Boxcar Children Super Summer

by Charles Tang

  As soon as they walked down the ramp, Benny dashed toward the merry-go-round to watch the beautiful horses go up and down and round and round.

  When the merry-go-round stopped, Jessie and Violet walked toward it. All at once Jessie noticed Peter McKenzie studying the painted horses. She pointed at the young man who was holding a sketch pad.

  Violet said, “Oh, let’s say hello.”

  “Yes, let’s,” Jessie agreed, quickening her step.

  Peter was so intent in sketching the horses that he didn’t see them at first.

  Violet, always interested in art, was eager to see what Peter had drawn.

  As the two girls moved closer to Peter, he glanced up. Hastily he slammed shut his sketch book and jumped to his feet. “Hello, Jessie and Violet,” he said, taking a step backward. “I-I’m late,” he added quickly, and turned on his heel.

  Strange, Jessie thought. Why didn’t Peter want us to see his drawing of the horses? And why was he sketching them anyway? Something mysterious was in the air. The music started again. Now the drumbeat kept time not only to the rise and fall of the horses, but also to the rapid beating of her heart.

  CHAPTER 5

  Mystery at the Merry-go-round

  Violet and Jessie stared after Peter as he hurried away.

  “Will you go on the merry-go-round with me?” Benny asked, jumping up and down.

  “Yes,” Violet answered, “but I think Jessie and I will sit in the swan chariot.” She needed to talk to Jessie about Peter McKenzie’s strange behavior.

  “That’s okay,” Benny said with a smile.

  So Benny rode the dapple gray, while Henry rode the chocolate brown charger. Henry’s fancy horse had a silky mane with a small carved angel clinging to the saddle.

  “Wheee, here we go!” Benny shouted, slapping the horse’s side as if he could make it go faster.

  Once underway, Benny held on to the mane, and every once in a while he reached down and touched the jewels tacked onto the bridle. Laughing at the horse’s up and down motion, Benny lifted his head high.

  Sitting in the chariot, Violet asked, “Why do you suppose Peter wouldn’t let us see his sketch? He acted as if it were a secret.”

  Jessie looked puzzled. “I know. I don’t know what he was trying to hide. It’s only a carousel horse.”

  After the ride, the children walked over to the House of Mirrors. Henry bought four tickets, and they entered Karen’s latest improvement to the amusement park.

  When they reached the first mirror, Benny gazed at himself. His eyes widened and his mouth formed a big O as he saw his funny image. There he stood, a tall thin figure, wavering back and forth.

  Jessie, Violet, and Henry, three skinny tall forms, slipped by Benny and went into the corridors of hundreds of mirrors.

  Wandering off alone, Violet stopped before a mirror. Her hand flew to her mouth at the sight of herself. The slender young girl was changed into a short squat person with a head that looked like a squashed pumpkin.

  Giggling, Violet pointed at herself, unable to believe what she saw. “Henry!” she called.

  Her brother hurried around a group of mirrors and stared at Violet’s image. He laughed. “Violet, is that you?”

  She nodded, then laughing, pointed to his reflection. The tall boy was now short and fat. He looked as if he were three feet tall and three feet wide. Henry grinned. “We make a weird pair!”

  “Jessie,” Henry said, raising his voice. “Come, look.”

  But Jessie wasn’t in sight.

  Violet, Henry, and Benny all turned a corner to see where Jessie had gone, but when they wended their way down one path, they were faced with more mirrors. They tried another way, but it was the same. Mirrors in front, mirrors in back, mirrors to the right, and mirrors to the left.

  “Jessie!” Henry shouted, glancing around.

  No answer.

  “Jessie!” Benny yelled. “Where are you?” He fearfully glanced at Henry. “She’s gone.”

  “I’m here,” came the faint response.

  They weaved around one mirror, only to be faced with another.

  Henry bit his underlip. “Where could she be?” he murmured.

  “Jessie!” Violet said, her voice trembling, her heart pounding. She was beginning to feel frightened.

  This time Jessie’s voice was loud and clear. “Here I am,” she said, stepping out from behind several mirrors.

