Slappy- Tap-Dancing on the Dinner Table

And she didn’t see Slappy swing both hands toward Kelly, then move them high in the air.
Kelly made a gulping sound as he floated off the floor and drifted high
over our heads. “Hey—!” A startled gasp escaped his throat. He thrashed his arms in the air. “What’s happening?”
Slappy swept his hands to the side and Kelly moved through the air.
Now he hovered over the dining room table … then settled down, down, down as Slappy lowered him. His shoes smashed a plate as he landed on the table.
The crash made Mrs. Washington spin around. She gaped at Kelly in horror. “Kelly! Get down! Get off the table! Have you lost your mind?”
Slappy crossed his hands in front of him and whispered a few words I couldn’t hear.
And up on the tabletop, Kelly began to do a dance. His shoes bounced up and down and his arms sailed out to his sides. And he began to tap-dance.
“Kelly! STOP!” his mother screamed. “STOP!”
Kelly’s shoes beat out a fast tap rhythm. Plates and glasses shattered and went flying. He crushed wine glasses beneath his shoes and sent a long serving platter sailing toward the dining room window. It fell to the floor and cracked into a thousand pieces.
“Faster!” Slappy whispered. And Kelly, helpless to stop himself, danced even faster over the table.
Mrs. Washington screamed and tore at her hair. She made a grab for Kelly. But he backed out of her reach and kept up his wild tap dance.
He kicked the centerpiece and began to dance on top of it. Flowers and dirt flew off the table.
“Stop! STOP!” Mrs. Washington shrieked. “What are you DOING? STOP!”
Finally, Kelly turned to me and cried out breathlessly. “Okay! I promise! I’ll never be mean to you again! Just let me stop! Please!”
Slappy twirled his hands together. Kelly did a high backflip off the table and landed on the floor on his feet. He blinked, stunned, his eyes rolling in his head.
Mrs. Washington grabbed him by the shoulders. “Kelly! Why? Why?” she screamed. “You ruined everything. Look at this mess. Everything is broken. Glass everywhere! Have you lost your mind?”

- My Friend Slappy, chapter 31