Abby Klein - Firehouse Fun

#1: Tooth Trouble
#2: The King of Show-and-Tell
#3: Homework Hassles
#4: Dont Sit on My Lunch!
#5: Talent Show Scaredy-Pants
#6: Help! A Vampires Coming!
#7: Yikes! Bikes!
#8: Halloween Fraidy-Cat
#9: Shark Tooth Tale
#10: Super-Secret Valentine
#11: The Pumpkin Elf Mystery
#12: Stop That Hamster!
#13: The One Hundredth Day of School!
#14: The Camping Catastrophe!
#15: Thanksgiving Turkey Trouble
#16: Ready, Set, Snow!
#17: Firehouse Fun!

by ABBY KLEIN

illustrated by
JOHN M C KINLEY

New York Toronto London Aucklund
Sydney Mexico City New Delhi Hong Kong

This book is dedicated to Captain Ken and the South Burlington Fire Department, who keep the citizens of South Burlington safe every day.

A.K.

I have a problem.
A really, really, big problem.
My class is going on a field trip
to the fire station. At the end of
the visit, the captain is going to
choose three people to slide down
the fire pole. Im afraid to slide
down that pole, but I dont want
anyone to know, because then
they will think I am a baby.

Let me tell you about it.

I am a kindergarten and first-grade teacher, and every year in October, the firefighters from our town come to talk to my students about fire safety. The firefighters always teach my students some fire safety tips that I have included in the back of this book.

I think one of the most important things that the firefighters teach us is that if there is a fire, you get out and stay out. You should NEVER go back into a burning building to get something you left inside. Your mom and dad can always get you another teddy bear, but they cannot get another you!

I remember the night my neighbors house caught on fire. It was very scary. But the first thing my family did was make sure that they had all gotten out of the house all right. We were so glad that they had all made it out safely. That is why it is important to make an escape plan with your family, so you all know how to get safely out of your house in case of a fire.

I hope you had as much fun reading Firehouse Fun! as I had writing it!

HAPPY READING!

Boys and girls, said my teacher, Mrs. Wushy, please come and sit on the rug. I have a special surprise to tell you about.

Cool, I said to my best friend, Robbie. I love surprises.

Me, too, Robbie said. I cant wait to hear what it is!

We all started to walk over to the rug except for Max. As usual, he was running and not watching where he was going. He bumped right into Chloe, and she went flying toward the carpet.

Wah, wah, wah! she wailed as soon as she hit the floor.

Mrs. Wushy came running over. Chloe, what happened?

M-M-M-Max pushed me down.

I didnt push you, you little baby, Max said.

Oh, yes you did, Chloe sobbed.

No, I didnt!

Yes, you did.

All right. Enough, you two, said Mrs. Wushy. I think Max accidentally bumped into you.

Yeah. Thats right. It was an accident, mumbled Max.

Well, even if it was an accident, you still need to say youre sorry, said Mrs. Wushy.

Sorry, Max mumbled.

He didnt say it, Mrs. Wushy, Chloe whined.

Sorry! Max yelled in her face.

Max, that was not very polite, said Mrs. Wushy. Please do not yell in peoples faces. I would like you to find a seat on the rug.

But what about me? Chloe sobbed.

What about you? asked Mrs. Wushy. You can go sit on the rug, too.

But what about my finger? Chloe continued. Its bleeding! She held up her finger for all of us to see.

I dont see any blood, do you? my friend Jessie whispered in my ear.

Nope. Nothing, I whispered back.

That girl is such a drama queen, said Jessie.

You can say that again, said Robbie. I think she should be an actress when she grows up. She definitely knows how to put on a show!

Come with me, Chloe, said Mrs. Wushy. Well get you a Band-Aid.

Chloe went with Mrs. Wushy to get a Band-Aid for her invisible cut, and the rest of us sa t down on the rug. Unfortunately, Max sat down right next to me.

Hey, move over, Shark Boy, Max barked. Youre squishing me.

More like youre squishing me, I said under my breath.

Max stuck his face right in mine. What did you say?

Oh great! Why didnt I just keep my big mouth shut? Now the biggest bully in the whole first grade looked like he was about to punch me.

As I was trying to figure out what to do next, Mrs. Wushy and Chloe came back to the rug. Okay, everybody, now I think we can get started, Mrs. Wushy said.

Max turned around.

I sighed with relief. Whew, that was a close one, I whispered to Robbie.

It sure was, said Robbie, shaking his head. It sure was.

As I was saying, said Mrs. Wushy, I have a surprise for all of you.

A surprise! A surprise! we all cheered. Tell us what it is! Tell us what it is!

If everyone will please be quiet, then I can tell you.

All of a sudden the room got really quiet. Everyone stared at Mrs. Wushy, waiting to hear what she had to say.

Well, as you all know, October is Fire Safety Month, so I thought it would be fun to go visit a real fire station.

All right! Max yelled, pumping his fist in the air. I love fire stations. Are we going to go to the one right down the street?

As a matter of fact, we are, said Mrs. Wushy. You all know Ms. Sue, who works in the office, right?

We all nodded.

Well, her husband is the captain of that fire station, and he has invited us to visit the station and take a very special tour.

Im going to slide down the fire pole, Max said excitedly.

All of a sudden I got a knot in my stomach.

Oh, I dont think youll be allowed to do that, Mrs. Wushy said, smiling.

The knot went away.

Yes, you can, said Max. I went to visit the fire station in preschool, and at the end of the tour, the firefighter picked three kids to slide down the fire pole.

That sounds like so much fun! said Jessie. I want to do it!

Chloe wrapped her arms around herself. Oooooh, Im scared! she said, pretending to shiver. I dont want to do it.

Youre such a baby, said Max.

Is it the real pole that the firefighters slide down? asked Robbie.

Yep. I think its like two stories high, Max said, jumping up to stand on a chair. Much higher than this, he said, stretching his arm above his head.