Camera Shy Clarissa

Everyone in Room 109 at Danville's Preschool was having so much fun together. Especially Clarissa. She was painting a picture of a pretty field of flowers.
"And a little cloud over there," she said painting in a cloud.
Her friend, Anna, was looking on at the painting.
"I like your painting, Clarissa," said Anna.
"Thank you," Clarissa thanked.
Miss Murphy looked at it.
"My my my. You really have an artistic side there, Clarissa," said Miss Murphy.
"Is that a good thing?" Clarissa asked.
"It's a very good thing. It's going to look good on our classroom wall," said Miss Murphy.
They hung the painting up on the wall.
"It looks pretty girly to me," Billy Van Stomm figured.
"You're just jealous," Clarissa told them.
"You know, your painting reminds me of something," said Miss Murphy.
The students all gathered around to see what she was talking about it.
"Kids, I have some exciting news," said Miss Murphy.
"I like that kind of news," said Anna.
"Are we going home now?" Billy asked.
It was only 11:00 in the morning.
"No, not that, Billy. We're all going to be having our class picture taken on Thursday," said Miss Murphy.
All of the students seemed a bit excited. Except for Clarissa.
"Uh-oh," she said a bit timid.

Class was over and Clarissa couldn't wait to get home. And she didn't wanna really get her picture taken.
"Are you happy for picture day, Clarissa?" Anna asked.
"Kinda," Clarissa answered. She seemed scared.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't like getting my picture taken. I get a bit shaky and start feeling funny inside my tummy."
"That doesn't look very good."
"I know. I can't really sit still right for a picture."
Clarissa had a bit of a problem there. She couldn't really look at a camera and have her picture taken without moving an inch. The picture would always come out a bit blurry with her moving in that blur, or she would end up having to sneeze or something. She just wanted to have one good photo.
"I may not want to get my picture taken. I'll just stay home on that day," said Clarissa.
Just then, her dad came in.
"Come on, Clarissa. Time to go," said Damon.
"Coming, Daddy!" said Clarissa.
"Don't forget, Mr. Swartz, this Thursday will be school picture day. Make sure your daughter dresses up nicely for our photo," said Miss Murphy.
"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Murphy," said Damon.
"Daddy already knows about it," Clarissa sighed. She figured that if she didn't tell her parents, she wouldn't have to get her picture taken.

On their way home, Clarissa was very quiet.
"You okay back there, Clarissa?" Damon asked.
"Uh-huh," Clarissa sighed.
"You sound a bit down there. Is something wrong?"
"You know I'm not very good at pictures, right, daddy?"
"Oh, yeah. I do remember that you always seem to find the camera looking at you a bit scary. Does that bother you?"
"I don't like it."
Damon wanted to make sure his daughter would be fine with the camera looking at her.
"When we get home, we'll practice taking pictures," he said.
"Okay," said Clarissa.

When they got home, Damon told Vanessa everything.
"So, our little girl is gonna have to learn to get used to the camera before Thursday," said Damon.
"I hope we can do just that," said Vanessa. "She always did seem a bit camera shy."
Clarissa was sitting in her room playing tea party with Ducky Momo.
"You don't mind getting your picture taken, do you, Ducky?" she asked her favorite doll. Of course, Ducky didn't answer in reality, but Clarissa could hear it talk to her in her imagination.
"I didn't think you would. You're a doll. That's how grown-ups see you," said Clarissa. She poured more tea for her doll. That was when her dad came in.
"Okay, Clarissa, time for photo practice," said Damon.
Clarissa wasn't too sure about this. She got out of her room and went to the living room to practice for her photo.
"Daddy, do I have to do this?" Clarissa asked.
"Just think how everyone will see that little smile of yours that your mother and I love there," said Damon.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, dear," said Vanessa.
Damon had the camera set up.
"Okay, it's all set. Now, give me a big smile," said Damon.
Clarissa smiled and the camera was ready to go off.
"And say cheese!" said Damon.
"No thank you. I'm not hungry," said Clarissa.
The camera then set off its flash and Clarissa was scared stiff.
"AAAHHH!" she screamed.

After a while, there were photos of her moving around and looking away from the camera. They used up the entire roll of film.
"How does she look?" Vanessa asked.
"See for yourself," said Damon.
The photos were shown there.
"Oh dear," said Vanessa.
"I didn't look good, did I?" Clarissa asked.
"It's okay, Clarissa. I'm sure everything will be better by Thursday. I promise," Damon assured his daughter.
"I hope so. Or I just won't go on Thursday," said a sad Clarissa.
She didn't wanna go and get her picture taken with the rest of the class if she wasn't comfortable with it.
"Why does she keep doing that?" Vanessa asked.
"I don't know," said Damon.

