Madeline: If you believe, you must be big, in order to be tough,
Then you should get to know me, I'll teach you other stuff.
I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
I may be very small,
I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
But inside, I'm tall.
Other 11 girls: She may be teeny tiny,
Diminutive petite,
But that has never stopped her,
From being pretty neat!
Dum dee dum dee dum,
Dum, dee dum dee dum,
Madeline,
Madeline!
She's Madeline, she's Madeline,
We hope you have it straight.
Madeline: I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
And inside, I'm great!
Riley Madeline and the Old Violins
...
In an old house in Paris, that was covered with vines, lived 13 little girls in two straight lines. They left the house at half past nine, in two straight lines, in rain or shine. The older twin was Riley, and the smallest one was Madeline, as Madeline curtsied to an organ grinder's monkey before dancing with him. Miss Clavel then led her away.
When the girls returned one day, the strains of a waltz began to play, and while up in the attic, the 13 little girls found trunks and boxes filled with sound.
All the girls chorused "Ahh look at this!"
Madeline gasped "Regardez- a violin!" as she played it with her fingers.
Chole said "Look -a triangle!" And she fished it out.
Nicole added "Listen, a clarinet!" as she played it.
Danielle said "Look another violin!" Then she pointed to a large gold instrument next to it. "What is that?" She asked curiously.
Riley said "I know – it's a horn like on Maddie Bilk," as Anna retrieved it and began to play it.
Madeline said "A flute!" As Janine took it from the box and began to play with it experimentally.
Monique found a drum, and began playing it.
...
Later, Miss Clavel greeted a dear friend who came to visit. "Bonjour, Lord Cucuface!"
Lord Cucuface replied "Good afternoon, Miss Clavel -and where are the young ladies today?"
Miss Clavel explained "They have found musical instruments in the attic." She winced as she heard some music coming from the girls and their instrument, but Lord Cucuface smiled.
Lord Cucuface said "I had no idea they could play like that!"
"But uh"- Miss Clavel faltered, unable to find the words.
Lord Cucuface replied "They must play at the Bastille Day celebration at the Eiffel Tower- all of Paris will be there!"
Miss Clavel gasped in horror. "Oh no Lord Cucuface -you do not understand! They couldn't - ahem -they cannot!"
"Say no more- it is as good as done! My dear friend, Maestro Stroganoff, will conduct them." Lord Cucuface told her, causing the teacher to pale.
Miss Clavel said "But it is not possible, Lord Cucuface! The girls have no training! There is little time for them to prepare.
Lord Cucuface said "How proud I will be to present these musical talents to the city! Good day Miss Clavel. Maestro Stroganoff will contact you shortly," And he left, leaving Miss Clavel to tell the girls of the news.
Miss Clavel sighed with dismay "Oh dear... Mes enfants, I have important news for you all." Sure enough, the girls were shocked to learn that they would play in public on Bastille Day.
Danielle exclaimed "July 14th?!"
"Bastille Day!" Chloe added.
Nicole said "The day when France celebrates its independence!"
"But Miss Clavel, we do not know how to play the instruments!" Madeline protested
"
Miss Clavel said reassuringly "You will just have to learn, Mes enfants- If you practice very hard you can do it."
That night Madeline had a musical dream in which she and her friends played a beautiful tune, and the girls did such a splendid job, the city of Paris began to sob. The citizens all clapped and cried, and Lord Cucuface was so very proud that he exclaimed "It was so beautiful I cried!"
The next day, the Maestro arrived as planned- he had long white hair and looked very grand. Miss Clavel said "Please welcome your conductor, Maestro Stroganoff!" As Miss Clavel and the girls clapped their hands.
Maestro Stroganoff said "I am very happy to be here with such talented girls- Lord Cucuface has told me how well you play. Let us begin with zu." He pointed to Madeline, clutching her violin.
But as Madeline played the violin, Maestro Stroganoff gasped "Zu -what is this?!"