  “Jessie,” Benny shouted, running to her. “We thought you were lost.” He smiled at her. “I was scared.”

  Jessie nodded. “I was beginning to think so myself.”

  From then on the four of them stuck together. After a few false starts they finally discovered their way to the exit.

  Outside, Violet said to Benny, “Are you ready to go home?”

  “Not yet,” he said. “Could I ride one more time on the merry-go-round?”

  “Sure, you can,” Henry said. “We’ll watch from here.”

  “Did you pick out a horse you like?” Jessie asked.

  Benny nodded and pointed to a light colored horse with a lovely red and turquoise saddle blanket. “I’ll give the dapple gray a rest. I want to ride the white one this time.”

  Violet smiled. “It looks white, doesn’t it? But it’s really a very pale gray.”

  Henry bought Benny a ticket, and the small boy ran to his chosen steed. Quickly he placed a foot in the stirrup and swung a small leg over the saddle.

  The music began and the horses bobbed up and down. But as Henry, Jessie, and Violet watched, they were surprised to see that Benny’s horse stayed in one place. The gray horse went around in a circle with the others, but it didn’t move up and down.

  Benny, digging his heels into the horse’s flanks, tried to make it move. Finally, he stopped and looked down at his horse. With a puzzled frown he glanced around. All the other horses were going up and down. Disappointed, he simply sat and waited for the ride to be over.

  When the merry-go-round halted, Benny slid off his horse and came running. “The dumb horse didn’t move!” he complained.

  Jessie studied the horse. None of the horses had ever been motionless before. Every one had moved up and down. What was wrong with this horse?

  She glanced at Violet, who was chewing her underlip. Evidently Violet, too, thought something was wrong.

  “I think we should tell Joshua,” Violet said.

  For a moment Jessie didn’t speak, then she said thoughtfully, “Maybe it just needs oiling,” she said. “Joshua probably knows and the horse will be fixed tomorrow.”

  “Okay, Jessie,” Henry said. He was puzzled, however, as he gazed at the horse. He hoped Jessie was right, and that it was just a little problem.

  CHAPTER 6

  Who Hurt Benny’s Horse?

  Several days passed before the Aldens returned to the amusement park. The first place they stopped was at the concession stand.

  “Oh,” Sheila said, “are you children back again?”

  “Yes!” Benny said promptly, hopping up on the stool. “We haven’t been here for two whole days.” He grinned. “I missed my cotton candy.” Then his smile faded. “The last time I was here one of the horses wouldn’t work!”

  “What do you mean?” Sheila asked.

  “The horse Benny rode wouldn’t go up and down,” Violet explained.

  “Oh,” Sheila said, frowning. She turned her back, clearly not wanting to talk anymore.

  “Ah,” Frank said, coming in from the back. “If it isn’t Benny Alden.” He scooped lots of cotton candy in a cone. “This is for you!” He held out the gigantic pink frothy cone.

  “Oh, my,” Violet said. “Look at that, Benny! Can you eat it all?”

  “Just watch me!” Benny said, eagerly reaching for the cone. “Ummmm, it’s good,” he said, licking contentedly.

  Jessie laughed. “Come along, Benny.”

  Henry said, “Listen to the calliope music.”

  Benny smiled, pink foam ringing his mouth. �
�The merry-go-round! Let’s go for a ride,” he said gleefully.

  They walked down the dusty pathway with rides and games on either side of them.

  “Don’t you want to try a different ride?” Jessie asked, heading for the swings.

  Benny lapped up the rest of his cone and turned in the direction of the swings. “I don’t know,” he said doubtfully.

  “We rode them when we first came,” Violet reminded him, “and you thought it was fun.”

  “Okay,” Benny said, agreeably.

  Henry bought four tickets, lifted Benny up into a swing, and strapped him in. Then he, Jessie, and Violet found swings behind Benny and the ride began.

  The swings, attached by chains to a center pole, flew out a little from the ground. Then as the swings picked up speed, they flew faster and faster and higher and higher above the ground.

  Violet laughed. “Everything’s a blur.”

