Tickets, Please

 The Bear family pulled up to JoyLand Amusement Park and Marko could barely sit still!  He pressed his little black nose against the window and gasped.  The ticket booth was covered in bright, twinkling lights, and a big sign that read TICKETS sparkled like gold.

  Papa  Bear walked up to the booth and said, "Four tickets, please!"  

  Papa handed out the tickets -one for each bear.  From somewhere deep inside the park, Marko could hear the WHOOSH of a roller coaster and the happy screams of riders.

  "Let the adventure begin!" Papa Bear announced with a great big smile.  Together the four happy bears walked through the sparkling gates of JoyLand.  The best day ever was about to start!

Are You Tall Enough?

Marko spotted the BIG roller coaster first.  It was enormous-red and shiny with loops that twisted up into the clouds! He grabbed Papa Bear's paw and pulled him toward it. "Let's go, let's go, LET'S GO!" But wait! There was a tall wooden sign right at the entrance.  It showed the words: "You must be THIS tall to ride the roller coaster!" A bright red line was drawn at 42 inches. 

Marko stood up as straight as he could. He stretched his neck. He stood on his tippy-toes.  He held his breath and squeezed his eyes shut.  Mama Bear looked at the line...then looked at Marko...then broke into the biggest smile.

"Marko- sweetheart--you made it!" Marko did a happy little dance.

Up, Up, and Awaaaay!

The whole Bear family climbed into the big red roller coaster car and pulled the safety bar down tight. CLICK! CLICK!  went the car as it slowly climbed up, up, up the very first hill.  Marko could see the WHOLE park from up here-the games, the food stand, the tiny people below!

 "Here we gooooo!" Papa Bear shouted. And then----WHOOOSH! Down they plunged!  The wind whooshed through their hair as the zoomed through loops and turns and corkscrews!  Marko threw his paws straight up in the air.  Lola squealed with delight!.

  When the ride finally slowed to a stop, all four bears looked at each other with the biggest, wildest grins.  "AGAIN! AGAIN!" they all shouted at the very same time.  What a thrill!

Splish, Splash!

Next up: the Log Flume! The Bear family hopped into a big wooden log-shaped boat and off they floated..

 The log started climbing.  Up..up..UP a very, very, big hill!.  Marko looked down and his eyes went wide. "Uh oh!" said Papa Bear, gripping the sides.  "Hold on tight, everybody!"

SPLAAASH! Down they went with the biggest splash you have ever seen!  A wall of water shot up into the sky and came raining down on all four bears.  Marko was soaking wet from his ears to his toes and he laughed SO hard his tummy hurt!

 "That was AMAZING!" Lola giggled, shaking water droplets from her face.