Always in Style

RNL01AIN5X_INB19_1-20_ 05/23/2001 11:48 PM Page FC1
STyLE ALWAYS IN
by Kate Fisher • illustrated by S. C. Day

RNL01AIN5X_INB19_1-20_ 5/9/01 6:00 PM Page FC2
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ISBN 0-15-323329-X
Ordering Options
ISBN 0-15-325514-5 (Grade 5 Below-Level Collection)
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RNL01AIN5X_INB19_1-20_ 5/9/01 6:15 PM Page 1 (PANTONE 166
295 CV plate)
STyLE ALWAYS IN
by Kate Fisher
illustrated by S. C. Day
Orlando Boston Dallas Chicago San Diego

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295 CV plate)
ACT l
The year is 1909. We are in the living room
of J. E. Ellington, his wife, Daisy, and their ten-
year-old son, Edward, who is called “Duke” by
his friends.
It is easy to see that the Ellingtons are
fairly well off. Their furniture is of good
quality. There is a cabinet full of fine china
and another one with valuable figurines. A
piano can be seen in the room.
2
295 CV plate)
DAISY (calling up the stairs): Come on,

Edward. It’s almost time for your piano lesson.
DUKE (coming down the stairs): Aw, Mama,
you know I hate those piano lessons.
DAISY: Now, Edward, we’ve been over this
before. Miss Clinkscales has taught numerous
students. She is a very experienced teacher.
She can help you appreciate fine music. You
can’t grow up to be a gentleman unless you
know something about good music.
3
295 CV plate)
DUKE: But it’s so boring, Mama. Miss

Clinkscales makes me practice the same old
tunes over and over again. One-and-two-and-
one-and-two. It’s just an umpy-dump sound
that nobody wants to hear. Those songs don’t
have any rhythm!
DAISY: I want you to give it a chance,
Edward. You’ve been blessed with talent and
style, and I don’t want to see you waste it.
4
295 CV plate)
DUKE: All right, Mama. I’ll try. But I’d rather

be out with my friends playing baseball, if you
want to know the truth. (There is a knock at
the door.)
DAISY: There’s your teacher. (She opens the
door.) Hello, Miss Clinkscales. Edward has
been waiting for you. He’s looking forward to
his lesson.
MISS CLINKSCALES: That’s good. I hope
he’s been practicing this week.
5
295 CV plate)
DAISY: Well, practicing piano is not his

favorite activity, as you know. But I’m sure
he’ll change his mind soon. Now, I have a few
errands to do. I need to go to the produce
market, for one thing. I’ll be back before
you’re finished—that is, if the trolley runs on
time. (She exits. Miss Clinkscales and Duke sit
down at the piano. The curtain falls as the
lesson begins.)
6
295 CV plate)
ACT II
Three years later. Duke and his cousin
Sonny are in the Ellington house.
SONNY: Duke, what’s wrong with you?
You’ve been sick for a week now. Aren’t you
getting better?
DUKE (in a slightly gravelly voice): Oh, it’s
nothing serious. My voice just sounds terrible.
I don’t really feel bad. I just have to relax and
take it easy for a while. The doctor says I’ll
have to stay inside for another week.
7
295 CV plate)
SONNY: Well, I hope you’ll be well in time

for Sarah Johnson’s birthday celebration next
Saturday. I thought we could go together.
DUKE: I’m sure I’ll be better by then.
SONNY: See that you are, Duke. I’ll check

back with you later. I’m heading over to the
pawnshop on the other side of town now. I
saw some baseball equipment in the window,
and I want to check the prices. It looks like it
is in good condition.
8
295 CV plate)
DUKE: In a pawnshop? Does your mother

know that you’re going to that part of town? I
know she wouldn’t like it.
SONNY: Oh, I don’t think she’d mind. She’s
taken me on errands over there on numerous
occasions. There’s a good produce market
nearby. Hey, maybe I’ll pick up some fresh
fruit for you—to help you get better. You can’t
go to a party with a gravelly voice like that.
DUKE: OK, Sonny. That would be nice. I’ll
see you later.
(Sonny exits. Duke sits down at the piano.
The curtain falls.)
9
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ACT III
(Later that day. Sonny has returned, carry-
ing a bag full of fruit and some baseball
equipment. Duke is playing the piano.)
SONNY: Duke, what are you playing? It
doesn’t sound like something your mother
would want you to play.
DUKE (excited): You’re right about that,
Sonny! It’s not classical enough for her. This
piece is in that new ragtime style. It’s definitely
better than the old boring umpy-dump sound!
This music has a beat you can dance to.
10
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SONNY: I really like it. It’s new and differ-

