Going to Ride the Train

“Choo choo goes the little train,” sang Midge as she strolled along the sidewalk on her way to Booker-T's place. “Choo choo here it comes.”

“Hey Midge,” said Booker-T as he met her at the gate to his yard. “What are you singing?”

“I want to ride the train,” said Midge. “Lets go ride the train.”

“But we can't ride the train,” said Booker-T. “If they see us, they will make us get off and we would have to walk home.”

“We can hide on the back of the train like we did the last time,” said Midge. “They won't see us back there.”

“Why do you want to ride the train again?” asked Booker-T.

“It was fun,” said Midge. “And I want to go see the big zoo.”

“I don't think it is a good idea Midge,” said Booker-T. “Lets go see Jake. Come on.”

They hurried along the sidewalk with Midge singing, “Choo choo goes the little train.”

“Remember the amusement park?” asked Booker-T.

“I remember,” said Midge.

“They have a train,” said Booker-T. “Lets go ride the train at the amusement park.”

“Okay,” smiled Midge. “I forgot they had one. Come on, lets hurry.”

They ran along the sidewalk and in through the gate at Jake's house.

“Hey you guys,” said Jake. “You two are in a hurry. What is going on?”

“We are going to ride the train,” sang Midge.

“What train?” asked Jake.

“She wants to ride the train at the amusement park,” said Booker-T.

“I wanted to ride the zoo train but Booker-T said we could ride the amusement park train,” said Midge.

“How will we get into the park?” asked Jake.

“We will sneak into the park,” said Midge. “We can do it.”

“How?” asked Booker-T.

“We will walk in behind some people when they are busy at the gate with them,” said Midge. “I know we can do it. We are good at sneaking around.”

“Lets go try,” said Jake. “Riding the train might be fun.”

The three started walking along the sidewalk to the amusement park. When they got there, a long line of people were standing at the gate waiting to go inside.

“Come on Jake,” said Midge. “Lets go inside.”

They walked close to the fence and got behind the line of people and tried to keep their eyes on the man at the gate. As the man was taking tickets from the people, they hurried inside and ran behind a picnic table they saw inside.

“Do you think he saw us?” asked Booker-T.

“He didn't yell at us,” said Midge. “I don't think he saw us. There are too many people trying to get inside.”

“Wow,” said Booker-T. “Look at all these rides in here.”

“Lets find the train,” said Midge. “Hey look over there. It's a merry-go-round.”

“Never mind Midge,” laughed Jake. “The last time you tried to ride it, you kept sliding off and was hanging off the side holding onto the straps with your teeth. I think it will be safer to ride the train.”

“But don't you think the horses on the ride are pretty,” said Midge.

“They are pretty,” agreed Jake. “Come on Midge. There is the train over there.”

They hurried past the merry-go-round and saw a long line waiting to ride the train. “How will we get on it?” asked Booker-T.

“They are letting people on now,” said Midge. “Lets hurry to the back car and hide under the seat.”

They looked around and then ran for the last car and quickly hid under the seat. In a few minutes, kids were sitting on the seat with their feet dangling down in front of them.”

“They didn't see us,” smiled Midge. “We are going to ride the train. Choo Choo, we are going to rid the train.”

“Do you think they know we are here?” asked Booker-T.

“I don't think so,” said Jake. “The train is starting to move.”

“Here we go, Booker-T,” said Midge. “This is going to be fun.”

“But I can't see anything,” said Jake. “Lets go out and see where we are going.”

“You sneak out Midge,” said Booker-T.

“You sneak out Booker-T.” said Midge. “Kids like cats.”

“They like dogs too, Booker-T,” said Jake.

“Okay,” said Midge. “I will go out there.”

Midge started to crawl out from under the seat. She looked up at the kids sitting on the seat.

“Look mom,” said a little boy. “It's a dog on the train.”

“Isn't she pretty,” said the mom. “Be careful so it don't bite you.”

Midge looked up at the little boy and then stood up on her hind legs to see over the side of the car. “Come on Jake, Booker-T. Come out and see. There are lot of things to see out here. Looks like the train is going all around the park.”

Jake poked his head out and slowly crawled out from under the seat, followed by Booker-T. “Look Mom,” said a little girl. “There are two dogs and a cat on the train. Can I play with them?”

“Leave them alone Sissy,” said the mom.

“I want to pet them,” said the little boy as he reached down and petted Jake on the head. “See mom, he won't bite me.”

“This is fun Jake,” smiled Midge. “Can we stay on the train and ride it again around the park?”

“Maybe if they don't see us,” said Jake.

The train pulled into the station where it started from. The little boy followed his mom off the train and as he walked past the man at the counter, he said, “I like your dogs and cat, mister.”

“What dogs and cat?” asked the man. “I don't have any.”

“On the train,” said the little boy. I like them.”

The man walked to the back of the train and before he reached the opening to the train car, Midge, Jake and Booker-T leaped off the train and ran across the park. “Hurry Booker-T,” said Jake.

They headed to the front gate and ran past the people who were still coming in. When they got outside they sat down and started laughing. “That was fun,” laughed Midge. “Can we come back tomorrow and do it again?”

“I don't think so,” said Jake. “We almost got caught.”

“But we didn't,” said Midge.

“Look at the pretty horse,” said Booker-T.

“That looks like a police horse,” said Jake.

“They have horses that are police?” asked Midge.

“A policeman rides on the horse,” said Jake.

“I want to be a police dog,” said Midge. “I can chase bad guys.”

“That's too dangerous,” said Jake. “Riding the train was safer.”

“Lets go home guys,” said Booker-T. “I'm hungry.”

“Okay,” said Midge. “I'm ready too.”

The three hurried along the sidewalk to Jake's house