Ekin and Dad
A Day at White Post Farms
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A Day at White Post Farms
Tap Next to start the journey →
Chapter One · 1 of 18
On Saturday morning, Ekin woke up very early, because today was the day he and his dad were going to White Post Farms, and he put on his shoes before his dad had even finished his breakfast, because a farm day is a day that cannot wait. He had packed his backpack the night before, with a water bottle and a snack and the festival map, because a boy who is ready the night before can leave the house the moment his dad says go.
Chapter One · 2 of 18
Ekin and his dad went by subway, train and bus, because the farm is far away on Long Island, and the subway was the first part of the journey, and Ekin held his dad's hand on the stairs down to the platform, because the station was full of people in a hurry. Ekin liked the sound of the subway, the rumble under his feet and the ding of the doors, because a subway is a train that lives under the city, and that makes it a secret train.
Chapter One · 3 of 18
On the subway, Ekin sat by the window and counted the stops, and he liked the way the train rushed through the dark tunnel and then came out into the light again, and his dad told him that the next train would be even bigger, because it was a train that went all the way to Long Island. His dad told him that the Long Island train was called the LIRR, and Ekin repeated the letters, L-I-R-R, because new letters are fun to say, even when you do not know what they mean yet.
Chapter One · 4 of 18
At Jamaica Station, Ekin looked up at the big boards with all the train times, and the station was huge, with many platforms and many trains, and Ekin hoped that their train would be a double-decker, a train with two floors, because he had never ridden a train with stairs inside it. He imagined climbing the stairs and sitting on the top floor, looking down at the whole world, because the top floor of a train must be the best seat in the whole world.
Chapter One · 5 of 18
Ekin looked for the double-decker train on every platform, and he asked his dad which train was theirs, and his dad pointed to the train that was waiting for them, but it was not a double-decker, it was a train with only one floor, and Ekin felt a little bit sad. He looked at the train again, hoping that it would grow a second floor, but it stayed the same, and his dad squeezed his hand, because a squeezed hand is a dad's way of saying it will be all right.
Chapter One · 6 of 18
His dad smiled and said that the train was still a fast train, and the ride would still be fun, and Ekin nodded, because his dad was right, and he climbed onto the train and found a seat by the window, and the train started to move with a soft bump. Ekin waved at the station as it slid away, and he felt the train pick up speed, because a train that leaves a station is a train that is taking you somewhere wonderful.
Chapter One · 7 of 18
On the train, Ekin looked out of the window at the houses and the trees and the cars going by, and the train went faster and faster, and Ekin liked the way the world rushed past the window, because a train window is like a television that shows a new picture every second. He saw a big bridge and a river, and he saw cars on a road next to the train, and the cars looked small and slow, because a train is faster than any car on the road.
Chapter One · 8 of 18
His dad took the festival map out of his pocket and showed it to Ekin, and the map had pictures of all the animals on it, a giraffe and a monkey and a parrot and a dog, and Ekin pointed at the dog and said that he wanted to see the dog show first, because dogs are his favourite animals. His dad said that the dog show was called the Canine Stars, and Ekin repeated the name, Canine Stars, because it sounded like the name of a show for superheroes, and dogs are superheroes to Ekin.
Chapter One · 9 of 18
Ekin and his dad talked about what to see first, and Ekin wanted to see the parrots and the monkeys, and his dad wanted to see the circus and the magician, and they agreed to see everything, because a whole day at the farm is a long day, and there was time for all of it. They made a plan, first the animals, then the dog show, then the circus, and Ekin liked having a plan, because a plan is like a map for your day, and it tells you where the fun is.
Chapter One · 10 of 18
The train stopped at a station, and some people got off and some people got on, and Ekin watched them from his seat, and he wondered where they were all going, because a train carries so many people to so many places, and every person has a different day ahead of them. One lady was carrying flowers, and one man was reading a book, and Ekin wondered what their days would be like, because everyone on a train is going to a different story.
Chapter One · 11 of 18
Ekin saw a playground from the train window, and he saw a boy on a swing, and he waved, even though the boy could not see him, because waving from a train is fun, and his dad laughed, and said that Ekin was a friendly traveller. The boy on the swing waved back, or at least Ekin thought he did, and Ekin smiled, because waving at a stranger from a train is a small gift, and it costs nothing.
