3.14 - A Comet Pulled From Orbit
I decided from the moment I woke up that I wasn't going to see Kelly the whole day. At 4:30, in the shower, it made sense. The resolution stuck in my mind and I figured it would be feasible. Hershey Park is big enough for the both of us. We're doing two different rides. We have different groups with different schedules. What could possibly throw us together on a day like this? Destiny. Destiny had a whole theme planned for the day. A theme of closed eyes, fated encounters, and the unfairness of life at large.
I arrived at CHS early to meet with Mr. Wagner to do the book talk for AP US that I've been forced to reschedule twice before. I was out Wednesday morning and arranged to do it Thursday before Hershey Park. Admittedly, it would have been easier to wait until Friday, but the thing was sticking in my craw and I wanted it dealt with. We sat down and talked for over forty-five minutes. I talked more than he did and interjected every analysis I'd come up with in the course of reading and it's hard to explain a six hundred plus page book in a few sentences. It was time well spent and I left feeling upbeat.
Barrick was already in a tizzy, he'd been that way when I'd come across him after school the day before. Stress does strange things to a man. He yelled at me to go out to the bus and I tossed a permission slip at him before departing. As luck would have it, I had missed the bus seat sign ups. Oh, well, at least it's not the senior trip. Those are important. Four hours each way. I was across from Melanie in the seat closest to the front that Barrick hadn't loaded with equipment. Kujo and Brian were behind me, with Kelly (sigh) and Keegan across from me diagonally. The day isn't ruined, I thought. I won't see her or her group, consisting of Kujo and Brian, after the bus ride. Boy, am I an idiot when it comes to fate.
The highlight of the ride up was Keegan. He fell asleep and John had brought bagels for his class with a jar of Nutella, which I deduced is some sort of chocolate spread. Keegan has the bad habit of falling asleep on the bus. Not just eyes closed either, mouth open with drool at the corners, unconscious asleep. That wouldn't be so bad, but he doesn't have any friends. He just has people who love to ridicule him. So we, the collective we of the bus, decided to prank him. Someone got some Nutella on the tip of their finger and applied it gently to Keegan's cheek. We thought, hey, he'll wake up and we'll laugh. But he didn't. We proceeded to put some on his nose, neck, and ear. For another fifteen minutes, he slept. Barrick came by and I think he took a picture with the digital camera. Keegan woke up and we thought that he'd discover the game and we'd all laugh. Nope. He's not that smart. He kept it on his face and we didn't mention it until after he was off the bus at Hershey Park. It was Nick who was getting off another bus who told him. Unparalleled hilarity at a dimwit's expense. It's like it says in the Bible, nothing makes you feel better than making someone else look bad.
Barrick's classes went to the Lightning Racers after that and I rode on the Lightning train, hands up the whole way. We lost. Possibly proving some theory of Barrick's that air resistance is the factor that determines a winner. I'm not clear on the concept and we're all agreed that Physics is not my strong suit.
My group: James, the grasshopper, and Ryan, agent of the Brain, and I went to the Comet. The line was the longest that it would be all day. So I got some provisions from the Popcorn Lady. Blue cotton candy and lemonade make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast. James was being my cup holder when his sister and her group came up and before a second had passed, she took it from his hand, and took a sip. Not realizing it was mine, she apologized, and I forgave her. Easily, since it gave me the opportunity to vicariously make out with her. I did and sort of felt sad afterward until caffeine and sugar kicked in. Unless there's a shift in the near future, that's the closest she's going to get. Her loss, I suppose.
I rode the Comet with my eyes closed, as per Barrick's instructions. For those who don't know, eyes closed plus wooden roller coaster equals a merrily frightening experience.
After we finished the Comet, we went to the Paddleboat Cafe where we were waiting for Barrick to show up with equipment for further experimentation. Kelly, Kujo, and Brian showed up and asked if anyone wanted to go on the Great Bear with them. James and I went, against my better judgment. I dodged the first bullet by getting Boardwalk Fries with cheese while they got in line. I sat by the exit and counted the women in short shorts who should not have been wearing short shorts.
I was up to a shocking eighteen when the merry band of riders got off and we went back to check in at the Paddleboat Cafe. We ended up going on the Coal Cracker, a racist imitation of Kennywood's Log Jammer. It was Kelly, Travis, James, and I in one with Kujo and Brian behind us, splashing. Splashing! After that, we shifted groups and James, Kelly, Brian, Kujo, Mike, and I went to the Great Bear. As we stood in line, I mused on the peculiar way in which my pre-dawn resolution had gone to hell. She sat next to me on that coaster.
