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Authors: Gertrude Chandler Warner

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BOOK: The Mystery at the Fair
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“I hope so,” Susie said. “I think my chances are much better this time. For some reason, not that many people are competing this year.”

“That's because someone tore down all the posters announcing the contests,” Jessie explained.

“Really?” Susie said. “How strange.”

Just then, the man in the baseball cap the Aldens had seen in front of the fair poster the other day entered the registration tent. He looked at the sign-in sheet carefully and made notes on a small pad. When he noticed Violet was watching him, he hurried off.

“There's that man who was asking us so many questions,” Violet said.

“I wonder what he's up to now,” Jessie said.

“I don't know,” Violet said. “But the moment he saw us he rushed off.”

“Maybe we can figure out what's going on before the fair is over,” Jessie said.

“I'm sure it's nothing serious,” Susie said. “Excuse me, but there's something I have to do before the contests start.”

“Well, it was nice meeting you,” Courtney said.

“Good luck,” Violet said.

“Yes,” Jessie said. “Good luck. We'll see you this afternoon.”

“Let's drop our projects off at the contest tents,” Courtney said when Susie had gone. “Then we can go meet the boys at the bumper cars.”

“That's a good idea,” Violet said. “We've got a couple of hours before the pie competition starts.”

“I want to ride the bumper cars first, then the Ferris wheel, and then the roller coaster,” Jessie said.

“I can't believe you want to ride the roller coaster again the way you screamed last year,” Violet said.

“I really wasn't scared,” Jessie said. “I was just teasing you.”

“Well, you did a good job,” Violet said. “I thought you were terrified.”

“I love riding on the roller coaster, too,” Courtney said.

“Great,” Jessie said, as she smiled at her friend. “We can scream together.”

The girls laughed and headed toward the contest tents. First, they stopped at the baked goods tent. They received tag number six from the judge. Jessie put the boys' blueberry pie next to a chocolate cake. Then she placed the tag in front of it. The boys' blueberry pie looked even more lopsided than it had the day before.

“Oh, well,” Jessie said. “We know it tastes much better than it looks.”

“I don't see Susie's cherry pie,” Courtney said.

“Maybe she's dropping off her other projects first,” Violet said. “Come on, I want to see the other paintings in the art competition.”

“I can't wait to see the other crafts projects,” Courtney said.

“I want to see them, too,” Jessie said. “Let's go.”

CHAPTER 5

Fun at the Fair

T
he girls hurried over to the art competition tent. Four paintings were already displayed. Violet picked up tag number five.

“Has Kristie Stephens or Susie Martinilli entered their paintings yet?” Violet asked the judge.

“Yes, I'm sure they have,” the judge said. “Although I'm not sure which one is which. We usually have more than twenty entries in this contest. But we've only had about half that many this year. I can't understand why more people didn't participate.”

The girls exchanged glances.

“The judging for the art contest will be at 1:00 tomorrow,” the judge said.

The girls looked at each one of the paintings on display. Then Violet noticed a book bag with the initials KGS underneath one of the easels.

“This must be Kristie's artwork,” Violet said. “These are her initials on the book bag.” Kristie had painted a beautiful multicolored sunset. “She did a wonderful job.”

“It is good,” Courtney agreed.

“This must be Susie's painting,” Jessie said when she reached the fourth entry. “She said that she painted a picture of a horse. I like her work, too.”

Susie's portrait of a chestnut brown horse galloping across an emerald green field was also lovely.

“It's a beautiful painting,” Courtney said.

“It sure is,” Jessie agreed.

“This is going to be a good competition,” Violet said as she placed her painting on an easel.

“Your work is every bit as good as the other entries here,” Courtney said. “It's still my favorite.”

“Thank you,” Violet said. “I really worked hard on it.”

“We'd better go over to the crafts tent now,” Jessie said.

When they arrived at the crafts tent, Courtney picked up tag number three. She carefully placed the beaded necklace on the display table. Jessie put the earrings beside it.

“I can hardly wait until this afternoon to see what the judges think,” Courtney said.

Suddenly, a loudspeaker blared out. “Attention, everyone, the Grand Opening Celebration of the Greenfield County Fair will begin at 12:00 noon at the main pavilion.”

“We'd better hurry if we're going to go on any rides before the celebration begins,” Jessie said.

The girls made their way through the milling crowd toward the bumper cars. They could hear Benny and Michael before they saw them. The boys' laughter and excited voices rose above the music of the fair.

“There they are,” Violet said.

Michael and Benny were having a wonderful time steering a bright yellow bumper car. They were busily ramming into the side of Henry's car.

“Back up, Michael,” Benny said. “Let's do it again.”

“Help me,” Henry said when he noticed the girls leaning over the railing.

“I'm afraid you'll have to get out of this one on your own,” Jessie said.

Henry turned the wheel of his car sharply and sped away from the two little boys. They followed him, laughing all the way. Before the boys could bump Henry again the cars slowed to a stop.

“Everyone please exit to your left,” the ride operator announced. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

“Safe at last,” Henry said as he got out of the car.

“Let's do it again,” Benny said.

“You'll have to wait, Benny,” Violet said. “It's our turn now.”

“Why don't you boys ride on the Super Swing over there while you're waiting,” Courtney suggested. “Then afterward we can all ride the Ferris wheel.”

“Good idea!” Michael said. The two little boys quickly ran over to the Super Swing.

“Wait for me,” Henry said.

The girls each chose a bumper car to ride.

“Please fasten your seat belts,” the ride operator announced. He walked around checking each car to be sure everyone was fastened in safely. Then he threw the switch and the ride began.