As Janine played the flute and Nicole the clarinet, it soon became clear that the girls could not play- nor could they fake it, and after a while, Maestro Stroganoff could not take it. "It is so very horrible I must cry so!" He exclaimed.
Madeline murmured to herself "This isn't like my dream – this is a nightmare! I wish I could wake up from this!"
Maestro Stroganoff said "Ah- now I will teach you to play correctly, if you please, Madame." So he taught them each note, each line and each letters. He told them that if they practiced, they would get better in time.
He said "This is the treble clef."
All girls repeated "Treble clef,"
"And this is the bass clef."
All the girls repeated "Bass clef."
And so Maestro Stroganoff conducted as the girls tried to practice again and again -they knew they would get better -but then again, when?
Miss Clavel said "I am sure they can do it," as the vase broke "But I am beginning to wonder." She added.
The girls tried to play but they were not good- they terrorized the neighborhood, and if the girls did not improve, they surely will be forced to move. Before long the girls had completely lost hope -all they could do was to pout and to mope.
"Without talent, there is just one thing to do." Nicole announced to the other twelve.
"And what is that?" Madeline asked.
"Quit." Nicole decided.
But Miss Clavel would not let the girls quit- in fact she would not hear of it. "You can do it-it just takes practice," She told them patiently, when they voiced their proposition.
"I practiced for two whole days and I still can't play!" Nicole groaned.
"You should try the violin –it's very hard." Danielle huffed.
It is not hard-it is impossible!" Madeline argued.
Chole asked "Danielle, could I try your violin? I watched everything the Maestro showed you and I love it."
Danielle said "You can have it," and surrendered the violin without any tears.
Riley requested "Maddie, let me see your violin please,"
Madeline replied "Sure, Riley."
The two old violins made the girls want to cry, until Chole and Riley decided to give it a try.
Madeline instructed "G, D, A, E."
"G, D, A, E- got it Madeline!" Riley replied.
"G, D, A, E! I have it!" Cheered Chloe.
Danielle said "I cannot listen so," while the other sighed and groaned.
Riley and Chloe practiced on their own- they both practiced and practiced and practiced some more -both even practiced while the others slept and snored- and little by little, bit by bit, Chloe and Riley got the hang of it- and they played like angels. They played side by side.
Mary was watching her daughter and Chloe play a duet one night, and said "My little Riley- I know she has a little of her Uncle Peter in her. I am so happy- it is so beautiful I must cry!"
...
They played deep down low and incredibly high, and when the Maestro heard it, he started to cry. "I am so happy- it is so beautiful I must cry!"
"Splendid!" Madeline said, and all the girls said "Ohh..."
Maestro Stroganoff said "I see you all must have practiced, practiced, practiced!" and when they listened, it is true -the other girls played better too.
Maestro Stroganoff said "Brava! Brava! Seems it is working! You sound better- see what a little practice can do?"
Music filled the air all day- even the house itself seemed to dance and sway as Chole and Riley's song began to play.
...
The next day, the girls were feeling so fine that they did not start to practice on time as 11 little girls made their beds.
Nicole said "I guess we had better start practicing."
Madeline interjected. "We will-but first, we are going to have a little fun!" As she hit Nicole with her pillow.
"A pillow fight- this means war!" Nicole vowed, as 11 little girls tossed pillows at one another, giggling away. And when her practice was done, even Chole joined the fight.
"Shouldn't we be practicing?" Chloe asked as she hit Nicole.
Nicole hit Chloe back, saying "We will-but this is more fun!"
, Riley said "See you later Aunt Kathy -thanks for the lunch!" She called "Hi, Miss Clavel!" As the older twin ran inside the house and up the stairs.
Kathy mused "I just never thought Riley would be tall."
Miss Clavel said replied "I know."
Kathy replied "Well, I better head back to the office. Call me if you need me. Bye, Miss Clavel."