Chapter One · 12 of 18
At last, the train stopped at their station, and Ekin and his dad got off, and the station was smaller and quieter than Jamaica Station, and Ekin held his dad's hand, because a new place is always easier to explore when you hold the hand of someone you love. The station had a small clock on the wall, and the clock said it was almost eleven, and Ekin felt hungry, because a journey always makes a boy hungry.
Chapter One · 13 of 18
They waited at the bus stop, and soon the bus came, and Ekin climbed on and sat by the window again, because a window seat is the best seat on any bus, and the bus drove through streets with big trees and wide fields, which looked very different from the streets near their home. The bus driver smiled at Ekin, and Ekin smiled back, and the bus smelled like clean seats and warm air, because a bus on a sunny day is a happy place to be.
Chapter One · 14 of 18
On the bus, Ekin looked out at the fields and the farms, and he saw a red barn and a field full of orange pumpkins, and his dad said that they were almost there, and Ekin felt his heart beat faster, because the farm was very close now. He saw cows in a field, and he counted them, one, two, three, four, and then he lost count, because the field was full of cows, and cows are hard to count when they keep moving.
Chapter One · 15 of 18
The bus turned onto Old Country Road, and Ekin saw the big sign that said White Post Farms, and there were pumpkins by the road and flags waving in the wind, and Ekin pointed at the sign and shouted, in a happy voice, that they had arrived. The flags were orange and yellow, like the colours of autumn, and Ekin liked them, because orange and yellow are the colours of pumpkins, and pumpkins are the colours of the farm.
Chapter One · 16 of 18
Ekin and his dad got off the bus and walked to the festival entrance, and the entrance was full of people, and there was music in the air, and Ekin could smell popcorn, and he held the festival map tight in his hand, because he did not want to lose it. The music was coming from a band near the entrance, and the band was playing a happy song, and Ekin tapped his feet, because happy music makes feet want to dance.
Chapter One · 17 of 18
At the entrance, his dad bought the tickets, and Ekin watched the tickets come out of the machine, and he put his ticket in his pocket very carefully, because a ticket is the key to a whole day of fun, and a key must not be lost. The ticket was orange, like a pumpkin, and Ekin put it in his pocket next to the map, and he patted his pocket twice, to make sure it was safe, because a patted pocket is a safe pocket.
Chapter One · 18 of 18
Ekin ran a little bit ahead, and then he stopped and waited for his dad at the gate, because his dad had told him to stay where he could be seen, and Ekin was a good listener, and together they walked through the gate, and the farm day began. Ekin took a deep breath, and he smelled popcorn and hay and fresh air, and he smiled, because a farm smells like the best day of the year.
Chapter Two · 1 of 18
The first thing Ekin saw was the giraffe barn, and the giraffe was so tall that its head was higher than the roof of the barn, and Ekin had to tilt his head right back to see it, because a giraffe is the tallest animal Ekin had ever seen in his life. The giraffe's spots were brown and orange, like the leaves in autumn, and Ekin thought that a giraffe was a horse that had been stretched up to the sky.
Chapter Two · 2 of 18
The giraffe bent its long neck down, slowly and gently, to eat leaves from a branch, and Ekin watched its long tongue curl around the leaves, and his dad said that a giraffe's tongue is as long as a ruler, and Ekin tried to imagine a tongue that long. His dad said that a giraffe uses its tongue to pull leaves off the trees, because its neck is long, but its tongue is longer, and Ekin stuck out his own tongue, to see how long it was.
Chapter Two · 3 of 18
Next, they went to see the monkeys, and the monkeys were swinging from branch to branch in their house, and one monkey was holding a small orange in its hands, and another monkey was chattering loudly, and Ekin laughed, because the monkeys looked like they were playing a game. One monkey swung by its tail, hanging upside down, and Ekin laughed, because a monkey that hangs by its tail is the funniest monkey in the whole zoo.
Chapter Two · 4 of 18
Ekin watched the monkeys for a long time, and he liked the way they jumped and swung and tumbled, and his dad said that monkeys are very clever, and they use their hands almost like people do, and Ekin tried to swing his arms like a monkey, and his dad laughed. Ekin swung his arms and jumped, and the monkeys watched him, and one monkey copied him, and Ekin laughed even more, because a monkey that copies you is a friend.
