Towards the end of the school year, a memo was passed around St John's Public School:
"4/1/18
This is to inform you that a day trip to 'Imagica Amusement Park' is being organized for the students of classes 3-5 on 7/1/18, Saturday.
Principal"
This notice brought bright smiles, and caused cheers to erupt in the junior classes.
"I can't wait to ride the thunder mountain a gazillion times."
"Yeah! That roller-coaster gives me such a thrill"
"Omg, is it Saturday yet?!"
The following days, the sole topic of conversation was the upcoming trip and the biggest rollercoaster in the park- The thunder mountain. Everyone seemed exceedingly thrilled to ride the giant ride, which had 3 drops, a 360 loop and numerous sharp turns and edges. Everyone, except Anna.
Anna was a 9 year old third grader, with a very small build. She wasn't your average 'adventurous kind'. She was dreading the prospect of riding the huge dangerous beast of a rollercoaster. And, she was dreading the sneering of her classmates at her cowardice even more.
The night before the trip, she developed serious anxiety, and couldn't sleep a wink. The next morning, on being pestered by her best friend, who was very worried after seeing Anna subdued, confessed her fears.
Jaycee, her friend, managed to convince Anna to go along with their class, and tempted her by reminding her of all the other fun stuff to do in the park- cotton candy, wave pools and toy trains. She also told Anna how fun these coasters really were. Jaycee promised Anna that no one would force her to ride the coaster, and that no one would even notice if she had or hadn't ridden the ride.
Anna, though not fully convinced, agreed to go to Imagica. Anna still believed that Jaycee was lying to get Anna to come to the park.
They had a marvelous morning in the park, riding merry-go-rounds, eating candy, and being noisy little kids. Not long after lunch, a techert called "Everyone get ready to head to the best attraction - the thunder mountain."
As everyone rummaged towards the entry gate of the ride, Anna lingered on. Jaycee took Anna by her shoulder, and made her stand in the waiting line. Jaycee told Anna that she didn't have to ride the coaster if she didn't want to, and that she could always refuse to sit when her turn came. With reassurance from Jaycee, and finding a bit of self confidence, Anna agreed.
She was even brave enough to clutch Jaycee's hand and take a seat in the ride. Yes, she was not going to let her fear hold her back.
The next two minutes were 'pure torture' for Anna. She clutched the seat for her life, clasped her eyes shut, and hoped that her spectacles would still remain between her legs when the ride was over. The ride swooped off, attainin a speeds of 75 kmph, taking very sharp turns and making the riders feel a pit in the stomach. Right when the ride was slowing down on a bend, just before the loop, Anna opened her eyes, and at that instant the ride took off at break-neck speed again. This didn't help Anna's nerves. Finally the ride came to a stop. It creaked. Anna, finally, dared to open her eyes and was about to climb out of the 'torture car' when everyone heard the overhead announcement:
"We are sorry for the inconvenience, but your ride has been shut off due to maintenance problems. It will be resumed soon. Stay seated and do not panic."
Anna, and her friends could see the sign "exit" in front of their eyes. They had actually experienced the whole ride, expect for the last few feet which lead to the exit.
Anna was very proud of herself, and Jaycee was even more proud of Anna. But there was no time to think about this at that moment. Soon, a worker approached their 'car', and asked them to get off the cars. He then made them evacuate the ride through a 'backdoor' and lead everyone back to the main premises of the park. This is when the teachers finally thought of taking a roll call to check whether everyone was together or not.
Not everyone was together. There were more than a handful of children, who were in the waiting line, who were now 'missing'. The teachers, though, were not in any kind of panic. They said,"Elisa, Jessie, Adam and the others must have changed their minds at the last moment, and must have refrained from riding the coaster. Who can blame them, this ride even gives a thirty year old woman, like me, chills. They should be waiting for us with near the exit gate of the coaster. Let's go "
This was the moment realisation dawned on Anna. She realized that she was not the only kid afraid of the giant coaster, and furthermore that no one really noticed the students who refused to climb the coaster. All her worry had been for nothing.