ent. What’s the name of the piece you’re
playing?
DUKE: Oh, this? It doesn’t have a name yet.
This piece is just something I wrote a few
days ago. I’m trying to get a few of the rough
spots worked out.
SONNY: Wow! I didn’t know that you could
write your own songs! That takes real talent.
Maybe you can play it for everyone at Sarah
Johnson’s birthday party on Saturday.
11
295 CV plate)
DUKE: That’s a fabulous idea! I’ve been

wanting to perform in front of an audience.
Have you ever noticed the guy who plays the
piano at parties and restaurants? He always
attracts so much attention! You know how
people all gather around and want to listen up
close? Well, my plan is to practice and practice
until I am good enough to be that piano
playing guy. I figure it’s a great way to be at
the center of things. I don’t imagine it will get
me any international attention, but who cares?
SONNY: You’re always thinking, Duke! I
knew you had style. I guess that’s how you
got that nickname. You remind people of
someone with international connections, even
though you’ve never been out of Washington,
D.C.
DUKE: Well, not yet, anyway. But I’m still
young. Now, how about listening to the rest of
this song and giving me your opinion? (Duke
plays a ragtime tune as Sonny listens. Sonny
taps his feet to the beat. The curtain falls.)
12
295 CV plate)
13
295 CV plate)
ACT IV
A month later. A dance is going on in the
high school gym. Duke and Sonny are outside,
listening to the music.
SONNY: Come on, Duke. Let’s go in.
DUKE: We can’t. It’s one of those senior
dances that freshmen aren’t allowed to attend.
SONNY: They’ll let us in if we tell them
you’re a fabulous piano player. What have we
got to lose?
DUKE: Well, okay, I’ll try.
SONNY (to Duke): Just leave this up to me.
(Sonny confidently pushes his way through
the crowd, clearing the way for Duke. He uses
the microphone to make an announcement.)
14
295 CV plate)
SONNY: Good evening, everyone. I want to

introduce you to my cousin Edward. But you
can call him “The Duke.” If you ask him nicely,
maybe he’ll play some original ragtime music
on the piano for you.
(Duke is led to the piano. He sits down and

starts to play. When he finishes, the audience
applauds and shouts for more.)
DUKE (aside, to Sonny): That’s the only
song I know. I guess I’ll just play it again. (He
plays the song again, and everyone cheers.)
15
295 CV plate)
GIRL (to her partner): This guy’s good! I

wonder where he took piano lessons!
SONNY (overhearing her): He had a few
weeks of lessons a couple of years ago. Now
he just teaches himself.
GIRL: Well, he’s done a wonderful job!
(Curtain falls as everyone dances to Duke’s
music.)
16
RNL01AIN5X_INB19_1-20_ 05/23/2001 11:50 PM Page BC3
Think and Respond

1 What can you say about the structure of this
story?
2 What is Duke’s opinion of the music his mother
and Miss Clinkscales want him to play?
3 This story teaches you about the childhood of
what famous person?
4 Why do you think the author named the piano
teacher “Miss Clinkscales”?
5 Listen to some ragtime music and some classical
music. How are the two types of music similar?
How are they different?
6 Would you like to play Miss Clinkscales’s music or
Duke’s music? Explain your answer.
The Duke Duke Ellington grew up to

become a famous musician. Do some
research to learn more about this important
man. Make a list of his accomplishments.
School-Home Connection Assign parts and

act out this play with your family. Then see if
there is any ragtime music in your family’s music
collection.

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RNL01AIN5X_INB19_1-20_ 05/23/2001 11:48 PM Page FC1

by Kate Fisher • illustrated by S. C. Day

Copyright © by Harcourt, Inc.

Printed in the United States of America

Orlando Boston Dallas Chicago San Diego

DAISY (calling up the stairs): Come on,

DUKE: But it’s so boring, Mama. Miss

DUKE: All right, Mama. I’ll try. But I’d rather

DAISY: Well, practicing piano is not his

SONNY: Well, I hope you’ll be well in time

SONNY: See that you are, Duke. I’ll check

DUKE: In a pawnshop? Does your mother

SONNY: I really like it. It’s new and differ-

DUKE: That’s a fabulous idea! I’ve been

SONNY: Good evening, everyone. I want to

(Duke is led to the piano. He sits down and

GIRL (to her partner): This guy’s good! I

Think and Respond

The Duke Duke Ellington grew up to

School-Home Connection Assign parts and

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