Chapter Two · 5 of 18
Then they went to the aviary, the big house where the birds live, and inside there were parrots in every colour, red and green and blue and yellow, and the parrots were sitting on branches and flapping their wings, and Ekin had never seen so many colours in one place. The parrots were chattering, and the sound was like a hundred small voices talking at once, and Ekin listened, because parrot talk is a language that only parrots understand.
Chapter Two · 6 of 18
Ekin and his dad fed the parrots, and Ekin held out his hand with seeds in it, very still and very quiet, and a green parrot flew down and landed softly on his arm, and it took a seed from his hand with its beak, and Ekin did not move at all, because he did not want to scare it. The parrot's feet were soft on his arm, and its feathers were green like leaves, and Ekin held his breath, because a parrot on your arm is a gift, and you must be very gentle with a gift.
Chapter Two · 7 of 18
The parrot looked at Ekin with its bright eye, and it flapped its wings once, and then it flew back to its branch, and Ekin smiled the biggest smile of the day, because a parrot had eaten from his hand, and that is a thing you do not forget. Ekin told his dad that the parrot had looked right at him, and his dad said that parrots remember faces, and Ekin hoped the parrot would remember his face, and say hello next time.
Chapter Two · 8 of 18
There were other animals that Ekin loved, and they walked to see the goats and the sheep, and the goats were soft and friendly, and one goat came close to the fence to say hello, and Ekin waved at it, because a goat that comes to say hello deserves a wave. The sheep were soft and white, like clouds, and they were eating grass, and Ekin liked the sound they made, a soft baa, because a sheep's baa is a gentle sound.
Chapter Two · 9 of 18
They saw the alpacas with their soft woolly coats, and the Brahma cows with their big humps, and the miniature cows, which were small like toy cows, and Ekin liked the miniature cows best, because they looked like cows that had been made for children. The alpacas had long necks and soft eyes, and one alpaca looked at Ekin, and Ekin looked back, and they stared at each other for a long time, like two friends meeting for the first time.
Chapter Two · 10 of 18
At the ostrich feeding platform, Ekin saw an ostrich, a very big bird with long legs and a long neck, and the ostrich walked slowly around its pen, and Ekin was glad that the fence was between them, because an ostrich is much bigger than a parrot. The ostrich's feathers were black and white, and its legs were long and strong, and Ekin was glad that ostriches cannot fly, because an ostrich that could fly would be a very big bird in the sky.
Chapter Two · 11 of 18
They saw the zebra with its black and white stripes, and Ekin tried to count the stripes, but there were too many, and his dad said that no two zebras have the same stripes, just like no two people have the same fingerprints, and Ekin thought that was amazing. Ekin tried to draw a zebra in the air with his finger, black stripe, white stripe, black stripe, and his dad said that Ekin's air zebra was a very good zebra, and Ekin agreed.
Chapter Two · 12 of 18
They saw the spurred tortoise, a very old and very slow animal with a big shell on its back, and the tortoise was eating a leaf, very slowly, and Ekin watched it, and he liked the tortoise, because it was calm and quiet, and it was in no hurry at all. The tortoise's shell was hard and brown, like a big rock, and Ekin thought that a tortoise carries its house on its back, and that is a very clever way to never be late for home.
Chapter Two · 13 of 18
Then they walked into the Dinosaur Adventure, and there were big dinosaur models everywhere, and Ekin saw a T. rex with teeth as long as bananas, and he stayed very still and quiet behind a big soft fern, just like he had read in a story, until the dinosaur was far behind them. Ekin saw a Triceratops with three horns, and a Stegosaurus with plates on its back, and he named them all, because Ekin knows his dinosaurs, and he was proud of knowing them.
Chapter Two · 14 of 18
Ekin and his dad bought popcorn, and the popcorn was warm and salty, and they shared it as they walked, and Ekin ate it one piece at a time, because popcorn is better when you eat it slowly, and his dad ate it by the handful, because dads are always in a hurry with popcorn. The popcorn bag was red and white, like a circus tent, and Ekin held it with both hands, because a bag of popcorn is a treasure, and a treasure must be held with both hands.
Chapter Two · 15 of 18
They rode the White Post Express train, a small train that goes around the farm, and Ekin sat by the window again, and the little train went past the animals and the pumpkins, and Ekin waved at everyone they passed, because waving from a train is fun, even from a small one. The little train had a bell, and the bell rang ding-ding, and Ekin rang an imaginary bell, because a train without a bell is not a real train.
