Ch3-S-O-L-D O-U-T

CHAPTER THREE S-O-L-D O-U-T The boat splashed into the lake and shot under the arched bridge. Then it bounced into the air, splashing water everywhere. Jack closed his eyes and ducked his head. All the teenagers screamed. For a moment the boat seemed to fly! Then it landed back on the lake and steadied itself.

Jack opened his eyes and looked around. Annie was laughing with the other passengers as the boat glided peacefully across the water. Everyone seemed to be having fun. But Jack's heart was thumping and his stomach felt queasy. The boatman docked the boat and helped everyone onto the landing. The passengers scattered in different directions. "Okay! Time to go to the theater!" said Annie. "Wait, I need to sit for a minute," said Jack. "I thought you were desperate to get our tickets," said Annie. "In a minute," said Jack. He pointed to a terrace that bordered the lake. "How about we sit over there?" "Sure," Annie said. "Are you okay?" "I will be," said Jack. "Come on." Jack and Annie climbed a couple of steps to the terrace and sat at the end of a crowded bench. All around them, people in costumes were hawking tickets to different rides. "Step this way, ladies and gentlemen! Enter the Dragon's Gorge! Greatest roller coaster in the country!" shouted a man wearing a dragon head.

"Over here! The Buzzard's Roost!" called a boy in a bird outfit. "Greatest train ride on earth!" "Come to the Babbling Brook!" yelled a girl dressed as a mermaid. "Greatest water ride in the U.S. of A.!" "Funny. Sounds like everything in Coney Island is the greatest," said Jack. "So?" said Annie. "That means nothing's really the greatest," said Jack, "because everything's the same!" "Ha!" A woman sitting on the bench laughed. Jack realized they were sitting next to the short couple from the Shoot-the-Chutes ride. Their big hats almost completely hid their faces. "Did you hear that, Harry?" the woman said to the man. "This boy's a genius!" "Ain't that the truth, Bess?" Harry said. "Don't say ain't, dear. Say isn't," Bess said kindly. Harry smiled at Jack and Annie. "Isn't that the truth?" he said. "See, my Bess is always looking after me." Jack and Annie smiled politely.

"Is this your first time in Coney Island, kiddos?" asked Harry. "It is," said Annie. "Yours, too?" "Oh, no!" said Bess. "No, no, no. We first met here at Coney Island fifteen years ago. We got married three weeks later!" "Congratulations," said Annie. "It was a long time ago," said Bess. "But I'm more crazy about him than ever. And he writes me a love note every day, rain or shine." "That's so sweet," said Annie. "Are you kiddos having a good time here?" asked Harry. "I am," said Annie. "Good," said Bess. Then she turned to her husband. "Time's running out, dreamboat," she said. "We'd better move on." "Can we get ice cream cones now?" Harry asked. "No! You know the routine—ice cream always comes after the show!" Bess said. "If we want to take the Trip to the Moon, we gotta go now." Harry looked at Jack and Annie. "She's always wanted to send me to the moon," he said.

Jack and Annie laughed. "You kiddos want to join us?" Harry asked. "I'm sorry, we can't," said Jack. "We have to do something else. Hey, do you know where Henderson's Music Hall is?" "Sure. Why do you want to know?" Bess asked. "We're going to see the Great Houdini," said Jack. "Ah! What a coincidence!" said Bess. "We're going there, too, after our Trip to the Moon. I adore that man—the Great Houdini! I wouldn't miss watching that dreamboat for anything in this world." Harry cleared his throat. "Sweetheart, they want directions," he said. "Oh, yes!" said Bess. "So, walk the main road there to the arches, and then exit the park." She pointed to giant gold-colored arches in the distance. "Then turn right and head down Surf Avenue. When you see a big red building, stop. That's it." "Cool," said Jack. "Thanks." "So long, kiddos. Maybe we'll see you later at the Great Houdini show," said Harry.

"And when you watch the show, remember," said Bess, "even though everything can't be the greatest, sometimes what folks call great really is great." Harry laughed. He tipped his straw hat to Jack and Annie, and he and Bess walked away. "I liked them," said Annie. "Me too," said Jack. He stood up. Talking with the cheerful couple had made him feel better. "Okay! Let's go get our tickets! Finally!" Jack and Annie stepped down from the terrace and walked up the broad avenue toward the arches. At the arches, they passed ticket sellers sitting in red chariots. "Hurry back to Luna Park!" one shouted. "We will, don't worry!" said Annie. Jack and Annie left Luna Park and stepped onto Surf Avenue. "Bess said to go right," said Jack. As Jack and Annie started up the crowded sidewalk, they passed horses and buggies and oldtimey cars. The warm summer night was filled with the sounds of hooves clomping and horns honking: Ah-OO-ga! Ah-OO-ga!