The New Zoo Train

 “Hey Jake!” called Midge as she and Booker-T walked up the sidewalk to the front porch where they found Jake sleeping on the swing.

“Hey to you too Midge,” smiled Jake as he sat up.

“Here we are Jake,” said Booker-T. “Ready for another year of fun.”

“New and exciting things to come,” agreed Jake. “It is never a dull moment with Midge around.”

“Snappy is all ready for the brand new year too,” said Midge. “My owner got him a nice new tank and put him in it this morning.”

“That is wonderful, said Jake. “I know he is happy in his new home and not having to be in the cold pond in the winter time.”

“I saw on the news last night that the train station near the little zoo holding place, will open in a week,” smiled Midge. “Are we ready for that train ride to the big zoo?”

“Are you sure we can sneak on the train?” asked Booker-T.

“Oh sure,” said Midge with confidence. “It will be a piece of cake.”

“A piece of cake?” asked Jake. “You really think it will be that easy?”

“Sure,” smiled Midge. 'Remember when they opened that cafe up the street? Wasn't it easy to get some free hot dogs from them?”

“Sure, but we had to dance for them and we weren't sure if they would give us some or not,” said Jake.

“True,” agreed Midge. “But we took the chance and tried and it worked. Isn't anything we want to do worth trying to do it?”

“Sure,” said Jake. “I guess it won't hurt to try it once.”

“Or maybe twice,” laughed Midge.

“It will be fun to ride the train if we can sneak on,” said Booker-T. “I guess all they can do is throw us off the train if they catch us.”

“Sure,” said Midge. “It will be fine.”

“But, what will we do if they toss us off long way from home and then we have to walk a long way back home?” asked Jake. “I don't mind walking but it is a long way from over there.”
“I guess that could happen,” said Midge. “But I think it will be okay.”

“Hmmm,” said Booker-T. “You have more confidence than we do.”

“Isn't that what you have to have when you do anything?” asked Midge. “Confidence is a good thing to have, I think.”

“But maybe not so good when we have confidence in doing something we shouldn't do,” said Jake.

“But who said we shouldn't do it?” asked Midge. “No one on the news said 'No Dogs allowed'.”

“Well, maybe you are right,” said Booker-T. “We can sure try it once and see what happens.”

“After you went into that gym and danced on the stage,” said Jake. “I saw that they put up a sign that read 'No Dogs Allowed'.”

“Right,” said Midge. “I saw that, but they don't think dogs can read. They put the sign up so the humans don't bring in their dogs.”

“Okay, Midge,” said Jake. “When the station is ready and the first train comes in, we will try to sneak on it if we can. They should be busy with a lot of new passengers and maybe won't notice us.”

“What day next week are they suppose to open it?” asked Booker-T. “I'm so excited and can't wait to take a train ride. Me a little cat riding a train. Wow it will be fun.”

“Don't get too excited just yet Booker-T,” said Jake. “Midge thinks we can do it but I'm not totally convinced yet.”

“Lets go check out the sign at the new station and see if there is a date on it yet,” suggested Midge.

“Okay,” agreed Booker-T and Jake.

The three took off up the sidewalk to the new station building to find out the opening date.

“Look Jake,” said Midge. “They have balloons and banners all over the place here.”

“The sign says they open in two days,” said Jake. “What is the name of the place?”

“Looks like they decided to call it 'Dixie Zoo Express',” said Midge.

“Oh cool,” said Booker-T. “The zoo express. But don't the train go to some of the shopping centers and the park too?”

“Yes,” said Midge. “But I like the Dixie Zoo Express. It's a good name.”

“I think that the zoo is the one main reason that they are putting in the train around town,” said Jake.

“Oh,” said Midge. “This will be so much fun. I can't wait to ride the train.”

“But we don't know if we can sneak on it yet,” said Jake. “So don't get your hopes up too high yet.”

“True Midge,” said Booker-T. “We don't know for sure that we will be able to go to the zoo and if we make it to the zoo. How do we really know if we can sneak back on the train to come back home.”

“I didn't think of that,” said Midge. “We have to sneak on the train twice.”

“This is true,” said Jake. “We might get all the way over there and be stuck with no way home but our four little legs.”

“I think we will make it back home okay,” said Midge. “I will think positive that it will all will be fine.”

“Okay,” said Jake, “I know you really want to ride the train so we will try. Maybe we can stay on the train and not get off til it comes back here.”

“Okay Jake,” smiled Midge. “We can do that for our first train ride.”

They all agreed to try on the opening day of the train station.