Chapter Two · 16 of 18
They played at the play houses and the playground, and Ekin climbed up high and slid down fast, and his dad watched from a bench, and Ekin shouted that he could see the whole farm from the top, and his dad said that Ekin looked like a king on top of a castle. Ekin climbed to the top of the slide and looked down, and he could see the giraffe barn and the pumpkin patch, and he felt like a king, because a king can see his whole kingdom from the top.
Chapter Two · 17 of 18
Ekin told his dad that the parrots were his favourite animals so far, because a parrot had eaten from his hand, but he also loved the monkeys and the giraffe, and his dad said that it was hard to choose a favourite when there were so many wonderful animals. Ekin said that he loved the parrots best, but the monkeys were second, and the giraffe was third, and his dad said that Ekin's list was a very good list, because it had all the best animals on it.
Chapter Two · 18 of 18
His dad looked at his watch and said that the dog show was starting soon, and Ekin jumped up, because the dog show was the thing he wanted to see most, and they walked quickly to the show, and Ekin held the map, and his dad held Ekin's hand. Ekin ran to the show, and his dad ran too, and they laughed, because running to a dog show is the best kind of running, and the dogs were waiting for them.
Chapter Three · 1 of 18
Ekin and his dad found seats for the Canine Stars show, and the seats were close to the stage, and Ekin could see everything, and the music started, and the crowd went quiet, because the dog show was about to begin, and Ekin's heart beat fast. The stage was big and round, with flags around it, and Ekin could smell the popcorn from the people behind him, and he felt excited, because a show that is about to start is a show full of promises.
Chapter Three · 2 of 18
The first dog ran onto the stage, a fast little dog with bright eyes, and it jumped through a hoop, high in the air, and the crowd cheered, and Ekin cheered too, because a dog jumping through a hoop is a wonderful thing to see. The hoop was red, like a big circle, and the dog jumped through it so fast that Ekin almost missed it, and his dad said that the dog must have practiced a thousand times, because a jump like that does not happen by accident.
Chapter Three · 3 of 18
The next dog caught a ball in the air, and then it caught another one, and another one, and it never dropped a single ball, and Ekin clapped, because catching balls in the air is hard, even for a dog that practices every day. The balls were red and blue, and the dog caught them one by one, and the crowd gasped, because catching three balls in the air is a trick that even people cannot do.
Chapter Three · 4 of 18
Then two dogs danced together on the stage, walking on their back legs and turning around in circles, and the crowd laughed, because dancing dogs look very funny, and Ekin laughed the loudest, because he had never seen dogs dance before. The dogs wore little red scarves, and they looked very smart, and Ekin thought that dancing dogs were the funniest dancers in the world, because they dance with their whole bodies, including their tails.
Chapter Three · 5 of 18
A small dog did a funny trick, rolling over and over on the stage, and then it stood up and bowed, and Ekin laughed so much that his tummy hurt, because the small dog looked like a furry ball rolling across the floor. The small dog's name was Biscuit, and the announcer said that Biscuit was the funniest dog in the show, and Ekin agreed, because Biscuit made everyone laugh, and making people laugh is a very good job.
Chapter Three · 6 of 18
A big dog jumped over a bar, and then the bar went higher, and the dog jumped again, and higher, and higher, and the dog jumped over the bar every single time, and Ekin held his breath, because the bar was almost as high as Ekin himself. The big dog's name was Max, and Max ran fast, and he jumped high, and Ekin stood up to see better, because a jump that high must be seen standing up.
Chapter Three · 7 of 18
Two dogs raced through poles, weaving in and out, fast as the wind, and Ekin did not know which dog would win, and in the end they finished at the same time, and the crowd cheered for both of them, because a race that ends in a tie is the best kind of race. The poles were yellow and white, and the dogs weaved through them like snakes, and Ekin counted the poles, one, two, three, all the way to ten, and then he lost count, because the dogs were too fast.
Chapter Three · 8 of 18
A clever dog balanced a ball on its nose, and it stood very still, and the ball did not fall, and Ekin tried to balance an imaginary ball on his own nose, and his dad laughed, because Ekin's nose is much smaller than a dog's nose. The ball was blue, and it sat on the dog's nose like a hat, and the dog did not move a muscle, and Ekin tried to sit still like the dog, but he wiggled, because sitting still is hard for a boy.