Courtney immediately rammed her sporty red bumper car into the back of Violet's blue one.

“Oh,” Violet said, laughing. “I didn't see that one coming.”

She chased Courtney around the track until she was rammed sideways by Jessie. Laughing loudly, Jessie tried to speed away.

The girls chased each other around and around the track. After many collisions and a lot of laughter, they heard the ride operator, say “Thank you for riding the bumper cars. Please exit to your left.”

“I love riding the bumper cars,” Courtney said. “It's one of my favorite amusement park rides.”

“Well, now it's time for my favorite ride,” Jessie said. “Let's get the boys and go over to the Ferris wheel.”

After buying their tickets and waiting in line, the children climbed into their seats on the Ferris wheel. Benny and Michael sat together, and Violet and Henry shared a car. Jessie and Courtney were behind them. The ride operator checked to make sure the metal bar was secure across their laps and then started the ride.

“I love the Ferris wheel,” Jessie said, “especially when they stop the ride at the top.”

When the cars reached the top of the Ferris wheel the children could see all over the fairgrounds. The cars paused and slowly came down again. The ride was over much too quickly. The children climbed out of the cars and then ran over to get their tickets for the roller coaster.

“Sorry,” the ride operator said when he saw Benny and Michael. “No one six or under can ride the roller coaster.”

“That's okay,” Benny said. “I'm ready to eat now anyway.”

“Me, too,” Michael said.

“I'm hungry, too,” Violet said. “I'll take them over to get a hot dog while you three ride the roller coaster.”

“Okay,” Jessie said.

“After we ride the roller coaster, it will be time for the Grand Opening Celebration,” Henry said. “Why don't we meet you at the main tent?”

“We'll wait for you there,” Violet said.

When it was their turn, Jessie, Courtney, and Henry eagerly climbed onto the roller coaster. The cars slowly pulled up to the peak of a large hill. They stopped there for a moment. Then, suddenly, the cars hurled down the tracks at full speed.

“Eeeeek!” screamed Courtney. “This is a really steep hill.”

Jessie clutched the safety bar tightly. Ahead the long track dipped down again, then went up into a double loop. “I can't look,” Jessie shrieked, closing her eyes.

“Hang on,” Henry called to the girls. “Here we go!”

At lightning speed the cars whipped around the first loop. Then they went down a straight stretch of tracks and whipped around the second loop.

The children screamed and laughed as the cars rounded the tracks. The train zipped around several curves. Then it dropped into a steep, heart-pounding dive, and at last slowly pulled into the boarding platform again.

“I don't know if I can walk,” Courtney said as she leaned on Jessie for support. “My legs are trembling.”

“Wasn't it great?” Henry said.

“Yes!” Jessie said. “I wasn't scared at all.”

“You said that last year, too,” Henry said.

“Well,” Jessie said. “This year I kept my eyes closed the whole time so I couldn't see anything.”

“Come on, you two,” Courtney said with a laugh. “We need to go if we're going to find Violet, Benny, and Michael before the grand opening begins.”

The children hurried down the ramp and headed toward the big tent in the center of the fair.

It hadn't taken long for Violet, Benny, and Michael to find a hot dog stand. The two little boys followed their noses to the bright yellow cart. Violet had to run to catch up with them.

“Hurry up, Violet,” Benny called. “We've already ordered.”

“I'd like one hot dog with mustard, please,” Violet told the hot dog man. “And three containers of apple juice.”

“We ordered ketchup on our hot dogs,” Michael said. “I love ketchup.”

“There you are,” the man said with a smile. He handed each one of them a hot dog.

The children paid for their lunches, then found seats at a small table. Violet was almost finished eating when she saw Kristie Stephens run out of the baked good competition tent.

“Hi, Kristie,” Violet said. “Come join us.”

“No, I can't,” Kristie called back. “I have to find my mother.”

“Will you be at the opening celebration?” Violet asked. “Maybe we can sit together.”

“I don't know,” Kristie said. She looked troubled. “I'm sorry. I really need to go now.”

“All right,” Violet said. “See you later.”

“What was the matter with her, Violet?” Benny asked.

“I don't know, Benny,” Violet said. “Maybe we'll find out later.”

“I'm all finished,” Michael said as he wiped his mouth. “Can we go to the opening celebration now?”

“Sure, let's go,” Violet said.

Someone on a loudspeaker was announcing the start of the celebration just as Violet and the boys entered the open tent. Violet scanned the bleachers for the others.

“Here we are,” Jessie said, waving to her sister. “We had a wonderful time on the roller coaster.”

The children quickly found seats near the top of the bleachers. Then the opening ceremonies began!

The Greenfield High School Marching Band started up a merry tune and began marching around the arena. The Greenfield Majorettes threw their batons in the air two at a time. When they finished, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.

The majorettes joined the band as they marched in and out of several formations.

“Look,” Benny said. “They're spelling out something. G-R-E-E-N-F-I-E-L-D.”

“That spells Greenfield!” Michael said.

“That's right,” Jessie said as she smiled at the two little boys.

The Greenfield marching band finished their performance with another lively tune; then they marched over to one side of the arena and continued to play.

The band was followed by several contest officials who were riding in a horse-drawn wagon. The judges waved to the crowd as the wagon circled the arena. A livestock display was the last event. Grown-ups and children slowly walked their horses, cows, sheep, and pigs around and around the arena. The band played another tune and then the grand opening was over. The mayor walked to the center of the arena and picked up the microphone again.

BOOK: The Mystery at the Fair
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