart, who fronted the Stitch in Time campaign. “I already found one item worn by a dear friend of mine, long gone.”

Indeed, among the armor, I came across a breastplate with “Tim Pigott-Smith” written on a label; the British actor died in April.

Like Halloween? Then You’ll Enjoy This Costume Sale

Even stars of Mr. Stewart’s caliber are not immune to feeling awe when taking on the mantle (at times literally) of acting giants. “I was once given a jacket which I did not really like,” Mr. Stewart said, adding that he had then seen from the label that it had been worn by Paul Scofield, a British actor who died in 2008.

“So of course I wore it,” he said. “Although it had to be cut down, because Paul was a much taller actor than I was, in every sense.”

Performers often highlight how vital costumes are, and by trying on a vast crinoline (used in the “Tempest”) and an absurdly heavy cloak (“Henry VIII”) I can understand why: They completely change the way you move and hold yourself.
“There were times when the costume had a significant impact on the work I would do on that character,” Mr. Stewart said, recalling the transformative effect of a luxurious pale gray three-piece suit worn for a modern-dress “Merchant of Venice” in 2011 — “which I should have stolen because it fitted me so well.”
I unearthed a kitsch, frothy wedding dress from the same production, worn by Susannah Fielding as Portia. Indeed, a whole rail of wedding dresses were available to make wedding days extra special — once they’ve had a good clean, at least.

Like Halloween? Then You'll Enjoy This Costume Sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costume Treasures in Everyday Life

Outside, members of the public emerged enchanted with their hauls. Jenkin Van Zyl, whose parents drove up from London so that he could fill their car, went on quite a spree: “I only wear theater costumes,” he said. “So I just came to top up, but I didn’t realize how cheap and amazing the sale was going to be. I spent £800.”
Shelley Bolderson from Cambridge, England, also wears costumes in her daily life. She said she had been delighted to find a coat made from pages of a book, created for the dancing satyrs in the 2009 production of “The Winter’s Tale.”

“I just hope it won’t dissolve in the rain,” she said.

Like Halloween? Then You'll Enjoy This Costume Sale

From the Stage to the Classroom: Lessons That Last

The sale is also a godsend for amateur theater groups. Miriam Davies, from Stamford, England, is a costume designer for a company specializing in Shakespeare.
“You can’t really miss something like this,” she said. “Having R.S.C. costumes is a special thing — it’s history.”

Lots of theater companies have costume sales prior to Halloween.  Their costumes are worth the money they ask for them.  Trust me on this.

If you don’t know me, I am a retired drama teacher and director having done both for thirty-eight years. 

Several years ago because of this experience, I decided to sell drama education lessons on Teacherspayteachers.com.

I have several costume design lesson plans available if you are interested.

One is focused on Halloween characters:

Costume Design with Halloween Characters

Like Halloween? Then You'll Enjoy This Costume Sale

Or, if you want to just go whole hog on Halloween, check out this bundle!

Bundle: Drama Lessons Bundle

Halloween Drama Class Units, Scripts Lessons Improvisation Acting Bundle!

What’s your favorite Halloween costume you have worn?  Once I was a piece of celery…but that’s another blog post to be sure.

I’ve love to hear from you.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

If You Teach Shakespeare You will Want to Check out this Book

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midsummer1

Today I’m blogging about someone else’s book!  Surprised, huh? Lately, I’ve been considering creating another blog specifically about books focused on theatre and writing reviews about them.  Should I do so?  Would that help anyone?  We’ll start with this one.

A Pinterest Friend

This review began because of a pin on Pinterest. Wouldn’t you know it?    I saw this fellow’s pin and thought it would be helpful to me and my writing.  Brendan, the author, and I emailed each other several times since that pinning. I was not asked to write a review.  I offered it to Brendan. Although I don’t walk around calling myself an expert on youth theatre (because that sounds so pretentious to me–I’m just a hard working, really old teacher-haha), I can confidently say that I am well versed in drama education and youth theatre in general.  And besides…more press for someone’s book can’t hurt, right?