Chapter Three · 9 of 18
The dogs did one more trick together, jumping and spinning and running in a line, and then they all sat down in a row, and they bowed, and the crowd stood up and cheered, because the Canine Stars were the best dogs Ekin had ever seen. The dogs' tails were wagging, all at the same time, like a row of flags in the wind, and Ekin thought that wagging tails were the dogs' way of saying thank you to the crowd.
Chapter Three · 10 of 18
Ekin clapped until his hands hurt, and he cheered until his voice was tired, because the dog show was the best show of the whole day, and he wanted the dogs to know how much he loved them, and the dogs wagged their tails, as if they understood. Ekin's hands were red from clapping, and his voice was tired from cheering, but he did not stop, because the dogs deserved every clap, and Ekin wanted them to know it.
Chapter Three · 11 of 18
His dad took a photo of Ekin smiling, and Ekin smiled the biggest smile, because he was so happy, and his dad said that this photo would be a good one to keep, because a happy face on a farm day is a face worth remembering. Ekin put his arm around his dad, and his dad took the photo, and Ekin smiled, because a photo with your dad is a photo that you keep forever.
Chapter Three · 12 of 18
Ekin said that the Canine Stars was his favourite show, and he said it three times, because one time was not enough, and his dad nodded, because he could see that Ekin meant it, and the dogs were truly wonderful. Ekin said it once more, quietly, to himself, because a favourite show is a show that you want to remember, and saying it three times makes it stay in your heart.
Chapter Three · 13 of 18
After the show, Ekin wanted to see the dogs up close, and he waved at them as they walked off the stage, and one dog looked back at him and wagged its tail, and Ekin waved harder, because a dog that waves back with its tail is a friend. Ekin waved until the dogs were gone, and then he waved at the stage, because the stage was where the dogs had been, and a stage that held such wonderful dogs deserves a wave too.
Chapter Three · 14 of 18
They walked to the next show, and Ekin pretended to be a dog jumping through a hoop, and he jumped high in the air, and his dad laughed, and said that Ekin would make a very good Canine Star, if he practiced every day like the dogs did. Ekin jumped through an imaginary hoop, and he landed on both feet, and his dad clapped, because Ekin's jump was a very good jump, and a good jump deserves a clap.
Chapter Three · 15 of 18
Ekin jumped again, and again, and his dad counted his jumps, one, two, three, and Ekin said that he could jump as high as the little dog, and his dad said that he believed him, because Ekin was a very good jumper. Ekin jumped higher and higher, and his dad counted, four, five, six, and Ekin laughed, because jumping is more fun when someone counts your jumps.
Chapter Three · 16 of 18
They sat down on a bench to rest, and Ekin told his dad about his favourite dog, the small one that rolled over, and his dad told Ekin about his favourite dog, the big one that jumped over the bar, and they agreed that all the dogs were stars. The bench was in the shade, and the sun was warm, and Ekin felt happy and tired, because a morning full of animals and a dog show is a morning that makes you happy and tired at the same time.
Chapter Three · 17 of 18
Ekin asked his dad if dogs could really be stars, and his dad said that the word canine means dog, and the Canine Stars were dogs that were stars, because they worked hard and they made people happy, and that is what a star does. Ekin asked if he could be a star too, and his dad said that Ekin was already a star, because he worked hard and he made people happy, and that is what a star does.
Chapter Three · 18 of 18
His dad said that the next show was the circus, and Ekin jumped up, because the circus was his dad's favourite, and they walked to the circus together, and Ekin held his dad's hand, and the dogs were still wagging their tails in his mind. Ekin held his dad's hand, and he skipped a little, because skipping is the way happy boys walk, and the circus was waiting for them, with its bright lights and loud music.
Chapter Four · 1 of 18
The Tandazo Thrill Show was the circus, and the performers wore bright clothes, and the music was loud and happy, and Ekin sat in the front row, because a circus is best when you are close enough to see every move. The tent was big and round, with red and white stripes, and the smell of popcorn was everywhere, and Ekin felt excited, because a circus tent is a place where wonderful things happen.
Chapter Four · 2 of 18
An acrobat flipped high in the air and landed on her feet, and Ekin held his breath, because the flip was so high, and his dad clapped, because a flip like that takes years of practice, and Ekin wanted to flip like that too, one day. The acrobat wore a shiny blue costume, and she flipped so fast that Ekin could not see her turn, and his dad said that acrobats practice every day for years, because a flip is a skill that takes a long time to learn.
