Here is another story for Miss Maddie. It is partly based on Maddie's actual trip to the Fair, partly my imagination and party my memories of going to the county fair as a child. I hope you all like it. Someday when I get enough stories written, I may try to get these publised.
Maddie and Blue Bear go to the fair.
There came a morning one August when excitement was in the air. Maddie bounced out of bed and announced to Blue Bear, Cricket and Fred that TODAY was the day she gets to go to the County Fair! Cricket and Fred were very excited for her, until they found out that they did not get to go as well. “Well, what is the County Fair anyway” Blue Bear translated for Cricket. Maddie wasn’t really sure herself as she had never been to one. “I know there are animals there to pet,” said Maddie. “Mama said so.” This made Fred and Cricket very sad as they would have liked to meet other animals and Fred was very sure that there would be yummy food too!
“Blue Bear and I will tell you all about it when we get home”, promised Maddie. “But first I get to go to Grandma’s house for the day.” Mama came up because she heard Maddie talking to Blue Bear and got them both ready for a day at Grandma’s. As much as Maddie loved her days with Grandma, it was still a long day full of anticipation. She asked her Grandma, “What is the County Fair?” Grandma told her stories of animals to pet and ponies to ride and games to play and prizes to be won. It sounded magical!
At last Mama came to get her and then they had to wait for Daddy to get home from work and then it was time to load up and go to the Fair! Even Abbie got to go. She was too little for pony rides and petting zoos but she would like the bright lights and music.
The County Fair was everything Grandma said it would be and more! Gripping Blue Bear tightly, Maddie made her way to the petting zoo. The animals there were wondrous! There were lambs and pot bellied pigs, goats and deer, a horse and even bunnies! The sweet bunnies were Maddie’s favorite with their silken coats and soft eyes. She could have stayed there all night, but next there was a pony to ride. Abbie had been looking forward to this all day. She had never ridden a pony before. Daddy put her up on the pony and Mama took her picture. It was thrilling! But then when the pony started to walk, Maddie wasn’t so sure about riding ponies. She clung to Blue Bear with one hand and to the saddle with the other! Even though the pony was walking slowly and Daddy was right next to her she still felt like she might fall. After another minute Maddie decided that she was ready to end her first riding lesson.
Her next new experience was to try a ride! There were cars that you could ride in. Those looked safer than the pony but it was still a little scary for her. Blue Bear on the other hand was having a marvelous time! His eyes were extra bright and he was urging the car to go faster the whole time Maddie wanted it to slow down! When the ride was over Mama suggested it might be fun to play a game. Maddie went to the duck pond and won a pink ball! “Mama, can I play again?” asked Maddie! “Let’s try the fishing pond next,” said Mama. “Look, there is your friend Elena waiting for you.” At the fishing pond Maddie won a pretty, yellow, plastic trumpet that made great big noises. Elena was very impressed and they took turns with it for a while. Mama let her stay at the fishing pond and win more prizes. The lady running the pond was talking to Mama and Maddie got to fish for pretend while they talked. Maddie decided that games were her favorite part of the fair and Elena agreed.
Blue Bear however was getting bored watching Maddie and Elena fish. “Maddie, can we ride anther ride?” asked Blue Bear. Maddie wasn’t so sure. The cars hadn’t really worked out for her. But Maddie, there are helicopters!” countered Blue Bear. There’s even a PINK helicopter! It matched your pink ball!” The fact that there was a pink helicopter that matched her new pink ball was all it took to convince Maddie that she could give the helicopter a try. At first it was fun, it went round and round but not as fast as the car. But then the pink helicopter started to slowly rise off the ground! Even though it was pink, Maddie decided that helicopters were not for her! After a minute, though Maddie decided that pink helicopters were fun after all. They didn’t go so high or so fast. Blue Bear of course was delighted!
Maddie was ready to go play some more games when Blue Bear spotted a bouncy slide. “Oh Maddie, can we go down the slide?” asked Blue Bear. “Blue Bear, that slide is too big and tall and I don’t think I will like it.” said Maddie.
But Maddie, look at the other children. They are your size and they having such a good time. Listen to them, everyone is saying Wheeeeee!” Blue Bear said pleadingly. Maddie still wasn’t convinced, until she saw her friend Elena climb the stairs and slide down. Maddie knew that she was just as brave as Elena so she asked Mama if she could do the slide too.
Clutching Blue Bear by the paw, Maddie walked over and proceeded to try and climb the stairs to the bouncy slide. Halfway up, Maddie lost her grip! She could feel herself falling backward and flipping! She tried to grab at something and even lost her grip on blue bear. Down she fell with her arms and legs akimbo! She landed on the padding and was staring up and the kind man who watched over the slide. She wasn’t hurt and laughed at what a sight she must have made when she fell. The kind man picked her and Blue Bear up and carried them both to the top of the slide. She was so high up! Maddie felt like she could see the whole fair grounds from there. Whoosh! Maddie went down the slide. This was the most fun thing she had done all day! More fun than the bunnies and the games. Blue Bear cried “Wheeee!” the whole way down and was ready to go again. Blue Bear suggested that if she gripped him by the scruff of his neck with her teeth that she would be able to use both hands and climb the slide herself. He assured her that it wouldn’t hurt him. Up, whoosh, up, whoosh, up whoosh…they did the bouncy slide over and over again.
Mama said that Daddy was starting to get tired and it was close to little Abbie’s bed time. Maddie wasn’t yet ready to leave the bright lights and the fun of the fair. Everything was so pretty and smelled so good! She and Mama and Daddy sat on a bench for a minute and shared the most delicious thing Maddie had ever tasted. Mama called it cotton candy. Maddie thought it looked like the wool from the lamb that she petted, except it was pink. When she took her first bite and it melted in her mouth in a rush of sweetness, Maddie knew it was her favorite thing ever and was eager for more!
When the cotton candy was gone, Daddy looked a little more rested and Abbie was fast asleep in her stroller, Mama consented to just one more thing. Blue Bear had spotted the Carousel and suggested that to Maddie. After her pony ride, she wasn’t sure about anything that involved ponies…even painted ponies. Daddy saw her looking at the carousel and asked if she would like a ride. “We could ride on the bench and just go round and round if you want,” said Daddy. To Maddie that sounded like the perfect end of the day. She, Blue Bear and Daddy selected a bench and settled in for the ride.
Maddie watched the fairgrounds go round and round and watched Mama and Abbie go past again and again. The music was soft and sweet and the ponies were beautiful. Abbie watched them go up and down and wished that the ride could go on forever! She and Daddy did ride it a second time, but all too soon it was time to go home.
Daddy buckled her into her car seat and handed her Blue Bear. The whole way home she and Blue Bear talked about what they had seen and done at the Fair. They wanted to make sure that they remembered every detail so they could tell Cricket and Fred. Maddie wished that she had saved a bite of the wonderful cotton candy for them to try, but Blue Bear assured her that cats aren’t fond of sugar so it was fine that she ate it all herself.
When they arrived home and Daddy was tucking her and Blue Bear into bed she tried to tell Cricket and Fred about the animals in the petting zoo, but her words kept getting messed up and her eyes wanted to close. Blue Bear said, “You go on to sleep and I will tell Cricket and Fred everything.” Maddie drifted off to the sound of Blue Bear’s soft voice and dreamed dreams of bright lights, bouncy slides and cotton candy.
