TEACHER’S SCRIPT Teacher: What do you think will happen because Mary

Ann touched the painting?

ROCOCO SKATES BY MARJORIE FISCHER Student: Maybe she’ll get in trouble! Or maybe the
mark she left will be important later.
All Narrator: Mary Ann and her classmates were on a
field trip to a museum with their teacher, Mrs. Ryan. Teacher: If you were Frances, would you tell the
As they walked through the grand halls, Mary Ann was teacher? Why or why not?
lagging behind, lost in her own thoughts. The smooth Student: I don’t think I would tell unless Mary Ann got
floors and empty galleries made her imagine herself in serious trouble.
roller-skating through the museum, gliding past statues
and paintings. If only she had a pair of skates! But All Narrator: The class continued exploring the
skates were expensive, and Christmas was far away. museum.
They passed through rooms filled with beautiful
Teacher: Why do you think Mary Ann wants roller furniture from the past, including an enormous bed
skates so badly? with a canopy over it.
Student: Because she thinks it would be fun to skate in Mrs. Ryan: "This is rococo furniture,"
the museum. Also, she probably can’t afford them right All Narrator: Mary Ann and Frances loved the way the
now. word sounded. They repeated it, turning it into a little
game. "Rococo!" they whispered, bumping into each
All Narrator: The class moved from one gallery to other as they walked and laughed.
another, stopping whenever Mrs. Ryan pointed out an
interesting painting. One particular painting caught Teacher: Again what does "rococo" means?
Mary Ann’s eye—it was a still life of a table with a Student: ang meaning sa board
bottle, a loaf of bread, a knife, and a basket of fruit.
Next to it stood an easel with an almost identical Teacher: How do you think Mary Ann and Frances feel
painting. about their trip so far?
Mary Ann: "Why are these two the same?" Student: They seem to be having fun, but Mary Ann is
All Narrator: Mrs. Ryan explained that artists often also distracted.
copied famous paintings to practice.
Mary Ann: "I’d never copy," "I’d rather do my own, All Narrator: Eventually, Mrs. Ryan announced it was
even if it was bad." time to leave.
Mary Ann and Frances, now at the front of the line, led
Teacher: Do you agree with Mary Ann that she never the way out. As they passed the room where the still life
copy and rather do her own even if it was bad? Why or painting had been, Frances suddenly stopped.
why not? Frances: "Look! The copy’s gone!"
Student: I agree because making original art is more Mary Ann looked closely at the framed painting on the
creative! But copying can also help someone learn. wall and gasped. She had a terrible realization.
Mary Ann: "Look!" (she cried loudly.) "It's the other
All Narrator: As the class moved on, Mary Ann one! The real one's been stolen!"
hesitated. Narrator: The entire class stopped.
She stared at the copy on the easel and wondered if the Frances: "How can you tell?"
paint was still wet. Without thinking, she reached out Mary Ann: "Quick! We’ve got to tell someone
and pressed her finger against the surface. It was wet! important!"
The paint slid under her fingertip, and she quickly pulled
her hand back, her heart pounding. Had she left a Teacher: What would you do if you were Mary Ann?
mark? Student: I would tell someone right away!
Frances, her friend, had seen everything.
Frances: "You're lucky no one else saw you," "Did you (Mrs. Ryan frowned.)
leave a mark on it?" Mrs. Ryan: "What’s wrong, Mary Ann?"
All Narrator: Mary Ann didn’t answer, too nervous to Mary Ann: "The painting!". "The real one's been stolen!
speak. She hurried to keep up with the group, breathing This is the one that was on the easel!"
fast. Mrs. Ryan: "Come on, Mary Ann. Stop joking. It’s time
to leave."
All Narrator: But Mary Ann knew she was right. She Teacher: Do you think Mary Ann would have preferred
could not stay silent. She spun around, searching for the book or the skates? Why?
someone who could help. Then, she started running— Student: Skates! She’s been wanting them for a long
dodging people, weaving past statues and paintings. time.