Chapter Four · 3 of 18
A juggler threw balls in the air, one, two, three, four, five, and he never dropped a single one, and Ekin counted the balls, and he lost count, because there were so many, and his dad said that juggling is like a puzzle for your hands. The juggler's balls were red, blue, green, yellow, and white, like a rainbow, and Ekin tried to follow one ball with his eyes, but the balls moved too fast, and he lost it, because juggling is a magic trick for the eyes.
Chapter Four · 4 of 18
A performer balanced on a high wire, walking slowly with a long pole in his hands, and Ekin did not blink, because the wire was so high, and the performer walked all the way across, and the crowd cheered, and Ekin cheered too. The wire was high above the ground, and the performer walked slowly, one step at a time, and Ekin held his dad's hand tight, because a high wire is a scary thing to watch, even when the performer is very good.
Chapter Four · 5 of 18
Then came the magician, TJ Tana, and he wore a black suit and a tall hat, and he smiled at the crowd, and Ekin leaned forward, because a magician is a person who can do things that look impossible, and Ekin wanted to see how he did it. The magician's hat was tall and black, and Ekin wondered what was inside it, because a magician's hat is a place where impossible things hide.
Chapter Four · 6 of 18
The magician waved his hands, and a red scarf disappeared, just like that, and Ekin rubbed his eyes, because the scarf was there, and then it was gone, and his dad laughed, because a good magician makes you doubt your own eyes. Ekin looked under his seat, and he looked behind him, but the scarf was nowhere, and his dad whispered that the scarf was in the magician's pocket, but Ekin did not believe him, because a scarf cannot be in two places at once.
Chapter Four · 7 of 18
The magician showed a card, and then the card changed into a different card, and Ekin tried to guess how he did it, and his dad whispered that a magician never tells his secrets, and Ekin nodded, because a secret is only magic if it stays a secret. The card was the queen of hearts, and then it became the ace of spades, and Ekin gasped, because a card that changes is a card that has a secret, and Ekin wanted to know the secret very much.
Chapter Four · 8 of 18
His dad clapped the loudest of all, because the circus and the magician were his favourite shows, and Ekin clapped too, because he loved to see his dad so happy, and a show is twice as fun when the person next to you loves it. His dad's hands were red from clapping, and his face was happy, and Ekin thought that his dad looked like a boy again, because a happy dad is a dad who remembers being a child.
Chapter Four · 9 of 18
After the shows, they walked past the shops, and Ekin saw a Minecraft sword in a shop window, a sword that blows bubbles, and he stopped and stared, because a sword that blows bubbles is the best sword in the whole world. The sword was green and brown, like the sword in Minecraft, and it had a button on the handle, and Ekin pressed the button, just to see what would happen, because a button on a sword must be pressed.
Chapter Four · 10 of 18
Ekin tried the sword, and he waved it, and bubbles floated out of it, big and small, and they sparkled in the sun, and Ekin laughed, because the bubbles flew everywhere, over the pumpkins and over the people, and everyone smiled. The bubbles were big and small, and they floated over the shop and over the street, and one bubble landed on Ekin's nose and popped, and Ekin laughed, because a bubble on your nose is a funny thing.
Chapter Four · 11 of 18
His dad bought the sword for Ekin, and Ekin held it tight, because it was his very own bubble sword, and his dad said that it was a good present for a boy who had been so good all day, and Ekin said thank you three times. Ekin hugged the sword, and he hugged his dad, and his dad hugged him back, because a present from your dad is a present that comes with a hug.
Chapter Four · 12 of 18
Ekin waved the sword again, and the bubbles flew over the pumpkin patch, and they landed on the pumpkins, and they popped, one by one, and Ekin chased the bubbles, because a bubble that floats away must be chased. The bubbles popped on the pumpkins, one by one, pop, pop, pop, and Ekin counted the pops, because a bubble that pops is a bubble that says goodbye.
Chapter Four · 13 of 18
They walked through the pumpkin patch, and the pumpkins were big and orange, and Ekin counted them, one, two, three, all the way to twenty, and then he stopped counting, because there were too many pumpkins to count. The pumpkins were big and small, round and tall, and Ekin liked the tall ones best, because a tall pumpkin looks like a pumpkin that wants to be a giant.
