Ross: So, in Illinois, we went to this town called Casey. They claim that they are the Big Things Little Town.
Lark: Hold up squirt. I’m taking the reins on this post.
Ross: What? I write about CLHTs now.
Lark: Nope, not this one. I got to go to Casey, so I’m going to talk about.
Ross: You do campgrounds. I talk about everything else.
Lark: Not anymore. My stomach is better. I feel better. I’m going sightseeing from here on out. Get used to it. The Big Dog’s back in town.
Ross: But I saw things I want to tell about. Mom!!!!
Cathy: Okay guys. You’re going to have to work this out or I will write about Casey. Lark is feeling better, Ross, so you are going to have to share.
Ross: But I don’t wanna share.
Cathy: Share or no one gets to write.
Lark: See squirt. I told you. Don’t mess with the big dog.
Ross: Quit calling me squirt. My name is Ross.
Lark: OK, Rosco.
Ross: M….
Lark: Don’t call her. We’ll both lose out. You tell about your favorites, and I’ll talk about mine.
Ross: But, what if we have the same favorites.
Lark: We’ll do rock, paper, scissors.
Ross: What?
Lark: Just start writing. What do you want to talk about first?
Ross: I was going to tell how the town got its name.
Lark: History. Boring. Go right ahead.
Ross: Well in the 1980s and 90s.
Lark: Ancient History.
Ross: Quit interrupting me. In the 1980s and 90s, the town of Casey was a busy, thriving oil town. Along with farming and agriculture, everyone was prosperous. There were a lot of shops and businesses downtown. But, only a few years later, the town started having economic problems along with the oil industry and the growth of corporate farming. Also, a lot of factories died off as people sent manufacturing oversees. So, by 2000, the town was run down and almost dead.
Lark: How do you know all this stuff?
Ross: I read the guidebook.
Lark: Showoff.
Ross: Anyway, this man named Jim Bolin who owned a company called Bolin Enterprises got this idea to make big replicas of things people use. He thought if he could get them in the Guinness World Record Book, people would come see them. And those people would need places to stay, eat and shop. With his employees, Bolin started making things like the World’s Largest Pitchfork, the World’s Largest Teeter Totter, the World’s Largest Mailbox, and the World’s Largest Wind Chime. In all, 12 items were created in giant size and got the world record. Then, other people started making things and while they weren’t record breaking, they were fun to look at like the bookworm, the taco, and the birdcage.
Lark: Okay, that’s enough. I want to tell about the birdcage.
Ross: I didn’t like the birdcage.
Lark: I know, that’s why I want to talk about it. Mom and I got in okay, but she had to make you come in. It was kind of funny. Your feet were slipping on the floor, and you were skittering around inside. Finally, Mom picked you up and sat on the swing, but I could tell you wanted out of there.
Ross: It was scary. I was afraid someone was going to lock us in!
Lark: Dad tried, but it wouldn’t lock. After he took our picture, you got out of there fast. Even if you were slipping on the floor. You looked like you were on ice without the skates!
Ross: Don’t make fun of me. That’s mean. M…..
Lark: Don’t call her. She’ll make us stop blogging. Now, you talk about something you liked.
Ross: I liked the bookworm. He was funny looking. He was built out of pipes and was in the grass in front of the library. Mom took my picture in front of it. I look like I am about to get eaten up, but I wasn’t afraid.
Lark: Yeah, well what about the things that made it on the world record list? I liked the barber pole. It was pretty cool. And the mailbox was neat. If you put mail in the drop box, the huge flag went up.
Ross: I liked the swizzle spoon. It was pretty. But I think my favorite was the wind chimes. At least until Mom pulled the rope and it made an awful noise. It didn’t sound at all like Mom’s windchimes in the trees at home.
Lark: Yeah, I saw you dash for the car. You’re a big scaredy cat when it comes to noise.
Ross: It’s the way I am made. Since you’re being mean, I’m ready to stop blogging.
Lark: Go on ya big baby. Before I get the World’s Largest Pitchfork to your behind. For the rest of you, go visit Casey, Illinois, the Big Things Little Town. And take your dog. It’s all dog friendly.
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