Magic Tree House #50: Hurry Up, Houdini! (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

large hats. The woman’s hat was piled high with fake roses and bananas.
    “The kids ride up front!” the boatman said.
    Jack and Annie stepped into the boat, and the teenagers and the couple in the hats took seats behind them. The boatman sat in the back. Soon cables began pulling the boat up a ramp that led to the top of the slide.
    “Whoa,” Jack breathed as the boat climbed higher and higher. The amusement park shimmered below. Hundreds of flags flapped from turrets and towers.
    What keeps the boat from tumbling off its
tracks?
Jack wondered. “There’re no seat belts here,” he grumbled to Annie, “or safety bars, or anything. How do people keep from falling out of this thing?”

    “I don’t know,” said Annie, sighing. “But could you just try to have fun? It’s a normal, everyday ride.”
    “Yeah, well, we don’t really have time for a normal, everyday ride,” said Jack. “We should have gotten our tickets for the Houdini show already.”
    “You don’t have to be so grouchy,” said Annie.
    “I’m not grouchy,” Jack said grouchily. “But why do we always do what you want to do?”
    Before Annie could answer, the boat swiveled on a turnaround at the top of the ramp. Then it jerked forward and barreled down the slide toward the lake!
    “AHHHHHH!” Jack yelled.

T he 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 girldressed 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