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dipped down again, then went up into a double loop. “I can’t look,” Jessie shrieked, closing her eyes.

    â€œHang on,” Henry called to the girls. “Here we go!”
    At lightning speed the cars whipped around the first loop. Then they went down a straight stretch of tracks and whipped around the second loop.
    The children screamed and laughed as the cars rounded the tracks. The train zipped around several curves. Then it dropped into a steep, heart-pounding dive, and at last slowly pulled into the boarding platform again.
    â€œI don’t know if I can walk,” Courtney said as she leaned on Jessie for support. “My legs are trembling.”
    â€œWasn’t it great?” Henry said.
    â€œYes!” Jessie said. “I wasn’t scared at all.”
    â€œYou said that last year, too,” Henry said.
    â€œWell,” Jessie said. “This year I kept my eyes closed the whole time so I couldn’t see anything.”
    â€œCome on, you two,” Courtney said with a laugh. “We need to go if we’re going to find Violet, Benny, and Michael before the grand opening begins.”
    The children hurried down the ramp and headed toward the big tent in the center of the fair.
    It hadn’t taken long for Violet, Benny, and Michael to find a hot dog stand. The two little boys followed their noses to the bright yellow cart. Violet had to run to catch up with them.
    â€œHurry up, Violet,” Benny called. “We’ve already ordered.”
    â€œI’d like one hot dog with mustard, please,” Violet told the hot dog man. “And three containers of apple juice.”
    â€œWe ordered ketchup on our hot dogs,” Michael said. “I love ketchup.”
    â€œThere you are,” the man said with a smile. He handed each one of them a hot dog.
    The children paid for their lunches, then found seats at a small table. Violet was almost finished eating when she saw Kristie Stephens run out of the baked good competition tent.
    â€œHi, Kristie,” Violet said. “Come join us.”
    â€œNo, I can’t,” Kristie called back. “I have to find my mother.”
    â€œWill you be at the opening celebration?” Violet asked. “Maybe we can sit together.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Kristie said. She looked troubled. “I’m sorry. I really need to go now.”
    â€œAll right,” Violet said. “See you later.”
    â€œWhat was the matter with her, Violet?” Benny asked.
    â€œI don’t know, Benny,” Violet said. “Maybe we’ll find out later.”
    â€œI’m all finished,” Michael said as he wiped his mouth. “Can we go to the opening celebration now?”
    â€œSure, let’s go,” Violet said.
    Someone on a loudspeaker was announcing the start of the celebration just as Violet and the boys entered the open tent. Violet scanned the bleachers for the others.
    â€œHere we are,” Jessie said, waving to her sister. “We had a wonderful time on the roller coaster.”
    The children quickly found seats near the top of the bleachers. Then the opening ceremonies began!
    The Greenfield High School Marching Band started up a merry tune and began marching around the arena. The Greenfield Majorettes threw their batons in the air two at a time. When they finished, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.
    The majorettes joined the band as they marched in and out of several formations.
    â€œLook,” Benny said. “They’re spelling out something. G-R-E-E-N-F-I-E-L-D.”
    â€œThat spells Greenfield!” Michael said.
    â€œThat’s right,” Jessie said as she smiled at the two little boys.
    The Greenfield marching band finished their performance with another lively tune; then they marched over to one side of the arena and continued to play.
    The band was followed by several contest officials who were riding in a horse-drawn wagon. The