  The swings spun at a dizzy rate.

  Gradually the swings whirled slower and slower as they came to a halt.

  Henry jumped down and helped Benny out.

  Benny staggered a bit, and his face was white. “That was scary!” He held his head.

  “But it’s fun to go so fast, isn’t it, Benny?” Violet asked.

  “No,” Benny said in a firm voice. “I like the merry-go-round better. The horses gallop at just the right speed.”

  “Then the merry-go-round it will be,” Jessie said. “You can pick out any horse you like.”

  Benny’s face lit up. “I want the dapple gray again. He’s my favorite.”

  So again they all rode horses and enjoyed the bobbing movement and the loud calliope music.

  When they dismounted, however, Violet was surprised to see Benny looking unhappy. Bending down, she asked, “What’s wrong, Benny? Your horse went up and down this time, didn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Benny replied seriously, his lower lip trembling, “but someone cut my horse’s side.”

  “What?” Henry exclaimed, jumping on the platform to examine Benny’s horse.

  Henry ran his hand over the horse’s side. There was a long scratch that reached from the horse’s head to the saddle.

  “Hey!” an unshaven man yelled. “If you want to go on the merry-go-round, buy a ticket! Look what happens when I take a couple of days off. Nobody watches whats going on!”

  Henry gave the cross man a smile and jumped off.

  “You’re right, Benny. The dapple gray has a deep scratch on its side.” Henry studied Benny’s face. “Are you sure that mark wasn’t there before?”

  “I’m sure!” Benny said. “I know every inch of my horse!”

  The children were quiet as they walked out of the park. Then Henry said, “I’m sorry about your horse, Benny. Who could have done such a thing?”

  “I wish we knew,” Violet said. “It’s too bad.”

  When they were on their bikes, Jessie asked, “Do you think it could have been scratched on purpose?” When she saw Benny’s sad face, she quickly changed the subject. “You know, we have a chicken to make for dinner tonight. Why don’t we invite—?”

  “Joe and Alice?” Violet finished, her eyes sparkling.

  “Right you are,” Jessie said.

  “Great idea,” Henry said.

  “Oh, boy, company,” Benny said and he smiled, forgetting about his scratched horse.

  Benny begged to be the one to visit the main house and ask Joe and Alice for dinner.

  Jessie said, “Of course, you may!”

  When they reached their house, the children set to work to make an extra-special dinner.

  Alice had given them permission to pick flowers from her garden, so Violet promised to pick a bouquet of carnations and roses for the centerpiece.

  “Good,” Jessie said. She had hoped that Violet would volunteer as she always arranged things so well.

  By six o’clock, the chicken was roasting in the oven, almost done. Henry and Benny had set the table and arranged the chairs.

  When Joe and Alice came in, Alice smiled. “Oh, how lovely,” she said. “This is a perfect ending to a busy day.”

  “Why were you so busy?” Benny asked, looking clean and handsome in his navy blue jogging suit.

  Joe sat down at the table and said, “We had a school group tour the museum today.” He paused. “But you must have been busy, too. What have you been up to?”

  Jessie laughed. “Fun things, like the amusement park.”

  “I don’t think Sheila Arnold likes us,”Benny said suddenly.

  “Why do you think that?” Joe asked.

  “I don't know,” Benny said. Then after a thoughtful pause he added, “But she frowns a lot.”

  “Maybe she just had a bad day,” Joe answered with a smile.

  Violet passed the chicken to Alice. “This looks positively delicious,” Alice said. “You even put flowers on the table and lit candles. I can’t believe you did all this!”

  “It was fun,” Henry said.

  “Yes,” Jessie said. “And we always work a little harder when we know we’re having company.”

  The dinner turned out well. The chicken was juicy, the salad crisp, the peas not overcooked, and the mashed potatoes smooth and creamy.

  For dessert Jessie and Henry served ice cream with chocolate sauce.

  “What rides did you go on today, Benny?” Joe asked, taking a spoonful of ice cream.

  Benny wrinkled his nose. “The swings. I don’t like the swings anymore! I felt like I was falling out. I like the merry-go-round best.”

