The Best of the Fair
Elementary: Grades 3–4
Story
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Finally the big day arrived. Lily was dressed in her best white dress with lacy collars and cuffs before Grandpa was even awake. "There's so much to do! Let's go," Lily urged. The whole way downtown, Lily chattered about everything to see at the fair. Joseph and Grandpa listened, but paid more attention to trying to keep up with Lily's pace.
By the time they arrived at the elevated train, Grandpa and Joseph were ready for a rest. But there was no time for that; there was a train to catch. None of the family had ever ridden an elevated train. This was the first elevated train in Chicago, built to take visitors to the fair. They climbed higher and higher until they could look in the third floor windows of nearby buildings. "What will keep the train from falling off?" Lily asked nervously. Amazed, Joseph stared out the window with big eyes and smiled.
As they rumbled along, Lily caught her first glimpse of the fair. She could see why it was called the White City. Its buildings glowed bright and white in the sun. Joseph didn't want to get off the train. Grandpa convinced him that the fair had trains, too. Lily couldn't wait. "Let's go, Joseph, the gates opened at eight! We're hours late!"
The family scrambled down the stairs and got pushed along in a crowd toward the fair's gates. Lily spotted a sign for the pay gate, but because they had free tickets, Grandpa said they didn't have to wait in line and pay fifty cents each.
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