Teacher: Do you think Mary Ann is making the right All Narrator: Soon, Mary Ann and Frances were sitting
decision? Why or why not? in a car with a museum aide, heading off to pick up her
Student: Yes! If she didn’t say anything, the thief might skates.
get away. Mrs. Ryan: "How did you know the painting was a
copy?"
All Narrator: She ran into the rococo furniture room, Mary Ann: (grinned) "I left a mark on the copy when I
where two guards appeared from opposite doorways, touched it earlier. That’s how I knew the real one was
moving to block her path. Thinking fast, she slipped gone."
around a desk and darted past them. Frances: (gasped) "So that’s how! But don’t worry—I
She burst into a hallway and saw a door marked Office won’t tell."
of the Director. Without hesitating, she pushed it open Mrs. Ryan: "Neither will I," "Now, what should we do
and rushed inside. first—get skates or stop for sodas?"
Mary Ann: "A picture’s been stolen!" "I know it has! Frances: "Sodas,"
Please, come with me and I’ll show you!" Mary Ann: "Skates!"
All Narrator: The museum director, startled by the Frances: (laughed) "Oh, all right."
commotion, emerged from an inner office. At the same
time, Mrs. Ryan, Frances, and several guards arrived. All Narrator: Mary Ann smiled, thinking of a new
Director: "Let’s go check," "It’s hard to steal a painting game—Rococo Skates. She didn’t know exactly what it
from this museum, but let’s make sure." would be, but she was sure of one thing: this adventure
had been even better than roller-skating through the
All Narrator: Back in the gallery, the director examined museum.
the painting carefully.
He adjusted his glasses and studied it in silence. Finally, AFTER THE STORY
he turned to Mary Ann.
Director: "This is a very good copy," “But it is a copy. Teacher: And that, is how Mary Ann not only got her
The real painting has indeed been stolen." roller skates but also became a hero in the museum.
All Narrator: Mary Ann felt a mix of triumph and relief. She trusted her instincts, spoke up when no one else
If she hadn’t spoken up, the theft might not have been did, and helped save a valuable painting. What do you
noticed until it was too late. think—was her adventure more exciting than just roller-
Director: "You’ve done a very fine thing," "Most people skating through the halls?" Students: Yes!
would have been fooled."
Teacher: What do you think is the most important
Teacher: Why was it important that Mary Ann spoke lesson from Mary Ann’s story?"
up?
Student: Because otherwise, no one would have student: "That doing the right thing is more important
realized the painting was missing. than being afraid."

All Narrator: As a reward, the director handed Mary "Very good!" "Sometimes, we might doubt ourselves, or
Ann a large book filled with paintings. others may not believe us right away, but when we
Mary Ann thanked him politely, but Frances, unable to stand up for what’s right, we can make a big
keep quiet, blurted out, difference—just like Mary Ann."
Frances: "She really wants roller skates!"
Director: (smiled) "Roller skates it is," She glanced at the clock. "Alright, class. Now that we've
heard Mary Ann’s adventure, let’s think—if you could
Teacher: Why do you think the director decided to write a new adventure for her, what would happen
reward Mary Ann? next? Would she solve another mystery? Maybe she
Student: Because she was brave and did the right thing! really does get to skate through the museum?"
 ROCOCO SKATES BY MARJORIE FISCHER

All Narrator: Mary Ann and her classmates were on a field trip to a museum with their teacher, Mrs. Ryan.
As they walked through the grand halls, Mary Ann was lagging behind, lost in her own thoughts. The smooth
floors and empty galleries made her imagine herself roller-skating through the museum, gliding past statues
and paintings. If only she had a pair of skates! But skates were expensive, and Christmas was far away.

(STOP READING)

All Narrator: The class moved from one gallery to another, stopping whenever Mrs. Ryan pointed out an
interesting painting. One particular painting caught Mary Ann’s eye—it was a still life of a table with a bottle, a
loaf of bread, a knife, and a basket of fruit. Next to it stood an easel with an almost identical painting.
Mary Ann: "Why are these two the same?"
All Narrator: Mrs. Ryan explained that artists often copied famous paintings to practice.
Mary Ann: "I’d never copy," "I’d rather do my own, even if it was bad."

(STOP READING)

All Narrator: As the class moved on, Mary Ann hesitated.

