The Saturdays

It is the beginning of Spring, and all the kids agree that the ISAAC club is going well; the older kids have each had a couple of successful adventures with their allowance money. This Saturday is Oliver’s turn to use his money. Feeling rebellious, six-year-old decides he wants to go out and spend his money unaccompanied, like his older siblings do. He sneaks out of the house and goes to Madison Square Garden to see the circus. Oliver is amazed at the trained animals and loves the show, indulging in hot dogs, cotton candy and peanuts, all snacks Cuffy would have disapproved of.

After the show, Oliver sits for a while, not wanting it to be over. He finally walks out into the street, finding it dark, noisy and confusing. With an awful stomachache from all his junk food, and now lost in the streets, Oliver begins to cry. He tells a police officer he is lost, and the policeman gives him a ride home on his horse. Oliver returns home to find his siblings frantic at his absence, and he is promptly sick. Even though Oliver feels guilty for making everyone worry, and vomits up all his snacks, he still fondly remembers the circus and, most of all, his exciting ride on a real police horse.