A Whirlwind Vacation Read Online Free

talk about all the funny things people do to make the guards laugh at Buckingham Palace.”
    Tim thought for a moment. “You tourists do look pretty funny from our point of view,” he said with a chuckle.
    â€œYou can use my joke about the umbrella if you want,” Annabelle suggested.
    Katie sighed. Annabelle would never change. But maybe Tim’s life would.

    Two nights later, Katie sat in the small, dark comedy club. Her parents were there. So was the Bridgeman family. Vicki had brought a few other members of the tour group, too, just to be sure that Tim had an audience.
    But they didn’t really need to do that. One of the local radio stations had found out that the “Laughing Guard” was going to try to make other people laugh for a change. They had announced the time and place for the show. The club was mobbed. And not just with customers. There were a few news crews there, too.
    Katie was scared. What if Tim wasn’t funny? He’d be all over the news making a fool out of himself. And it would all be Katie’s fault ... again!
    Suddenly, a loud booming voice announced, “Ladies and Gentlemen ... here he is ... Tim Becker!”
    Tim walked onto the stage. But he didn’t say anything. Instead, he started making really weird faces. He stuck his tongue out, crossed his eyes, and did a goofy dance.
    The audience laughed really hard.
    Tim grinned. “That’s what the world looks like to me,” he told them. “Just a bunch of people making faces. You try not laughing at that.”
    He made a few more faces. The audience laughed even harder. It was impossible not to. Tim was really funny. Even the reporters were laughing!
    Katie smiled proudly. Tim was a hit! His dream was coming true. And he had Katie to thank for it. Well, actually, Katie and the magic wind. But there was no way Katie was giving any credit to that wind!

Chapter 6
    â€œOh my goodness!” Katie gasped. She was looking down from the observation deck high up in the Eiffel Tower. Her tour group had had to wait in line a long time until they got into the elevator at the bottom of the tower. Now they were squished together with lots and lots of other tourists on the deck. But it was all worth it. “I can see all of Paris from here. We’re up so high!” she exclaimed.
    Vicki nodded. “It’s 1,652 stairs to the top!”
    â€œI’m sure glad we didn’t have to walk up all those stairs!” Annabelle said.
    â€œMe too,” Katie said. “I just can’t believe how beautiful Paris looks from up here!”
    â€œIt really is an amazing view,” Mrs. Penderbottom agreed. “But not as incredible as the Louvre art museum. I just loved seeing the Mona Lisa .”
    â€œI thought the Mona Lisa was really small,” Annabelle said. “We have paintings in the art museum in Boston that are much larger.”
    Katie rolled her eyes.
    â€œThere are paintings in the Louvre that are larger, too,” Vicki reminded her. “But none more famous.”
    â€œIt’s not about the size of the painting,” Mr. Penderbottom explained. “It’s about the talent and skill in the work.”
    â€œI loved Mona Lisa’s smile,” Mr. Fishman said. “It reminded me of my wife’s.” He gave his bride a peck on the cheek.
    Ew ! Katie and Annabelle both looked away.
    â€œI’m hungry,” Annabelle said suddenly. She turned to Vicki. “Didn’t you say there was a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower?”
    Vicki nodded. “There is. But I think you’d have more fun eating the way real Parisians do. They can spend a whole afternoon sitting at a café watching people go by.”
    â€œThat sounds like fun,” Katie said.
    â€œ It is fun,” Annabelle agreed. “We have a really cool outdoor café near my house in Boston. I go there all the time for lunch.”
    Katie rolled her eyes again.
    â€œYou