Going First
“Where are we going?” Sam asked.
“It’s a surprise,” said Mum.
“Tell me!” Pat screamed.
Mum laughed as they pulled into a parking bay.
Sam and Pat looked out the car window. They saw a large crowd of people waiting in lines for various rides.
“We’re at the fair!” Sam and Pat yelled in unison.
Music blared over the loud speakers, and lights flashed over the rides. Children walked around eating toffee- apples and fairy floss.
One kid held a stuffed animal that was larger than him!
Pat nearly knocked Sam down as he jumped out of the car.
“Can we go on the carousel first?” Pat asked.
“No, I want to go on the swings first,” Sam cried.
“Now boys, I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to do both,” said Mum.
Sam folded his arms. “Pat always gets to choose what we do.”
“No, I don’t!” Pat argued. “You always get to choose first!”
“Do not.”
“Do too.”
“I have an idea,” said Mum. “Whoever goes first today will go second tomorrow.”
“I’ll go first today,” both boys screamed at the same time.
Mum sighed.
“I’m going to go buy the tickets. When I come back, I hope you two will have worked something out.” Mum walked over to the ticket stand.
“I want to choose the first ride,” Pat said.
“No, you always go first! I am going first today,” Sam argued.
Mum returned with the tickets. “Have you boys reached an agreement?”
“If we ride the carousel first, I’ll let Sam go first tomorrow,” Pat insisted.
“I want to ride on the swings first. Pat can go first tomorrow,” Sam whined.
“I see,” said Mum. “I guess I’ll choose the first ride. Follow me, boys.”
Pat, Sam, and Mum walked up to a ride called Flipper. Pat’s mouth dropped open. Sam’s eyes widened. The ride held ten small cages on a large wheel. Two riders sat in each cage. Pat and Sam could hear the riders scream at the top of their lungs as they continuously spun around throughout the ride.
“So, who said they were going first?” Mum asked.
“Pat can go first,” said Sam.
“No, you first, Sam, I insist,” said Pat.
“Maybe we can go together!” Pat said.
“That’s a great idea!” Sam agreed.
© Sarah V. Richard 2009