I was 9, my brother 12. We'd been at the fair all day, and Mom and Dad parked us at a table in the Arena with a soft drink. They said, "Stay right here", as they slipped off for a cocktail in a lounge nearby (times were different then). I was content to stay put, but my brother kept watching the bubbleator go up and down, up and down -- the coolest elevator he'd ever seen. Noting that the round trip didn't take very long, he started scheming. We could ride up and down the bubbleator (all by ourselves!), return to our assigned table with time to spare, and Mom and Dad would never know.

Off we went on our adventure. One thing we didn't count on: The bubbleator was made out of clear plastic. It was see-through, for crying out loud, and anyone in the entire arena could watch the passengers in full view -- even the people sitting in the lounge having a cocktail. My brother and I were, of course, busted. Mom and Dad saw the whole thing. But I don't think we ever regretted our not-so-secret trip on the elevator of the future.