The rest of the day was blissful, and the students went back to school tired but happy. 💯
"4/1/18
This is to inform you that a day trip to 'Imagica Amusement Park' is being organized for the students of classes 3-5 on 7/1/18, Saturday.
Principal"
This notice brought bright smiles, and caused cheers to erupt in the junior classes.
"I can't wait to ride the thunder mountain a gazillion times."
"Yeah! That roller-coaster gives me such a thrill"
"Omg, is it Saturday yet?!"
The following days, the sole topic of conversation was the upcoming trip and the biggest rollercoaster in the park- The thunder mountain. Everyone seemed exceedingly thrilled to ride the giant ride, which had 3 drops, a 360 loop and numerous sharp turns and edges. Everyone, except Anna.
Anna was a 9 year old third grader, with a very small build. She wasn't your average 'adventurous kind'. She was dreading the prospect of riding the huge dangerous beast of a rollercoaster. And, she was dreading the sneering of her classmates at her cowardice even more.
The night before the trip, she developed serious anxiety, and couldn't sleep a wink. The next morning, on being pestered by her best friend, who was very worried after seeing Anna subdued, confessed her fears.
Jaycee, her friend, managed to convince Anna to go along with their class, and tempted her by reminding her of all the other fun stuff to do in the park- cotton candy, wave pools and toy trains. She also told Anna how fun these coasters really were. Jaycee promised Anna that no one would force her to ride the coaster, and that no one would even notice if she had or hadn't ridden the ride.
Anna, though not fully convinced, agreed to go to Imagica. Anna still believed that Jaycee was lying to get Anna to come to the park.
They had a marvelous morning in the park, riding merry-go-rounds, eating candy, and being noisy little kids. Not long after lunch, a techert called "Everyone get ready to head to the best attraction - the thunder mountain."
As everyone rummaged towards the entry gate of the ride, Anna lingered on. Jaycee took Anna by her shoulder, and made her stand in the waiting line. Jaycee told Anna that she didn't have to ride the coaster if she didn't want to, and that she could always refuse to sit when her turn came. With reassurance from Jaycee, and finding a bit of self confidence, Anna agreed.
She was even brave enough to clutch Jaycee's hand and take a seat in the ride. Yes, she was not going to let her fear hold her back.
The next two minutes were 'pure torture' for Anna. She clutched the seat for her life, clasped her eyes shut, and hoped that her spectacles would still remain between her legs when the ride was over. The ride swooped off, attainin a speeds of 75 kmph, taking very sharp turns and making the riders feel a pit in the stomach. Right when the ride was slowing down on a bend, just before the loop, Anna opened her eyes, and at that instant the ride took off at break-neck speed again. This didn't help Anna's nerves. Finally the ride came to a stop. It creaked. Anna, finally, dared to open her eyes and was about to climb out of the 'torture car' when everyone heard the overhead announcement:
"We are sorry for the inconvenience, but your ride has been shut off due to maintenance problems. It will be resumed soon. Stay seated and do not panic."
Anna, and her friends could see the sign "exit" in front of their eyes. They had actually experienced the whole ride, expect for the last few feet which lead to the exit.
Anna was very proud of herself, and Jaycee was even more proud of Anna. But there was no time to think about this at that moment. Soon, a worker approached their 'car', and asked them to get off the cars. He then made them evacuate the ride through a 'backdoor' and lead everyone back to the main premises of the park. This is when the teachers finally thought of taking a roll call to check whether everyone was together or not.
Not everyone was together. There were more than a handful of children, who were in the waiting line, who were now 'missing'. The teachers, though, were not in any kind of panic. They said,"Elisa, Jessie, Adam and the others must have changed their minds at the last moment, and must have refrained from riding the coaster. Who can blame them, this ride even gives a thirty year old woman, like me, chills. They should be waiting for us with near the exit gate of the coaster. Let's go "
This was the moment realisation dawned on Anna. She realized that she was not the only kid afraid of the giant coaster, and furthermore that no one really noticed the students who refused to climb the coaster. All her worry had been for nothing.
The rest of the day was blissful, and the students went back to school tired but happy. 💯
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