Midge Takes A Ride

  “Hey Midge!” called Jake as he ran into the front yard. “Where are you?”

He waited a few minutes and didn't see or hear Midge, so he hurried into the back yard and squeezed into the house through her little doggie door. He crossed the kitchen and found Midge in the living room talking to Snappy.

“Hi Midge,” greeted Jake. “Hi Snappy.”

“Hi Jake,” said Midge.

“Hi Jake,” said Snappy. “I'm glad you come to see me.”

“How are you doing?” asked Jake. “ Do you miss your pond at the park?”

“No,” said Snappy. “I really don't think about it anymore. It is so nice here in my new tank. And I have my two little friends to talk to when you and Midge are out playing somewhere.”

“Jimmy and Sammy are still living in your tank with you?” asked Jake.

“Yes,” said Snappy.

“That's good,” smiled Jake. “We miss swimming with you when we go to the pond.”

“Are you going to the pond today?” asked Snappy.

“We are going to through the park today but not going swimming,” said Midge. “We are going to the school area.”

“Are you going to see the dinosaurs again?” asked Snappy.

“No,” said Jake. “Well, maybe we will see them on the way home, but we are going to do something different today.”

“They are having a go-cart race again this year,” said Midge. “We are going to see the kids racing them.”

“Oh that is good,” said Snappy. “Is your owner's nephew racing in it again this year?”

“I don't know,” said Midge. “I haven't heard her talking about it on the phone this time.”

“It's fun to see the kids racing,” said Jake. “Are you ready to go Midge?”

“I'm ready,” said Midge. “We need to go find out where Booker-T is. He is supposed to go with us.”

“We will see you later Snappy,” said Jake. “Bye.”

“Bye,” said Snappy. “Have fun.”

Jake and Midge hurried out the door and found Booker-T coming through the gate.

“Hi you guys,” said Booker-T.

“Hi,” greeted Midge and Jake.

“Where are we going?” asked Booker-T.

“I think they are doing the races same place they did last year,” said Midge. “On that road that goes downhill near the school.”

“Oh” said Booker-T. “Lets go. I want to see the pretty cars.”

“They are go-carts,” said Jake.

“Why are they called go-carts?” asked Booker-T. “They look like little cars to me.”

“Hmmmm,” said Midge. “I don't know why they call them go-carts.”

“I think they call them go-carts because they look like carts and they go,” said Jake.

“I don't know,” said Midge. “But your explanation sounds good.”

They strolled along the sidewalk to the park and crossed the park to the street that slopes.

“Look over there,” said Booker-T. “All the carts are sitting over there.”

“Do you think they will let me ride in one?” asked Midge.

“No,” said Jake. “You can't ride in the go-cart.”

“Why not,” said Midge. “I did good on the sled in winter time.”

“You also went head first into a snow bank,” laughed Jake. “But there is no snow here to go into it. You might go flying onto the street.”

“Hey Jake,” said Midge. “Look at that go-cart. It has a back seat in it.”

“Oh nice,” said Jake.

“Maybe two kids ride in it,” said Booker-T.

“Maybe I can ride in the back seat,” said Midge.

“No,” said Jake.

“Why not?” asked Midge. “Maybe the girl or boy will let me ride with him or her.”

“And how are you going to ask them if you can ride on the go-cart?” asked Booker-T.

“Hmmm,” said Midge. “I don't know. I guess the person won't know what I say.”

“You can bark at him,” said Jake. “But he won't know what your bark means.”

“I could just jump in the back seat when he gets ready to go,” said Midge. “It would be too late to stop and make me get out.”

“That might be dangerous trying to jump in when he starts to move,” said Jake.

“I will be careful,” said Midge. “You know me.”

“Oh yes,” laughed Booker-T. “We know you. Fearless.”

“Ha ha,” said Midge.

“Look over there,” said Jake. “Isn't that your owner's nephew?”

“It looks like him,” said Midge. “Do you see my owner in the group of people over there?”

“No,” said Jake as he searched the people to see if she was there.

“Hey, Midge!” smiled Booker-T. “That two seater go-cart is your owner's nephew. Maybe he will let you ride. He knows you. Go walk over there.”

He was getting ready to go to the starting line soon. They were racing two carts at a time and he was going to be going soon. Midge got close to where he was so he could see her. She stood staring at him and soon he looked her way.

“Hi Midge,” said the little boy. “Come girl.”

Midge smiled at Jake and Booker-T and ran to greet the little boy. He patted her on the head while he waited to take his place at the starting line. He petted her but never invited to take a ride in the go-cart with him. She nudged him with her nose and he wasn't paying any attention. Before long, he was called by the judges to take his place at the starting line. He pushed the go-cart slowly to the line and and jumped into the front seat. Midge followed him to the starting line.

“Go Midge,” said the boy as he pointed his finger to the side of the road. “Go back.”

When he turned to get ready to take off down the hill, Midge took a leap and landed into the back seat as it started to roll downhill. She could hear the people laughing as she turned herself around and sat down.

“Midge!” said the boy. “What are you doing?”

Midge barked as they started downhill. The cart raced down the hill as the boy steered the cart ahead. Faster and faster the cart went as it raced downhill. Midge sat and was enjoying the ride, the wind hitting her in the face.. when they got to the bottom of the hill and the boy's cart hit the bale of hay, Midge fell forward and bumped her nose into the back of his neck.
“We won Midge!” yelled the boy, grabbing and hugging Midge.

Jake and Booker-T ran along the side of the road to where Midge was at the bottom of the hill.

“You did it!” said Jake.

“Was it fun?” asked Booker-T.

“It was so good,” smiled Midge. “My owner's nephew is a good driver, don't you think.”

“You won!” said Jake. “Come on. Lets sit here and watch the rest of them race.”

Midge nudged the little boys hand and then walked away to join Jake and Booker-T. They sat down in the grass to watch the rest of the races.