Riley heard giggles coming from the bedroom, so she opened the door and asked "What is going on?"
Madeline said "Play this, Riley!" as her pillow finally gave and ripped in half.
As feathers scattered across the room like snow, Miss Clavel said "Something is not right." The girls were feeling smart and slick until Miss Clavel discovered their tricks.
As Miss Clavel ran inside and up the stairs, she opened the girl's bedroom- to see Riley looking worried with a huge pyramid of the other 12 girls, with Chloe balancing precariously on top. "Little girls, what are you doing?" She asked them.
"OH no!" Chloe screamed, as she suddenly lost her balance and fell off the pyramid and falling until she landed on the floor with a sickening crack.
Madeline, who had been just below her, asked "Chloe, are you alright?"
"My arm, my arm!" And Chloe began to cry. Indeed, her left arm was twisted at a funny angle. All the girls gasped in horror.
Miss Clavel said "Come with me, Mes petite Chloe -we will call the doctor." toot sweet
...
Dr. Chon was calm and soft spoken as he announced Chloe's arm was broken, so he took Chloe with him to the hospital.
Nicole asked "Where is he taking Chloe, Miss Clavel?"
Miss Clavel answered "Chloe must go to the hospital, Nicole"
All the girls gasped. "Oh no -poor Chole!"
"Oh Chloe..."Madeline whispered, realizing that she was to blame for Chloe's accident as she had suggested the pyramid after a Dreama that she had hearing older girl doing it at school for cheerleading.
...
Kathy was quick to return and asked "Miss Clavel, what happened? I saw Dr. Chon leave with Chloe as I was pulling up."
"Kathy , do you know anything about a girls pyramid?" Miss Clavel asked.
Kathy said "Yes- Alice does it for gym. Why?"
Miss Clavel explained "Madeline and 11 other girls were a pyramid!"
"Yes...it's my fault that Chloe broke her arm! I'm sorry Miss Clavel! I'm sorry Aunt Kathy!" Madeline cried, feeling ashamed.
Kathy said gently "Madeline, it was just an accident, sweetheart. Chloe knows that."
Madeline sniffled "Oui, aunt Kathy but Chloe's father doesn't."
Kathy said gently but firmly "Madeline, look at me, please. What made you do that pyramid?"
"I saw an Older girl in my dream do it with her friends and I thought we could do a pyramid too –I am sorry aunt Kathy ..."
Kathy said "Ohh boy -Miss Clavel, both Riley and Madeline are going through a stage of Dreamer whenever they see An Older Girl and Boy doing something, they want to try it too."
...
And so, poor Chole was taken away when the Maestro returned the next day. "Come, girls -we must practice, practice, practice!"
Riley argued "But, Maestro Stroganoff, we cannot play without Chole!"
All the girls protested "No! No! No"
But Stroganoff said sternly "Ronny, you are the 2nd star I have. We can't let Lord Cucuface down- he still wants you all to perform with or without Chloe- so we begin again. Ronny if you please lead."
Even though their 1st star was gone, the performance still must go on- even with Riley filling in for Chole, the girls did their best- and a little bit more. But without Chole playing, and Riley trying, they were worse than before.
Miss Clavel exclaimed "Oh dear –I hope that the Eiffel tower is strong enough to withstand this"
Kathy said "Miss Clavel, please stop worrying- it will be okay- I hope. Besides what's the worst that could happen?"
...
When the rehearsal came to an end, Miss Clavel took the girls to see their friend. In the hospital Bed Chloe looked very small as her friends arrived to pay a call. "Mes amies –I am so glad to see you! Papa just went down to the cafe for a bit." Chloe explained, as the other girls and Miss Clavel entered her ward and gathered by her bedside.
All the girls said "For you Chloe," as they put 12 flowers into a vase, which Miss Clavel set on Chloe's bedside table.
Riley said "We miss you Chole!"
