Sumo Curtsy
Cora’s graduation was beautiful. After the kids sang some songs (with dance steps and all) they each came forward to receive a certificate from their teacher. They had obviously rehersed how the children should receive their certificates because each child in turn shook her teacher’s hand, gripped the diploma, and then turned to the audience with a bow or a curtsy.
There was a wide range of interpretation of the curtsy. Some girls nailed it gracefully, some girls just bowed. When it came to Cora’s turn she shook hands just fine, gripped the diploma just fine, then turned to the audience with a look on her face like she couldn’t quite remember how to curtsy. Then, keeping her back straight, she did what can only be described as a squat, bending both knees until her thighs were parallel to the floor. Her expression then changed to something like, “I hope that was okay,” and she returned to her seat.