It was Wednesday, the day before the photo take.
"Alright, class, the photographer will be here first thing tomorrow, so I want you all to wear your best clothes for the picture," said Miss Murphy.
"Yes, Miss Murphy," said the rest of the class.
Clarissa was down.
"Clarissa?" Anna asked.
"What?" Clarissa asked.
"Don't you wanna get your picture taken?"
"No. Not really."
Billy looked at her.
"What's the matter? Afraid you'll scare everyone with your face?" he asked taunting.
"Leave me alone, Billy!" Clarissa lashed.
"Yeah! You know she doesn't like that!" Anna said trying to support her friend.
"All right. But if you don't want to get your photo taken, just skip out on it," said Billy.
Clarissa just turned away.
"Is there something bothering you, Clarissa?" Miss Murphy asked.
"I'm not coming tomorrow. I don't wanna get my photo taken," Clarissa told her.
"Why not?"
"I get scared when the camera makes that funny light appear. It always scares me."
"Oh, don't worry, Clarissa. It'll be all right. The flash won't hurt you."
"It won't?"
"No, of course not."
"Well...okay."

Clarissa wasn't sure if she still wanted to get her picture taken tomorrow. When her parents picked her up, she wanted to talk to them about it.
"Mommy, daddy, can I not go to preschool tomorrow?" she asked.
"Are you still scared?" Vanessa asked.
Clarissa nodded.
"Clarissa, I know you don't like to get your picture taken, but I think it would be wrong if you skipped out on picture day," said Damon.
"But that light always scares me," said Clarissa.
"So, that's what it's about? The light that shines off at the shot?" Vanessa asked.
"I feel like it's gonna take me away," said Clarissa.
"If that's all, then I think I may know what will help you with that," said Damon.
When they got home, they thought of doing another practice session for her photo. Damon turned the flash off.
"There you go. The flash won't be coming out and scaring you again," said Damon.
"Really?" Clarissa asked.
"I promise. Just sit there and we can do it," said Damon.
Clarissa sat there and her dad took her picture without the flash. There was plenty of light in there.
"All done," he said.
"Let me see!" said Clarissa.
She looked at the camera and saw that it came out great.
"It's me!" said Clarissa.
"That's right. And you look adorable. And just remember, that flash won't hurt you," said Damon.
"I hope not. I'm still a little scared of it," said Clarissa.
"It's okay. You'll be just fine," said Damon.

The next day came and it was time for the class photo. Clarissa was still feeling a little bit uneasy at it.
"So, is my little girl ready for her very first school photo?" Vanessa asked.
"Only with no big light," said Clarissa.
"Still uncomfortable with it? If so, I'll ask Miss Murphy if the photographer can turn the flash off," said Damon.
So, Damon drove his little girl to class and went to see Miss Murphy about it.
"Miss Murphy, do you think you could ask the photographer to turn off the flash? Clarissa doesn't want to get scared by it," said Damon.
"I'll see what I can do," said Miss Murphy.
She walked over to the photographer for such a request. But he said,
"What? And ruin the perfect photo op for your class? I think not!"
"He said no," said Miss Murphy.
"Oh no..." said Clarissa.
"It's not that bad, Clarissa. I take photos with the flash on all the time," said Anna.
"You do?" Clarissa asked her best friend. Anna nodded and said,
"And the photos always look so great. I love my family and the photos with them and me. The flash also helps in case it's too dark. Besides, it's more fun that way."
"Well, if you're not scared of it, I'll give it a try."
Clarissa only had one shot at this to be a good photo.
"You ready to get embarrassed, Swartz?" Billy asked.
"Not today," said Clarissa.
The class got together for their photo.
"Okay, everybody say cheese!" said the photographer.
"Still not hungry," said Clarissa.
The photographer took their photo and Clarissa still had the same smile and pose that she was standing with. She wasn't scared one bit anymore.
"You were right, Anna. It's much better that way," said Clarissa.
"Okay, that will be all," said the photographer.

Soon, the class photo was hung up on the wall and everyone looked at it.
"Isn't it amazing, class?" asked Miss Murphy.
"I like it," said Clarissa.
There was also something in the photo. It seemed Billy had accidentally wet himself while the photo was being taken.
"Look! Billy sprung a leak," said Anna.
All the kids laughed at him.
"Stop laughing at me!" Billy roared in sorrow.
Clarissa was the happiest one of them all. When she was picked up, she told her parents about it.
"Mommy, daddy, do you like my photo?" she asked.
"You look wonderful, Clarissa," said Vanessa.
"Best photo yet," said Damon.
"Thank you. And I wanna get pictures with the bright flash from now on," said Clarissa.
The family had a nice little photo op together and were all having fun in them with different poses and funny smiles. They were perfect for the Swartz family album. And Clarissa was never camera shy again.

THE END