Though Scott tried to steer Mike to the left he went to the right and headed for the deserted farm. He soon came to a halt in front of the big double doors of the Brewster barn.

"Why did he bring us here, Scott?" asked Stacy.

"I don't know," Scott replied, "but let's look inside. I've never seen this place before. Boy, is it run down!"

The children jumped down from the mule and peeked inside the barn.

"Oh!" they gasped.

"Would you look at those wagons!" said Scott. "They're huge!"

"These must be the Brewster Circus wagons. I thought they had burned in the fire, that destroyed the circus, years ago," Stacy said excitedly. "Wow! They are beautiful! They don't even look damaged. Someone has kept them in good condition."

"Boy, would I love to see a circus parade with clowns and elephants and giraffes!" said Scott as he reminisced about a circus he had seen years before. "A circus parade right here in our neighborhood. Wouldn't it be great? "

"Yeah!" answered Stacy. "Why don't we see if the Brewsters still live here? Maybe we could ask Mr. Brewster to bring back his circus."

"Oh no! Not me! I heard that Mr. Brewster went crazy after the fire," said Scott reluctantly. "Well, I don't believe that at all. I'm going to the house. You can stay here if you like," said Stacy. She left Scott standing alone inside the huge barn with the Barnyard Buddies watching.

The birds were flapping around in the rafters, disturbed by the intruders. Scott suddenly got frightened and ran after his sister.

"It worked, Mike the Mule," whispered Bruce the Bull.

"It sure did! Let's follow them," said Mike the Mule. "They may need our help."

The children walked hesitantly toward the old, dilapidated house. The Barnyard Buddies followed close behind. The porch floor boards creaked underneath the children's feet as they walked toward the door. Finally, Stacy got up enough nerve to knock.

"Who's there?" grumbled a voice beyond the closed door.

Stacy courageously answered, "The Finn children. I'm Stacy and my brother, Scott, is with me. Are...are you Mr. Brewster?"

"What are you doing on my property? This is private land! Get off my land!" said the man from inside the house.

The children stepped back with fear, but Mike the Mule pushed Stacy forward with his nose.

"We'd just like to talk to you about your beautiful circus wagons, Mr. Brewster," Stacy said in a frightened voice.

"My wagons are all burned up or rotting away in my barn," the man mumbled.

"No! No they aren't!" said Scott excitedly. "They're all painted pretty and bright!"

"What?" The door opened and a tall, elderly man appeared. His eyebrows were as bushy and as gray as his hair. His voice was gruff but his eyes danced with curiosity. "My wagons are painted? What are you talking about?"

"Come with us to see the wagons in your barn, Mr. Brewster," Stacy said to the man.

She took his hand and tugged on it. Her fear had left her. She somehow felt his gentleness and his love of bringing happiness to people.

Mr. Brewster allowed the children to lead him to the barn. He had not been in it for years. It was a barn that, for him, held horrible memories of a fire that took from him his most precious possession--his circus.

Scott pulled open the big doors. The sun's beams flooded the huge barn with brilliant light. The wagons stood before them glittering in vibrant colors. The old pipes of the calliope sparkled and reflected the golden sunlight.

"But...but these wagons were damaged and rotting. I don't understand," muttered Mr. Brewster. His eyes glistened with tears. "How did this happen? Who did this?"

"We just found them like this. Our mule brought us here on his own," said Scott.

The three turned and looked at the Barnyard Buddies grouped together outside the barn door.

"He loves to jump and do tricks. So do our other pets. They could all perform in your circus Mr. Brewster," said Scott. "Couldn't you bring back your circus? Please?" he pleaded.

"No! No children. I can't," said Mr. Brewster, as he kicked at the dust on the barn floor. Beneath the dust was a paint brush. It must have fallen from Bruce the Bull's can when he was painting the wagons. Mr. Brewster picked up the brush and examined it. There was gold paint dried on the tip. "Whoever painted my wagons must have dropped this brush. But who?" he asked. "Who was this great artist?"

Each of the Barnyard Buddies swelled with pride at what they had accomplished.

"Someone must have really cared about these wagons and what your circus means to everyone, Mr. Brewster," said Stacy. "Someone else wants you to bring back your circus."

Mr. Brewster imagined he could hear the calliope whistle and the ringmaster call out. He could feel the sweat on the rosinbacks and the softness of the plumes in their bridles. He could smell the elephants' hides and pop-corn. But most of all, he could see the children's smiling faces.

"Yes," he whispered. "Yes, I can!" His voice grew to a shout. "Yes! I will do it! The Brewster Circus will be back."

The children yelled, "Hooray!" and jumped up and down with anticipation.

Weeks later the Barnyard Buddies gathered excitedly at the pasture fence, for a circus parade was passing. The great Brewster Circus was back. The caravan was led by the stately, cavalier ringmaster, Mr. Brewster.

The parade was highlighted by massive draft horses pulling the brightly painted circus wagons. One of them, a big Clydesdale, whinnied to Mike the Mule, "Are you coming to the circus, country boy?"

"Coming?" brayed Mike the Mule proudly. "We're going to be the guest performers at the Brewster Circus!"