To make an already long story shorter, I'm going to skip a bunch of stuff. Bottom line to understand is that Kelly's ride, the Stormrunner, was broken down and too busy when it wasn't for her to do it. So guess which ride her group defaulted to. Yep, the Comet. Same as my group. We decided to ally with one another and work together. Dammit!
She was only with us until she left around three and I felt the same pangs of regret and sorrow I feel every time she leaves. The Raven has too strong a hold on me. I worry about that. What worries me even more is the fact that when I consider our lives together, unlike Annie or Regina, it has the potential to work out. That's more frightening than any coaster.
The guys, James, Ryan, Brian, Kujo, David, and I bached it for the rest of the day. We went on the Tidal Force, a wannabe Pittsburgh Plunge, got soaked, fortunately our data was safe in Ryan's water-resistant backpack. There was a hot young lady in a red bikini that made me happy it was eighty degrees out and we ended up walking around the water area admiring the scenery for awhile. We went on the Wild Mouse later, I got banged up and didn't like hitting my crotch on the safety bar. We played a kiosk game called Rebound that I wasted six or seven dollars on. Then we rode Bumper Cars and I got a pretzel with mustard that was positively orgasmic.
Before leaving, we stopped and got Kettle Corn and Fudge for the trip home. We thought Barrick might be angry at our tardiness, but Kettle Corn outweighs the threat of terror. Barrick was still tracking down people when we boarded and he ended up tossing me a walkie-talkie, going out to find a few delinquent students. We had a little radio badinage going for awhile (Brain to Barrick: Mental midgets approaching, Chick to Mother Hen: All the eggs are in the basket.) We drove home and I felt a residual Kelly craving and so I went to Melanie, who rested her head on my still damp lap (re: Jake and Dax from "The Visitor") Barrick snapped a few photos on his digital camera. He's quite the little shutterbug.
I got home close to seven and took a shower. I'd had one that morning, but this dusken repeat was a relaxation stress relief. I'd failed in my endeavor to avoid Kelly and admitted to myself that I can't avoid her. She's rooted in my daily life. She always has been. Unrequited love is a marvelous thing. Keeps me dreaming. Keeps me hopeful. We only have a few more weeks of school left and I want to enjoy our time together, rather than brood about the unfairness of the way things are. I'm used to unfairness, the inequity of life. But sometimes, when it mounts to unjust proportions, it becomes enraging and I will fight. I didn't know then what I do now, I didn't realize the fight was only beginning.
Respectfully Submitted,
Art "The Brain"
I arrived at CHS early to meet with Mr. Wagner to do the book talk for AP US that I've been forced to reschedule twice before. I was out Wednesday morning and arranged to do it Thursday before Hershey Park. Admittedly, it would have been easier to wait until Friday, but the thing was sticking in my craw and I wanted it dealt with. We sat down and talked for over forty-five minutes. I talked more than he did and interjected every analysis I'd come up with in the course of reading and it's hard to explain a six hundred plus page book in a few sentences. It was time well spent and I left feeling upbeat.
Barrick was already in a tizzy, he'd been that way when I'd come across him after school the day before. Stress does strange things to a man. He yelled at me to go out to the bus and I tossed a permission slip at him before departing. As luck would have it, I had missed the bus seat sign ups. Oh, well, at least it's not the senior trip. Those are important. Four hours each way. I was across from Melanie in the seat closest to the front that Barrick hadn't loaded with equipment. Kujo and Brian were behind me, with Kelly (sigh) and Keegan across from me diagonally. The day isn't ruined, I thought. I won't see her or her group, consisting of Kujo and Brian, after the bus ride. Boy, am I an idiot when it comes to fate.
The highlight of the ride up was Keegan. He fell asleep and John had brought bagels for his class with a jar of Nutella, which I deduced is some sort of chocolate spread. Keegan has the bad habit of falling asleep on the bus. Not just eyes closed either, mouth open with drool at the corners, unconscious asleep. That wouldn't be so bad, but he doesn't have any friends. He just has people who love to ridicule him. So we, the collective we of the bus, decided to prank him. Someone got some Nutella on the tip of their finger and applied it gently to Keegan's cheek. We thought, hey, he'll wake up and we'll laugh. But he didn't. We proceeded to put some on his nose, neck, and ear. For another fifteen minutes, he slept. Barrick came by and I think he took a picture with the digital camera. Keegan woke up and we thought that he'd discover the game and we'd all laugh. Nope. He's not that smart. He kept it on his face and we didn't mention it until after he was off the bus at Hershey Park. It was Nick who was getting off another bus who told him. Unparalleled hilarity at a dimwit's expense. It's like it says in the Bible, nothing makes you feel better than making someone else look bad.