Chole said "And I miss you!" As the girls sighed in sadness. "How is the music coming?" Chloe asked curiously, adjusting her broken arm to a more comfortable position and wincing as she did so.
Madeline said "Oh, Chole, not very good." And the other girls chimed in with "Oui, not very good!"
Riley told Chole they wanted to quit, but Chole did not want to hear of it -"You must play -please do it for me!" She urged.
...
As they left the hospital, Madeline said "Miss Clavel, I want to play for Chole -but I do not like to practice."
All the girls agreed "Yes, we don't like to practice!"
Miss Clavel told them "Mes enfants, when I was your age, I played the violin -but I wouldn't practice either." As she winked at Kathy, who nodded.
Riley asked "No?"
Miss Clavel said "No- and now I'm sorry I never learned to play -especially when I hear the music."
Madeline asked curiously "What music?"
Miss Clavel said "Music is everywhere; if you listen carefully; you can hear it all around you."
"Click! Click! We cut the grass! Music all around! Click! Click! We cut the grass- listen for the sound!" Madeline added.
All the girls joined in "You don't have to look for music -it's all around you! You don't have to look for music- just listen for the sound!"
"Sweep! Sweep! We clean the street! Music is all around! Sweep! Sweep! We clean the street! Click Click! We cut the grass- listen for the sound!" Sang Riley.
"Clip Clop! The horse goes! Music all around! Clip Clop! The Horse goes! Sweep! Sweep! We clean the streets! Click! Click! We cut the grass- just listen for the sound!" Danielle sang.
You don't have to look for music-music is all around! You don't have to look for music- just listen for the sound!"
"Beep! Beep! We toot the horn! Music is all around!" Chole added,
"Beep! Beep! We toot the horn! Clip clop! The horse goes! Sweep! Sweep! We clean the Streets! Click! Click! We cut the grass -listen for the sound!" Nicole intoned.
All the girls began to sing "You don't have to look for music, for music is all around! You don't have to look for music – just listen for the sound!
Beep! Beep!
Clip clop!
Sweep! Sweep!
Click! Click!
Music all around!"
...
"Miss Clavel, we will practice very hard," Vowed Riley.
The other girls added "Oui, very hard!"
"And you can practice it with us!" Madeline suggested, as the girls all cheered 'yeah!'
Miss Clavel asked Amy nervously "Oh dear -what have I got myself into?"
"Miss Clavel, please- you started this so roll along with it," Kathy replied. "Besides, you could learn an instrument and make your own music." She said, giving a cheeky wink.
...
So they practiced in class, and practiced in the dinner room, and practiced some more in their bedrooms and even when they couldn't practice any more, they practiced as they slept and snored. Miss Clavel practiced before bed, as Genevieve looked up before lying back down.
On July 14th at the proper hour, the girls were at the Eiffel Tower and they were all Most impressed when they saw a special guest as Dr. Chon waved at them.
All the girls called out in delight "Bonjour, Chloe! We are so glad to see you!" As Chloe went to sit down with the triangle.
As Stroganoff started the band, they played each note with special care and pleased those who gathered there. They played it softly, they played it lively. They made their teacher very proud. Stroganoff said "It's so beautiful I must cry!"
But the music was not through yet- it was time to play a duet. As Madeline and Miss Clavel played, everyone clapped.
Madeline cheered "You did it Miss Clavel!"
Riley echoed "Oui, you did it, Miss Clavel!"
Miss Clavel cheered "We did it!" as all the parents and Aunt clapped. The 13 girls chorused in a triumphant echo of their dear Miss Clavel "We did it!"
When they were through with jubilation they joined the festive celebration -and oh ho, there was much exhilaration!
Stroganoff exclaimed "Ah, you and Riley played well tonight Madeline- I am so proud of you both! It was so beautiful I must cry!"
Madeline said "Merci Maestro Stroganoff -all it took was a little practice!"
Riley added "And you can do anything if you keep at it
So there was music and dancing galore- and that's all there is. There isn't any more.