Playing with Plays

Playing with Plays is the publisher of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Kids. This great little book is packed with three versions of Shakespeare’s beloved play. Each version of the play is around ten minutes in length.  More importantly for a teacher, it has three different cast sizes!  Oh my, that is very useful!

As a drama teacher of over thirty-eight years, I continuously sought quality resources for my students. Each year, I perused publishers’ books for new approaches to classic plays.  Playing with Plays has figured out what is needed for teachers like me– fresh approaches to teaching drama, etc.  Several times I have taught with the book, Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare which is a bit misleading.  The stories are those of Shakespeare’s plays not some other stories that Shakespeare authored.  I think Playing with Plays is a better introduction to the plots for students and young readers.

Brendan calls his versions “Melodramatic Modifications to Shakespeare’s Plays”.  I appreciate that description and think that’s a fair depiction of these playlets.  Brendan isn’t trying to be Shakespeare, but has created clever versions of the Bard’s play that is palatable to all students of various ages and abilities. Oh, I like that too!

I appreciate that  Brendan  has high-lighted the particular lines from the actual play.  For a child or beginning drama student or Language Arts student, this is tremendously helpful– a reader can clearly discern which lines Shakespeare wrote and which Brendan penned. Yeay! Also, a teacher could lift those lines very easily and use them in a class discussion. Anything to help our teachers; that’s what I say.

shakespeare

Integrity of the Story

I have read A LOT of plays, produced, directed and acted in many plays and musicals.  I’m a purist.  I don’t appreciate classic literature to be bastardized.  I dislike parodies or “skits” of fairy tales, beloved plays or musicals.  As an artist, I know it is difficult enough to get butts in seats and to encourage audiences to appreciate the work, as is.  Sometimes all people know is “that really funny middle school play version of Red Riding Hood.” Can you imagine? Ugh. I appreciate that Brendan hasn’t done that with Midsummer Night’s Dream, but he has plucked the most important pieces of the plot.

Playing with Plays created other Shakespeare plays:  Rome and Juliet, Macbeth (my person favorite0, Hamlet, Julius Caesar and Much Ado About Nothing and several more.  You can purchase Playing with Plays scripts in bookstore and on line at PlayingwithPlays.com.

If you have a chance, check out his website, too.  There is a lot of helpful information for anyone teaching Shakespeare.  I bet you find something there you can use in your next lesson. That can’t be said of every educational website.

So, check out Playing with Plays.  I think you’ll be glad you did.

 

 

 

Notable quote from Bumbling Bea

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bb-chapter-4

Popular kids have a special talent that nobody else noticed but me. They are fortune tellers.  They can see the future for all of us.

“So-and-So is on her way to Broadway!” and “Hollywood, here comes So-and-So!” the popular kids say after the school play is over.  Sometimes at football or basketball games or maybe even at a pep rally one of them will yell, “Number fifty-two (or whatever number the star player wore), to the NFL for you!” or I’d hear one of the girls say, “That Tiffany girl (or whatever cutsey name the star cheerleader was named) should be in ‘Pump it Up.” She’s as good a cheerleader as the (insert name of hot teen actress of the week) in that movie.”

Popular kids kept close to talented kids in case some of the talent might

rub off on them.

No one stayed close to me. That’s for sure.

Notable quote from Bumbling Bea

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bb-chapter-0

As I took Peter’s place on stage, there was another rustling and gasp from the cast and Ms. Phillips.  Michiko had whisked off the scarf on her head and stood smiling happily.  There on top of her usually pretty blue black hair was a thin plastic cap.  I think it’s used by hairstylists to hi-light hair.  My mom’s had her hair done that way before.  The cap thing was jammed all the way down on to her forehead.  A few wisps of her hair had slipped out and around the cap.  She looked like a sear urchin, an anemone to be exact.

“You know, Pocahontas was bald when she met John Smith.  The children’s heads were shaved because of lice! Well, what do you think?” Michiko asked proudly.

“Bald and naked! How absolutely embarrassing.” I said.

To purchase my award winning book, Bumbling Bea go to https://www.amazon.com/Bumbling-Bea-Deborah-Baldwin/dp/1500390356