The Bouncing Fun

Jake, Midge and Booker-T left the zoo and started home to Jake's house. As they passed the house on the corner, Midge saw something standing in the back yard.

“Hey Jake,” said Midge. “What is that in the back yard?”

“I don't know,” said Jake.

“Are they home?” asked Booker-T.

“No,” said Jake. “I see them leave every morning and the don't come home til it gets dark outside.”

“Lets go see what it is,” said Midge. “It is really big.”

They walked into the back yard and stood staring up at the big round thing on legs.

“Do you think it is an alien space ship?” asked Booker-T.

“No,” said Jake. “It is too flat to be a space ship. Where would the space aliens sit?”

“Maybe they fold up the ship when they are away from it,” said Midge. “So no one sees it.”

They walked around the object staring up at it as they walked in a circle. On the other side, they saw some stairs going up to the top of the big round object.

“Lets go up and see what is on the top,” suggested Midge as she placed on foot on the bottom step. "I want to see what is up there." 

“You go look first,” said Jake. “Booker-T and I will wait down here . When it is safe, we will come up.”

Midge climbed the stairs to the top and stood staring at it.

“What do you see?” asked Jake.

“Nothing,” replied Midge. “It's just a big black circle.”

“There is nothing up there?' said Booker-T.

“No,” said Midge. “Just a black circle with springs all around the outside of it.”

“I can see the springs from down here too,” said Jake. “Wonder why it has springs. Can you walk on the black circle?”

Midge reached out from the top step and touched it with her toe. Then she slowly stepped onto the black surface.

“Oh,” said Midge. “This feels really funny. Come on up Jake. It moves a little when I walk on it.”

Jake started to climb the stairs and Booker-T followed behind him. At the top, Jake stepped onto the black round thing. As he started to walk on it, it was slightly moving.

“It feels funny, Midge,” said Jake. “Kind of bouncy feeling.”

“What is this thing?” asked Booker-T.

“Some kind of bouncy thing,” said Jake. “Try jumping up and own Midge.”

Jake started jumping up and down and Midge started to laugh and she and Booker-T tried to jump up and down too.

“This feels funny,” laughed Midge. “When you jump, try moving around.”

“What are you guys doing?” asked Gabby as he swooped down and sat on the edge of this bouncy circle.

“We are checking out this strange thing,” said Midge. “Do you know what it is, Gabby?”

“I have seen kids jumping on it before,” said Gabby. “I think the kids were calling it a trampoline.”

“What is it for?” asked Booker-T.

“I think they just have fun jumping up and down,” said Gabby. “Some kids like doing more and doing back flips on it.”

“Try a flip Jake,” said Midge.
“I don't know how,” said Jake.

“I think you have to be careful because you can flip right off the thing on to the ground,” said Gabby.

“Lets try jumping up and down at the same time,” suggested Midge.

“Okay,” said Jake. “One, two, three Jump!”

They all started jumping up and down and was bouncing up and down and laughing.

“This is fun,” laughed Midge.

“It is making me a little dizzy,” said Booker-T as he started walking toward the edge.

“Are you getting down?” asked Midge.

“Yes,” said Booker-T. “It's too bouncy for me. Do you like bouncing all over the place?”

“It's fun,” said Midge.

“I guess after a while, it's not as much fun,” said Jake. “We aren't big enough to do any tricks on it. Just can bounce up and down.”

“That was fun,” said Midge. “I think that size don't matter if you just know how to do the tricks. Do you want to go home now? I was hoping it was a space ship and was just folded up for parking.”

“You are always looking for  your space ships,” said Jake. “What will you do if you really see one some day?”

“Take me to your leader?” said Midge.

“No,” said Jake. “That's what they say to you when they land here. Lets go home and get something to eat. I'm hungry after all that bouncing.”

“Me too,” said Booker-T.

“I'm ready to go too,” said Midge. “All that jumping, I need a good nap.”

They hurried up the street to Jake's house. In the house they found a bag of Jake's food and nibbled on it and then laid down for a nice nap.