"Okay Class, we're going to be studying transportation," Cory told the class as he wrote "transportation" across the board. "I want the whole class to get out a piece of paper."

"Aren't we going to be studying more of Belgium 1831?" interrupted Farkle.

"Farkle, we just covered 1831," remarked Maya as she got out a piece of paper.

"Okay class you have ten minutes," Cory announced as he got out his stop watch. "I want you list as many ways of transportation that you can think of. Starting now!" He punched the button on his watch and time began to tick away. Cory walked around the room and watched the students make their list. Almost everyone in the room had put down train, car, subway, bus, bike and air plane. He wanted to do a hands on activity instead of sitting in class and giving a lecture. The stop watch started beeping and Cory walked around the room and collected everyone's paper.

"Mr. Matthews, please don't make us write a research paper!" begged Maya as she handed him a paper. "They are boring and dull."

"Actually, Maya, I have a better idea!" Cory smiled as he took her paper.

"What could be better than writing a research paper!" demanded Farkle. He pulled out his research paper that he did on Belgium 1831. "I got to learn more about Belgium 1831."

"Yes, Farkle, I know!" Cory remarked as he collected Farkle's paper. "I think you are going to like this one. I have decided that we are going to take a field trip."

"Dad, where are we going?" Riley questioned when she heard her father break the news.

Cory went to the front of the room and laid the papers on his desk. "I saw that everyone wrote down train as one of their ways of transportation," Cory began and he picked up a stack of papers. "Riley, please pass these out." He gave Riley the stack of papers and she began to lay a paper on every desk in the room.

"We're going to ride a train!" gasped Lucas as he stared at his permission form.

"Yes, we're going to ride a train," replied Cory as he watched Maya whisper something to Riley. "We are going to ride a train to Pennsylvania next weekend."

"At least we don't have to write a paper," remarked Maya with a grin on her face.

"Actually, Maya, you are," announced Cory. He watched Maya's mouth drop. "We aren't going to do a research paper. Instead, I want everyone to write personal narrative about the train ride."

The Following Friday

"Maya, what do you think of the train ride so far?" Riley asked as they were looking out the window.

"I want to go to the gift shop," Maya reminded her. "I heard they have art books at the gift shop. And they may even have train hats." She watched Riley's eyes light up as soon as she mentioned train hats.

"Auggie loves trains," Riley answered in an excited voice. "He has a lot of model trains. I think I'll get him a train hat to take back to him." The train quit moving and all of the students went to the train station to look around. Some of the students were walking around taking pictures. Some were buying tee shirts and other goodies at the gift shop.

Cory walked over to Riley and Maya. "How are you enjoying the trip so far, girls?" Cory asked as he saw them walk into the gift shop.

"I'm going to buy Auggie a train hat," Riley informed him. She looked at the train hats and saw they were more than twenty dollars. "Dad, can I borrow some money? I just need five dollars more." Cory reached into his pocket and handed Riley his credit card.

"Since you are here, why don't you buy you something too," Cory suggested as he handed Riley the card. "Don't be long the train leaves in ten mintues." Riley and Maya went back into the gift shop and headed to the train hats.

"I think we are going to have to ask someone to get the hat down," Riley stated as she looked at the train hats.

"If we do that, we'll have to wait for someone to get a ladder," smirked Maya as she began to climb to the top shelf. "I'll have it down in no time."

"Maya, I don't think that is a good idea!" Riley cried as she watched Maya climb to the top shelf. "You could get hurt."

"Relax, I've got the hat," Maya announced when she grabbed the train hat. "I'll be back in down." She threw the hat down to Riley and started to climb down. When Maya got down to the middle shelf it had a big crack in it and it was wobbly. Once she stood on the shelf, it collapsed. books, puzzles, and trains landed in the floor. The sells clerk heard the shelf break and walked over and got a ladder, so Maya could get down.

"You know the rules," the sales clerk said in an angry voice. "If you break something, you buy it! That will be $100." Maya reached into her pocket and handed the sales clerk the fifty dollars that Katy and Shawn gave her to spend.

"Riley, I need fifty dollars," stated Maya as she looked at Riley with a desperate look.

"Looks like we're going to have to put it on dad's credit card," sighed Riley, as she stood at the checkout line paying for Auggie's hat and the tote bag that she had bought for herself. The sales person added the fifty dollars to Cory's credit card." While Riley was checking out, Maya heard the siren blow.

"Riley, the train is leaving without us!" shouted Maya as she watched the train begin to move. The sales person handed Riley the credit card and the items that they bought. Riley put Cory's credit card in her pocket and put the hat and the receipt in her tote bag. Both of them took off running to catch the train. The train began to pick up speed and it disappeared through a tunnel.

"Maya, we have to call dad and tell him we missed the train!" declared Riley as she pulled out her cell phone.

"Maybe Mr. Matthews hasn't noticed yet," answered Maya as she was catching her breath. "If you call, he'll ask what happened."

"Maya, we have no other choice," declared Riley.