Chapter Four · 14 of 18
Ekin picked up a small pumpkin to look at it, and it was heavy and round, and his dad said that a pumpkin like that would make a very good jack-o-lantern, and Ekin agreed, because a round pumpkin is the best kind of pumpkin. Ekin put the pumpkin down gently, because a pumpkin is a fruit, and a fruit must be treated with care, and his dad said that Ekin was a very gentle boy, and Ekin agreed.
Chapter Four · 15 of 18
They shared roasted corn, and the corn was warm and buttery, and Ekin ate it slowly, and his dad ate it fast, and they both agreed that roasted corn at a farm is the best corn in the world. The corn was yellow and warm, and the butter melted on it, and Ekin licked his lips, because roasted corn with butter is a taste that you never forget.
Chapter Four · 16 of 18
Ekin showed his dad the sword again, and he waved it, and more bubbles came out, and his dad laughed, because the bubbles were following them everywhere, like a little cloud of soap and light. The bubbles followed them down the path, like a trail of tiny rainbows, and Ekin turned around to look at them, because a trail of bubbles is a beautiful thing to see.
Chapter Four · 17 of 18
His dad looked at his watch and said that there was one more thing to see, the dance party with the foam machine, and Ekin jumped up, because a foam machine sounded like the most fun thing in the world, and they walked to the party together. Ekin could hear the music from far away, and the music was loud and happy, and Ekin started to dance as he walked, because music that is loud and happy makes your feet dance, even before you get to the party.
Chapter Four · 18 of 18
On the way, Ekin waved his sword one more time, and the bubbles floated up into the sky, and Ekin watched them until they popped, and his dad said that bubbles are like little rainbows that fly, and Ekin thought that was a beautiful thing to say. Ekin watched the bubbles until they were gone, and then he took his dad's hand, because a boy who holds his dad's hand is a boy who is ready for the next adventure.
Chapter Five · 1 of 18
The Barnyard Bash Dance Party was loud and happy, and the music was playing, and children were dancing, and Ekin could feel the music in his feet, because a dance party is a place where your feet want to move, even before your brain tells them to. The dance floor was full of children, and they were all dancing, and the music was a happy song that Ekin knew, and he started to sing along, because a song you know is a song you must sing.
Chapter Five · 2 of 18
Then the foam machine started, and white foam came out of it, a lot of foam, more foam than Ekin had ever seen, and the foam piled up like snow, and Ekin laughed, because foam that falls from the sky is the funniest thing in the world. The foam machine was big and white, and it made a loud noise, and the foam came out in big clouds, and Ekin opened his mouth, because foam that falls from the sky is a thing you want to catch with your mouth.
Chapter Five · 3 of 18
Ekin ran into the foam, and the foam was soft and cool, and it covered his shoes, and then his legs, and Ekin laughed, because he was standing in a sea of foam, and a sea of foam is the best sea in the world. The foam was cool on his skin, and it smelled like soap, and Ekin scooped up a handful, and he threw it in the air, because foam that you throw in the air falls down like snow.
Chapter Five · 4 of 18
His dad laughed too, and foam landed on his shoes, and then on his shirt, and Ekin pointed at his dad and laughed, because his dad looked like a snowman, and his dad laughed, because a dad who looks like a snowman is a funny dad. Ekin put foam on his dad's head, like a hat, and his dad laughed, because a foam hat is the funniest hat in the world, and Ekin was proud of his foam hat.
Chapter Five · 5 of 18
Ekin waved his bubble sword in the foam, and bubbles flew out of the sword and mixed with the foam, and the bubbles and the foam floated together in the air, and Ekin said that it was a bubble storm, and his dad agreed, because it was the biggest bubble storm ever. The bubbles were big and small, and they mixed with the foam, and the air was full of white and colour, and Ekin said that it looked like a rainbow in a snowstorm, and his dad agreed.
Chapter Five · 6 of 18
Other children were dancing in the foam, and they were laughing, and Ekin danced with them, and he jumped, and he spun, and the foam flew everywhere, and the music was loud, and everyone was happy, because a foam party is a happy place. The children were laughing and jumping, and their hair was full of foam, and Ekin jumped the highest, because jumping in foam is the best kind of jumping, and Ekin is a very good jumper.
Chapter Five · 7 of 18
Ekin danced with his dad, and his dad danced in a funny way, and Ekin laughed, because his dad's dancing was the funniest dancing he had ever seen, and his dad laughed too, because dancing with your son is the best dancing there is. His dad spun Ekin around, and Ekin laughed, because spinning in foam is like spinning in a cloud, and a cloud is a soft place to spin.
