Becky Boople's Gift

Becky Boople was an Oople,
who lived in a place far away.
Ooples lived in the town of Snoople,
where funny things happened each day.
Ooples are different from you and me.
They're different in every way.

In Snoople Town bears can talk,
snowmen walk, scarecrows have toes,
and bunnies wear clothes.
In Snoople Town puppies fly by,
pandas love pie,
and you might even see
a duck driving by.
A lot of strange things happen there.
And many have tried to find it.
But, no one has found it anywhere.

Ooples aren't like me or you.
Each is born with a gift,
and a very special one too.
Some can dance. Some can sing.
Some make music with the bells they ring.
But, not poor Becky Boople.
She had no gift, it's true.
She'd kept it a secret, all her life.
So, no one ever knew.
But, Becky really loved ballet.
When it happened she couldn't say.
And, even though it was hard to do,
she practiced every day.

Then one day, after school was out,
they saw a sign for a TALENT SHOW.
It was all that they could talk about.
Though, who would be picked, they didn't know
But, Becky Boople wasn't like her friends,
when she danced she'd often fall.
If any Ooples saw her ballet
they'd know she'd lied to them all.

Since, Becky hadn't been in a show,
she thought it might happen this time.
Ooples loved to share their gifts.
So, every Oople got on the list sometime.
Since, she believed,
she would be asked to dance.
She practiced even more than before.
Becky didn't want to take a chance,
she might trip and end up on the floor.
Becky always practiced in her room.
Her secret was safer that way.
Even now, she would fall now and then.
But, that was okay,
because she got better and better each day.

Becky would practice whenever she could;
when taking showers, when weeding flowers,
while wiping a dish, or feeding the fish.
When she made her bed, or when baking bread.

Then one night before the show,
as Becky practiced in the park.
Two Hoedown Hooples happened to see her.
Although it was very dark.
Becky was swirling and twirling around.
The music was loud. She couldn't hear a sound.
So, she didn't see the two Ooples standing there,
or, hear Petunia Poople say,
"Look! Dippy Doople "Do you see that?"
"See what?" said her friend, trying to catch her cat.
"It's Becky Boople and she's dancing by herself"
"How silly." said Dippy "Why would she do that?"

"Don't you get it? Don't you see?
She's an Oople without a gift! That's what it must be."
"No gift?" said Dippy "That's a surprise to me."

Becky turned just as Petunia replied,
"She said she was a ballerina.
But, now we know, she lied."

When it was the time for the show
Becky had made up her mind
Maybe, Petunia knew she had no gift
but, Ooples were never unkind.
So, if they called her up to dance
she might as well take a chance.
After all, she'd practiced every day
So, her dancing might turn out okay.

Clyde Coople, was the Mayor of Snoople,
for the show he would pick names from a hat.
The Ooples he picked, their gifts they'd share.
and that was all there was to that.
Then there'd be a vote for who'd done the best
and the Mayor would take care of the rest.
And as it would happen
Becky's name was on the list.
There was no way around it.
She's have to dance, they would insist.

As Becky watched Petunia dance,
she couldn't believe her eyes.
The Hoedown Hooples didn't stand a chance,
of winning the talent show prize.
They danced the way they always do
They didn't add anything new.
Becky felt it was so unfair
that they had a gift and didn't care.
But, there were other things to think about,
like ballet wihout a gift
and her secret not getting out.

Magic was the gift of Paul and Patty Poople
They could pull a rabbit out of a hat
And that was enjoyed by every Oople
But, when they tried to saw Minnie in half
All the Ooples started to laugh
Because the box broke in two
And poor little Minnie fell right through
"Maybe we should have practiced", said Patty to Paul
"That's not how the trick goes, at all."

When Becky Boople stepped on to the stage,
she was petrified.
She couldn't get her legs to move,
no matter how she tried.
But, then the music started
a beautiful sound filled the air.
It made her forget where she was
and she became a dancing bear.
Becky was so graceful,
She danced without a fault.
And all the Ooples stood and cheered
when she did her last high vault.
When her dance was over,
and she knew she's done her best
She forgot about not having a gift
and all the Ooples were impressed.

"My fellow Ooples", Mayor Moople began
"This has truly been a wonderful day"
"And I'm sure you all feel the very same way:"
Then he called for a vote to choose the winner.
But, every one knew, that though she was a beginner,
It was Becky Boople who had been the best.
Much better than all the rest.
So, when her name was called out.
the Ooples of Snoople began to shout.
"Becky Boople is our winner. Her ballet was splendid"
"Then I declare her the winner" the Mayor said
"And with that my friends our evening has ended".

"STOP!" shouted Petunia Poople,
'Take back that prize!"
."Becky Boople's a big fake.
She's been telling all of us lies!"
"She has no gift, not a single one"
"She's been practicing ballet. That's why she won!"
She's not a real Oople, so she can't win.
Becky was so embarrassed, she started to cry
."I see" said the Mayor, "That explains why"
"The gift you have is very clear."
"When you set your mind to something you do it, My Dear.
You're willing to work hard at whatever you do,
So no matter what you want, it will happen for you.
Now, that's a real gift. Ooples, wouldn't you agree?"
They all said "Yes". It was very plain to see.

So, in the end Petunia Poople
learned a lesson that's true
All of us can be what we want
or do whatever we want to do.
As long as we're willing to work real hard
all of our dreams can come true.