Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Penelope Gwinn climbed the stage steps, and the crowd settled down. The tall man stood at the bottom of the steps with his muscular arms crossed. On the stage, someone handed Penelope her violin. Then the group began to play. After a few minutes, the band stopped and Penelope Gwinn played her violin. When she

began to sing, the audience joined in. Dink noticed that Josh was snapping his fingers. "Thought you didn't like violin music," he whispered to Josh. "I don't, usually," Josh said. "But I've never heard anyone play a violin like this before!" Penelope played and sang for about forty-five minutes before she took a break. She handed her violin to a band member and took a deep bow. "Thank you!" she called to the cheering crowd. "I'll be back in twenty minutes!"

The woman in front of Dink pulled her mask down over her face. Then she hurried toward the stage steps with her autograph book. Josh pulled off his mask and stood up. He grinned down at Ruth Rose. "Those hot dogs smell so good!" Mr. Hathaway handed Ruth Rose some bills. "Lunch is on me," he said. "Meet me back here after intermission." The kids walked toward the food carts. They passed Presto Pizza and stopped at a cart with a picture of a hot dog on the side. A sign said, FRANK'S FINEST FRANKS. The man behind the cart was wearing a white jacket. The name "Frank" was stitched in black letters over the pocket. "I'd like four hot dogs, please," Ruth Rose said. "Sorry, I'm closing for a few minutes," the man said. He needed a shave. Dark, curly hair grew on the back of his thick knuckles.

"But I'm starving!" Josh pleaded. He gestured at Dink and Ruth Rose. "My friends are, too." "Well, all right," the man said. "But make it snappy." He held up an autograph book. "I have to get PENGUIN to sign this for my daughter." The man pulled two rubber gloves from a box on his counter. He slipped them over his hands, then plopped four hot dogs into buns and placed them on paper plates. "Drinks?" he asked. "Three colas," Ruth Rose said. She put her money on the counter. The man traded the drinks for the bills and slapped down the change. "Mustard and stuff is on

the counter!" he yelled as he dashed toward the stage. "You should get her autograph, too, Ruth Rose," Dink said as he squeezed mustard on his dog. "I already have it," Ruth Rose said. "When they sent me the tickets, there was a signed picture of PENGUIN in the envelope." "I hear circus music," Josh said. He pointed toward some trees. "Let's go check it out." They ate as they walked toward the tall trees. "A carousel!" Ruth Rose said. "Want to take a ride? Dad gave me enough money." "No way," Josh said around a mouthful of hot dog. "That's for little kids." "Come on, Josh," Dink said. "It'll be fun. I haven't been on a carousel for years. Besides, I see some kids our age riding it." Josh sighed. "Okay, but I'm not sitting on some baby lamb or puppy dog."

The kids finished eating, dropped their trash in a barrel, and hurried to buy tickets. A minute later, the carousel stopped and a bunch of kids hopped off. Ruth Rose climbed aboard a shiny black horse and sat in its golden saddle. She held on to the safety pole that went from the floor to the carousel's roof. Dink chose a green dragon with fake red flames shooting from its mouth. Josh checked out each animal. Finally he chose a roaring lion. The carousel operator circled the platform. "Be sure to hold on to your poles," she said. A minute later, the carousel started moving. Dink held the pole as his dragon moved up and down. He laughed out loud when it suddenly roared and its tail swept back and forth.