Chapter Five · 8 of 18
The foam piled up higher and higher, like snow on a winter day, and Ekin's hair was full of foam, and his dad wiped it off gently, and Ekin giggled, because foam in your hair feels soft and tickly, like a cloud sitting on your head. Ekin's hair was white with foam, and his dad wiped it off, and Ekin giggled, because foam in your hair feels like a tickle, and a tickle in your hair is a funny feeling.
Chapter Five · 9 of 18
The music stopped, and the party was over, and it was time to go home, and Ekin was tired, but he was happy, because a day full of animals and shows and foam is a day that makes you tired in the best way. Ekin sat down on the grass, and he was breathing hard, and his dad sat next to him, and they looked at the foam, because a party that is over is a party that you want to remember.
Chapter Five · 10 of 18
They walked back to the bus stop, and Ekin carried his sword, and his dad carried the map, and Ekin looked back at the farm one more time, because a place you love deserves one last look before you leave it. Ekin waved at the farm, and he said goodbye to the giraffe and the monkeys and the parrots, even though they could not hear him, because saying goodbye is a kind thing to do.
Chapter Five · 11 of 18
On the bus, Ekin sat by the window, and he looked out at the fields, and he was quiet, because he was thinking about the dogs and the parrots and the foam, and his dad put his arm around him, because a quiet boy on a bus is a boy full of happy thoughts. Ekin closed his eyes for a moment, and he thought about the dogs, and he smiled, because a dog show in your mind is a show that you can watch again and again.
Chapter Five · 12 of 18
They got on the train back to Jamaica, and Ekin sat by the window again, and the train went fast, and Ekin watched the houses and the trees rush past, and he thought about the bubble sword in his hand, and he smiled. The train was quiet, and the sun was going down, and the sky was orange, like a pumpkin, and Ekin thought that the sky looked like the farm, and that made him smile.
Chapter Five · 13 of 18
At Jamaica Station, Ekin looked for the double-decker train again, and he looked at every platform, and he looked at every train, but he could not see a double-decker train, and he felt a little bit sad, because he had wanted to ride one so much. He looked at the trains, one by one, and he read the signs, and he asked his dad if the next train was a double-decker, and his dad said no, but Ekin kept looking, because hope is a thing that does not give up.
Chapter Five · 14 of 18
His dad said that they had not caught the double-decker train today, but they had caught so many other wonderful things, a dog show and a circus and a foam party, and Ekin nodded, because his dad was right, and the day had been wonderful anyway. His dad listed all the wonderful things, the dogs and the circus and the magician and the foam, and Ekin counted them on his fingers, one, two, three, four, and he ran out of fingers, because there were too many wonderful things.
Chapter Five · 15 of 18
Ekin said that next time they would catch the double-decker train, and his dad said yes, next time they would look for it first, and they would ride it together, up the stairs and to the top floor, and Ekin smiled, because next time was a promise. Ekin imagined the double-decker train, with its stairs and its top floor, and he imagined sitting on the top floor, looking down at the world, and he smiled, because a dream of a train is a good dream.
Chapter Five · 16 of 18
On the subway home, Ekin leaned on his dad's shoulder, and he was very sleepy, and his dad held him close, because a sleepy boy on a subway is a boy who has had the best day, and his dad did not want the day to end. The subway rocked gently, like a cradle, and Ekin's eyes closed, and his dad held him, because a sleeping boy on a subway is a boy who trusts his dad completely.
Chapter Five · 17 of 18
At home, Ekin put his bubble sword by his bed, and he put his ticket next to it, and his dad said goodnight, and Ekin said that today was the best day, and his dad agreed, because a day with your son is the best day there is. Ekin put his ticket on top of the sword, like a flag, and his dad tucked him in, and Ekin whispered goodnight, because a goodnight whisper is the best way to end a day.
Chapter Five · 18 of 18
Ekin closed his eyes, and he dreamed of dogs jumping through hoops, and parrots eating seeds from his hand, and foam falling like snow, and his dad was in the dream too, holding his hand, and the double-decker train was waiting for them, just around the corner. And in his dream, the double-decker train had two floors, and the top floor was full of dogs and parrots, and Ekin was the driver, and his dad was beside him, and they were going to the farm again.