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Arlington, Virginia, Betsy Ross Elementary School
October 31, 1998
Lee and Amanda sat shoulder to shoulder in the crowded auditorium. Lee shifted his long legs, trying to get comfortable, but the hard wooden seat and the
cramped leg room made that impossible. Lee sighed, "Who designed these seats anyway? The Marquis de Sade?"
Amanda swatted him in the chest with her program and smiled, "Come on sweetheart, we've been in tighter spots than this."
"Yeah, but I expect that from the bad guys. OW!" he yelled as he got a cramp in his right calf.
Amanda chuckled and tried to soothe him, "Trust me, you'll survive. Just be grateful both of us can be here for Jenny. If you remember, I missed a few of Philip's and Jamie's plays."
"I know, I'm sorry," he said as he reached over and gently squeezed her hand.
The auditorium lights dimmed and the audience quieted down and began to watch the play. Lee and Amanda applauded when Jenny appeared in her pink chiffon
princess dress. They quickly got caught up in the fairy tale unfolding on stage. In the last scene, the princess Jenny was tied to a post, while the mean dragon advanced.
Suddenly, the young prince arrived, sword drawn, and began fighting the dragon. Lee and Amanda looked on in shock when Jenny wiggled out of her loose bonds
and advanced toward the dragon.
With one push, she had the dragon on its back, the bulky foam rubber of the costume preventing the little dragon from regaining his feet. The prince meanwhile,
looked at Jenny open-mouthed, cardboard sword hanging at his side.
Jenny looked at him and in a loud voice said, "Well, do I have to do everything? Kill the dragon!"
When the young prince just continued staring, Jenny took the sword from his hand, 'stabbed' the dragon and placed one tiny slipper clad foot atop her 'kill.' The
audience erupted in laughter and applause. Lee turned to Amanda and asked, eyebrows raised, "Now, just what did you tell her in your little chat?"
Amanda smiled and began, "Just that sometimes people don't think girls are capable of taking care of themselves, and that we're expected to sit on the sidelines,
or stay in the car." At that, she grinned up at Lee, and continued, "Then I said that the time may come when you have to take matters into your own hands, and
although the prince might come and save you, sometimes you just might have to save yourself."
Lee couldn't help laughing, "Amanda, you know the two of you are quite a pair."
"Uh huh . . . and?"
"And . . . I wouldn't have it any other way!"
"You got that right, big fella!"
And they lived happily ever after . . .
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