The Dancing Fire

Jake hurried along the sidewalk on his way to Midge's house. As he passed Booker-T's yard, Booker-T stood at the gate waiting for him.

“Hi Booker-T,” greeted Jake. “What are you doing?”

“I saw you coming so waited for you,” said Booker-T. “Lets go to Midge's house.”

They entered the yard and found Midge sitting on the porch. “What are you doing Midge?”

asked Booker-T.

“I was watching all the people going to the water park today,” said Midge. “Look at the long line over there waiting to go in.”

“Why are so many going today?” asked Jake.

“See that sign on the fence over there?” asked Midge. “It says that there is going to be a show there today.”

“What kind of show?” asked Jake.

“Some kind of water show, it says,” replied Booker-T. “Midge and I saw a fancy truck drive into the back this morning.”

“Was there a name on the truck?” asked Jake.

“I don't know what it said,” said Midge. “It drove by too fast. Do you want to go see what it is?”

“Is the truck still over there?” asked Jake.

“Yes,” said Booker-T.

“Lets go see,” said Jake as he started toward the gate with Midge and Booker-T following behind.

They stood on the side of the road checking both ways before crossing the street. They ran to the back of the park where they found the big truck parked along the fence area.

“Wow,” said Jake. “That is a really big truck. It says on the side, The Dancing Fire”

“Dancing Fire!” said Midge. “How does fire dance?”

“I don't think fire dances,” said Jake. “It looks like the Dancing Fire is people.”

“People?” said Booker-T. “Are they on fire?”

“No,” said Jake as he read the side of the truck. “It says here, they do some kind of dancing inside a big ball.”

“How do the people get inside a ball?” asked Booker-T.

“I don't know,” said Jake.

“How can anyone see them if they are inside a ball?” asked Midge.

“It looks like the balls are clear so people can see them inside of it,” said Jake.

“I want to see them dancing in a ball,” said Midge. “I never saw anyone inside a ball. It must be a really big ball for people to go inside of it.”

“Why do people dance inside of a ball?” asked Booker-T. “I think that is strange.”

“Remember,” said Jake. “We found out that humans are strange people.”

“I think so too,” agreed Midge. “I want to see how they dance inside a ball.”

“I don't know if we can get inside the park,” said Jake. “We can try. Maybe with a lot of people around, they won't see us go in.”

“Okay,” said Booker-T. “Does it say what time the show is going to be?”

“After lunch,” said Jake. “Lets go to your house and when we hear the music playing, we can run back over here and try to sneak inside.”

“Okay,” said Midge.

The three hurried across the street back to Midge's house and went inside the house to talk to Snappy while they waited for the show to start at the park. Booker-T leaped into the chair beside the table and pressed his nose on the side of the tank. “Hi Snappy,” greeted Booker-T.

“Hi Booker-T,” said Snappy. “What are you guys doing?”

“We came to say hi while we wait for the show to start,” said Jake.

“What show?” asked Snappy.

“There is going to be a show at the water park today,” said Midge. “The Dancing Fire.”

“I never saw fire dance before,” said Snappy. “I thought it just burned things.”

“These are people called the Dancing Fire,” said Jake.

“People are fire,” said Snappy. “Wow, that's different.”

“We are going to try and see what they do,” said Midge.

“Can you get into the park?” asked Snappy.

“We are going to try,” said Booker-T.

“There area lot of people over there and we are going to try and sneak in with them,” said Midge. “Maybe they won't notice us.”

Midge leaped into the chair and looked out the window. More people were gathered at the water park. In a few minutes, the music began to play. “Lets hurry!” said Midge as she leaped down from the chair and ran to the kitchen.

They hurried through the doggie door and ran around the house to the front gate. “Wow, look at all the cars over here now.” said Midge. “Lets go.”

They crossed the road and got near the gate. As about 6 people entered the park, they sneaked inside with them. Once inside, they looked around and saw three big balls near the water, but no one was inside them. In a few minutes, three girls dressed in fancy suits with lot of sparkling stones. They were really pretty. They stepped inside the balls and a man pushed them into the water. Once on the water, they started doing moves in the ball.

“They are doing exercises,” said Midge. “That don't look like dancing.”

“They are doing circus type acrobat stuff,” said Jake. “Do they call that dancing?”

“Maybe,” said Midge. “Oh Jake, look out, I think they saw us.”

A couple men started coming toward them. “Hey, shoo shoo,” said the men. “You don't belong in here. Go go!”

As they got closer to the three, they backed up away from the men. Faster the men came toward them and the faster they backed up. Suddenly they fell into the pond with a splash. The crowd of people began clapping and laughing.

“Are they laughing at us?” asked Midge.

“I think so,” said Jake swimming to the side of the pond. “Lets get out of here.”

“Hurry Midge,” said Booker-T as they ran to the gate.

After going outside the men shut the gate so they couldn't enter again.

“Lets go home Midge,” said Jake. “That dancing in the ball is no fun, I think.”

“I would try it,” said Midge. “But why do they call it the Dancing Fire?”

“You would try anything,” laughed Jake. “I don't know. It is a strange name for people in a ball.”