Drew." I didn't appreciate the taunts, but with loads of people watching our interaction, I had no choice.
I sat down on the slide and closed my eyes. The lifeguard started to say something, and I grasped onto the rails stalling every second I could. The water was freezing cold and even though the heat was sweltering today, the cold water only exasperated the chills running up my spine.
"Okay, so you want to lie completely back and . . .” The lifeguard was cut off by Jenna approaching me quickly from behind. I wasn't exactly ready when she gave me a push, if you could call sending me airborne off a thirteen-story death trap a push. I went flying off the edge and down the rushing waters all the way down to the heaping pool of water at the bottom. I felt sharp pain rushing through my body as I came to a stop. My stomach churned sharply, and I felt my heart rise up in my throat. I could barely breathe, much less stand. No longer was I worried about dying, but I was pretty sure I broke something from the pain swirling in my stomach. I heard shouts coming from the tower, which was surely Jenna.
"Hey man, are you okay?" It was a lifeguard, but I could only hear the ringing in my ears. I pushed myself up and out of the splash zone, limping to the bench across the way. I heard the rushing water and the splash as another rider came flying through. The lifeguard had followed me over to make sure I was okay. "You are supposed to cross your legs and arms before you go down, if not the rush at the bottom hits you right in the nads, man."
"Yeah, thanks for the advice, after I came down." I was none too pleased with the lack of information.
"Yikes, dude! They are supposed to tell you up top . . .” his words traveled off as Jenna crossed the sidewalk to get to me.
"Yeah, maybe if I hadn't been pushed early then I could have heard the instructions." I smoothed out my shorts trying to adjust some of the pressure and pain.
"Aww, did you get hurt?" she said in a baby voice. She reached her arm around my shoulder and kissed my cheek.
I was furious, beyond words. She rubbed my shoulder, and I laid my head back on the bench. I was starting to feel dehydrated and sun burnt. I wanted to leave. I got off the bench and turned around to face her. I wanted to find a way to say nicely that I was ready to head out. Apparently the park didn't close until eleven and it was only four, so another seven hours of gut wrenching pain did not sound pleasant.
"Hey, I am kind of hungry. Are you ready to get out of here?" I stretched one arm behind my head to scratch my neck.
She seemed to take the hint and rose off the bench. We walked arm in arm to the gate passing one last ride. I felt the tug on my arm, and I knew she was hinting that we try the "slingshot." I know, right? The name alone tells you that it’s not a good idea. They strap you into a seat and literally slingshot you into the air. "No way," I muttered, tugging her in the other direction. Thankfully, she didn’t even ask. I was trying get over the feeling of resentment generating in me. I mean, other than the water hammer to my nuts, I had lived. But could I handle being taunted or pushed every time she wanted me to do something I wasn't comfortable with?
We headed to a local steakhouse, which gave me a chance to cool off. By the time we were seated I was relaxed again. She had been on edge too, and I hated feeling like jerk. "Hey Jen, I am sorry about earlier. I was just in a lot of, umm, pain," I said, readjusting my pants.
She reached for my hand and squeezed it. "No, I'm sorry. I can get carried away sometimes. I'm a jerk, sorry." She seemed genuine and that further eased my fears.
She bit into her garden panini, and I cut up my twelve ounce steak. The conversation began to flow again, and she told me about all her adventures and what she still wanted to do. She asked about what I wanted to do, and honestly, it was none of the same things.
I wanted to travel, preferably by train
I sat down on the slide and closed my eyes. The lifeguard started to say something, and I grasped onto the rails stalling every second I could. The water was freezing cold and even though the heat was sweltering today, the cold water only exasperated the chills running up my spine.
"Okay, so you want to lie completely back and . . .” The lifeguard was cut off by Jenna approaching me quickly from behind. I wasn't exactly ready when she gave me a push, if you could call sending me airborne off a thirteen-story death trap a push. I went flying off the edge and down the rushing waters all the way down to the heaping pool of water at the bottom. I felt sharp pain rushing through my body as I came to a stop. My stomach churned sharply, and I felt my heart rise up in my throat. I could barely breathe, much less stand. No longer was I worried about dying, but I was pretty sure I broke something from the pain swirling in my stomach. I heard shouts coming from the tower, which was surely Jenna.
"Hey man, are you okay?" It was a lifeguard, but I could only hear the ringing in my ears. I pushed myself up and out of the splash zone, limping to the bench across the way. I heard the rushing water and the splash as another rider came flying through. The lifeguard had followed me over to make sure I was okay. "You are supposed to cross your legs and arms before you go down, if not the rush at the bottom hits you right in the nads, man."
"Yeah, thanks for the advice, after I came down." I was none too pleased with the lack of information.
"Yikes, dude! They are supposed to tell you up top . . .” his words traveled off as Jenna crossed the sidewalk to get to me.
"Yeah, maybe if I hadn't been pushed early then I could have heard the instructions." I smoothed out my shorts trying to adjust some of the pressure and pain.
"Aww, did you get hurt?" she said in a baby voice. She reached her arm around my shoulder and kissed my cheek.
I was furious, beyond words. She rubbed my shoulder, and I laid my head back on the bench. I was starting to feel dehydrated and sun burnt. I wanted to leave. I got off the bench and turned around to face her. I wanted to find a way to say nicely that I was ready to head out. Apparently the park didn't close until eleven and it was only four, so another seven hours of gut wrenching pain did not sound pleasant.
"Hey, I am kind of hungry. Are you ready to get out of here?" I stretched one arm behind my head to scratch my neck.
She seemed to take the hint and rose off the bench. We walked arm in arm to the gate passing one last ride. I felt the tug on my arm, and I knew she was hinting that we try the "slingshot." I know, right? The name alone tells you that it’s not a good idea. They strap you into a seat and literally slingshot you into the air. "No way," I muttered, tugging her in the other direction. Thankfully, she didn’t even ask. I was trying get over the feeling of resentment generating in me. I mean, other than the water hammer to my nuts, I had lived. But could I handle being taunted or pushed every time she wanted me to do something I wasn't comfortable with?
We headed to a local steakhouse, which gave me a chance to cool off. By the time we were seated I was relaxed again. She had been on edge too, and I hated feeling like jerk. "Hey Jen, I am sorry about earlier. I was just in a lot of, umm, pain," I said, readjusting my pants.
She reached for my hand and squeezed it. "No, I'm sorry. I can get carried away sometimes. I'm a jerk, sorry." She seemed genuine and that further eased my fears.
She bit into her garden panini, and I cut up my twelve ounce steak. The conversation began to flow again, and she told me about all her adventures and what she still wanted to do. She asked about what I wanted to do, and honestly, it was none of the same things.
I wanted to travel, preferably by train
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