She stared at the copy on the easel and wondered if the paint was still wet. Without thinking, she reached out
and pressed her finger against the surface. It was wet! The paint slid under her fingertip, and she quickly
pulled her hand back, her heart pounding. Had she left a mark?
Frances, her friend, had seen everything.
Frances: "You're lucky no one else saw you," "Did you leave a mark on it?"
All Narrator: Mary Ann didn’t answer, too nervous to speak. She hurried to keep up with the group, breathing
fast.

(STOP READING)

All Narrator: The class continued exploring the museum.

They passed through rooms filled with beautiful furniture from the past, including an enormous bed with a
canopy over it.
Mrs. Ryan: "This is rococo furniture,"
All Narrator: Mary Ann and Frances loved the way the word sounded. They repeated it, turning it into a little
game. "Rococo!" they whispered, bumping into each other as they walked and laughed.

(STOP READING)

All Narrator: Eventually, Mrs. Ryan announced it was time to leave.

Mary Ann and Frances, now at the front of the line, led the way out. As they passed the room where the still
life painting had been, Frances suddenly stopped.
Frances: "Look! The copy’s gone!"
Mary Ann looked closely at the framed painting on the wall and gasped. She had a terrible realization.
Mary Ann: "Look!" (she cried loudly.) "It's the other one! The real one's been stolen!"
Narrator: The entire class stopped.
Frances: "How can you tell?"
Mary Ann: "Quick! We’ve got to tell someone important!"

(STOP READING)
 (Mrs. Ryan frowned.)
Mrs. Ryan: "What’s wrong, Mary Ann?"
Mary Ann: "The painting!". "The real one's been stolen! This is the one that was on the easel!"
Mrs. Ryan: "Come on, Mary Ann. Stop joking. It’s time to leave."
All Narrator: But Mary Ann knew she was right. She could not stay silent. She spun around, searching for
someone who could help. Then, she started running—dodging people, weaving past statues and paintings.

(STOP READING)

All Narrator: She ran into the rococo furniture room, where two guards appeared from opposite doorways,
moving to block her path. Thinking fast, she slipped around a desk and darted past them.
She burst into a hallway and saw a door marked Office of the Director. Without hesitating, she pushed it open
and rushed inside.
Mary Ann: "A picture’s been stolen!" "I know it has! Please, come with me and I’ll show you!"
All Narrator: The museum director, startled by the commotion, emerged from an inner office. At the same
time, Mrs. Ryan, Frances, and several guards arrived.
Director: "Let’s go check," "It’s hard to steal a painting from this museum, but let’s make sure."

All Narrator: Back in the gallery, the director examined the painting carefully.
He adjusted his glasses and studied it in silence. Finally, he turned to Mary Ann.
Director: "This is a very good copy," “But it is a copy. The real painting has indeed been stolen."
All Narrator: Mary Ann felt a mix of triumph and relief. If she hadn’t spoken up, the theft might not have been
noticed until it was too late.
Director: "You’ve done a very fine thing," "Most people would have been fooled."

(STOP READING)

All Narrator: As a reward, the director handed Mary Ann a large book filled with paintings.
Mary Ann thanked him politely, but Frances, unable to keep quiet, blurted out,
Frances: "She really wants roller skates!"
Director: (smiled) "Roller skates it is,"

(STOP READING)

All Narrator: Soon, Mary Ann and Frances were sitting in a car with a museum aide, heading off to pick up her
skates.
Mrs. Ryan: "How did you know the painting was a copy?"
Mary Ann: (grinned) "I left a mark on the copy when I touched it earlier. That’s how I knew the real one was
gone."
Frances: (gasped) "So that’s how! But don’t worry—I won’t tell."
Mrs. Ryan: "Neither will I," "Now, what should we do first—get skates or stop for sodas?"
Frances: "Sodas,"
Mary Ann: "Skates!"
Frances: (laughed) "Oh, all right."

All Narrator: Mary Ann smiled, thinking of a new game—Rococo Skates. She didn’t know exactly what it would
be, but she was sure of one thing: this adventure had been even better than roller-skating through the
museum.