  Alice asked, “Do you have a favorite horse?” “Oh, yes,” Benny said. “The dapple gray.”

  “Ah,” Joe said, pushing back his empty ice cream dish and sitting back. “You even know the horse’s color.”

  “I do,” Benny answered. “Today, though, the dapple gray had a big scratch on its side.” He shook his head sadly. “I was upset.”

  Concerned, Alice glanced at Benny. “I don’t blame you. A scratch on a beautiful horse! I wonder how it got there.”

  “Probably some careless rider,” said Joe. “You really enjoy the merry-go-round, don’t you? I know you hate to see any of the horses hurt.”

  “Yes,” Violet answered. “They’re too beautiful.”

  “When Gustav Dentzel first introduced his merry-go-round, did everyone find it as magnificent?” Jessie asked.

  “Yes, indeed.” Joe stopped and chuckled. “Well, almost.”

  “Almost?” Henry said. “You mean someone didn’t like it?”

  “It seems Gustav Dentzel was so proud of his spectacular horses that he took them on a tour,” Joe said. “Once, when he traveled to Richmond, Virginia, the calliope started to play, and little boys, instead of riding his merry-go-round, threw stones at it.”

  “Threw stones!” Benny echoed, wide-eyed.

  “Yes,” Joe continued. “You see, Dentzel’s music played ‘Marching Through Georgia.’ This was a Yankee war song about General Sherman’s burning of Atlanta.”

  “That song was a no-no in the South,”Alice said.

  “Believe me, Dentzel learned his lesson and never played music that would offend anyone,” Joe said with a laugh.

  “Well, I hope his carousel and calliope music go on forever,” Violet said, smiling.

  “So do I,” Henry said. But secretly he was worried. Already one horse didn’t go up and down, and another had been scratched. Was someone hurting these beautiful horses?

  CHAPTER 7

  The Unpainted Horse

  Early in the morning Henry said, “You know, I think Joshua needs to know about the scratch on the dapple gray and the horse that doesn’t go up and down.”

  “You’re right,” Jessie said.

  “If we go now, the park won’t be too busy, will it?” Violet asked.

  “We’ll have to find Joshua right away,” Henry said. “He’ll be around.”

  “Good!” Benny said. He sneezed twice.

  “You’d better wear a sweater and ta
ke a handkerchief,” Violet said.

  Benny, without an argument, slipped on his sweater and tucked a handkerchief in his pants’ pocket. “I’ve never seen the park with the rides quiet,” he said.

  “Today’s the day,” Henry said lightly.

  So after a hearty breakfast of orange juice, oatmeal, and toast, the children hiked to the park.

  When they entered, the rides were motionless. Only a few people were around. As they passed the concession stand, Sheila was busy cleaning the cotton candy machine.

  “Good morning,” the Aldens called pleasantly.

  “Morning,” Sheila muttered, scarcely looking up.

  Benny whispered, “I told you she didn’t like us.”

  They walked toward the merry-go-round where Ned, the man who ran it, sat perched on the platform, munching on a doughnut. He wore a black vest over a shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked up, surprised to see anyone in the park. “We’re not open,” he said gruffly, taking another bite.

  “We need to see Joshua,” Violet said politely. “Could you tell us where he is?”

  Ned jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “He’s back in the trailer.”

  “Thank you,” Jessie said.

  The man grunted and took a gulp of coffee.

  Benny raced ahead and knocked on the trailer door.

  Joshua opened the door and said, “Well, if it isn’t the Aldens. Come in.”

  The cozy trailer had a bedroom and a stainless steel kitchen with a table in the corner and a cushioned bench around it.

  “Have a seat,” Joshua urged, smiling at them. “This is an unexpected pleasure.”

  “We have bad news for you,” Benny said, his mouth turned downward.

  Joshua’s eyebrows shot up. “Bad news?”

  “Yes,” Jessie said. “Benny has discovered two things about your horses that aren’t right.”

  “And what is that?” Joshua said, sitting down and folding his hands.