Barrick's classes went to the Lightning Racers after that and I rode on the Lightning train, hands up the whole way. We lost. Possibly proving some theory of Barrick's that air resistance is the factor that determines a winner. I'm not clear on the concept and we're all agreed that Physics is not my strong suit.
My group: James, the grasshopper, and Ryan, agent of the Brain, and I went to the Comet. The line was the longest that it would be all day. So I got some provisions from the Popcorn Lady. Blue cotton candy and lemonade make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast. James was being my cup holder when his sister and her group came up and before a second had passed, she took it from his hand, and took a sip. Not realizing it was mine, she apologized, and I forgave her. Easily, since it gave me the opportunity to vicariously make out with her. I did and sort of felt sad afterward until caffeine and sugar kicked in. Unless there's a shift in the near future, that's the closest she's going to get. Her loss, I suppose.
I rode the Comet with my eyes closed, as per Barrick's instructions. For those who don't know, eyes closed plus wooden roller coaster equals a merrily frightening experience.
After we finished the Comet, we went to the Paddleboat Cafe where we were waiting for Barrick to show up with equipment for further experimentation. Kelly, Kujo, and Brian showed up and asked if anyone wanted to go on the Great Bear with them. James and I went, against my better judgment. I dodged the first bullet by getting Boardwalk Fries with cheese while they got in line. I sat by the exit and counted the women in short shorts who should not have been wearing short shorts.
I was up to a shocking eighteen when the merry band of riders got off and we went back to check in at the Paddleboat Cafe. We ended up going on the Coal Cracker, a racist imitation of Kennywood's Log Jammer. It was Kelly, Travis, James, and I in one with Kujo and Brian behind us, splashing. Splashing! After that, we shifted groups and James, Kelly, Brian, Kujo, Mike, and I went to the Great Bear. As we stood in line, I mused on the peculiar way in which my pre-dawn resolution had gone to hell. She sat next to me on that coaster.
To make an already long story shorter, I'm going to skip a bunch of stuff. Bottom line to understand is that Kelly's ride, the Stormrunner, was broken down and too busy when it wasn't for her to do it. So guess which ride her group defaulted to. Yep, the Comet. Same as my group. We decided to ally with one another and work together. Dammit!
She was only with us until she left around three and I felt the same pangs of regret and sorrow I feel every time she leaves. The Raven has too strong a hold on me. I worry about that. What worries me even more is the fact that when I consider our lives together, unlike Annie or Regina, it has the potential to work out. That's more frightening than any coaster.
The guys, James, Ryan, Brian, Kujo, David, and I bached it for the rest of the day. We went on the Tidal Force, a wannabe Pittsburgh Plunge, got soaked, fortunately our data was safe in Ryan's water-resistant backpack. There was a hot young lady in a red bikini that made me happy it was eighty degrees out and we ended up walking around the water area admiring the scenery for awhile. We went on the Wild Mouse later, I got banged up and didn't like hitting my crotch on the safety bar. We played a kiosk game called Rebound that I wasted six or seven dollars on. Then we rode Bumper Cars and I got a pretzel with mustard that was positively orgasmic.
Before leaving, we stopped and got Kettle Corn and Fudge for the trip home. We thought Barrick might be angry at our tardiness, but Kettle Corn outweighs the threat of terror. Barrick was still tracking down people when we boarded and he ended up tossing me a walkie-talkie, going out to find a few delinquent students. We had a little radio badinage going for awhile (Brain to Barrick: Mental midgets approaching, Chick to Mother Hen: All the eggs are in the basket.) We drove home and I felt a residual Kelly craving and so I went to Melanie, who rested her head on my still damp lap (re: Jake and Dax from "The Visitor") Barrick snapped a few photos on his digital camera. He's quite the little shutterbug.
I got home close to seven and took a shower. I'd had one that morning, but this dusken repeat was a relaxation stress relief. I'd failed in my endeavor to avoid Kelly and admitted to myself that I can't avoid her. She's rooted in my daily life. She always has been. Unrequited love is a marvelous thing. Keeps me dreaming. Keeps me hopeful. We only have a few more weeks of school left and I want to enjoy our time together, rather than brood about the unfairness of the way things are. I'm used to unfairness, the inequity of life. But sometimes, when it mounts to unjust proportions, it becomes enraging and I will fight. I didn't know then what I do now, I didn't realize the fight was only beginning.
Respectfully Submitted,
Art "The Brain"