Emma jean buckled herself in like she seen her dad do for her earlier. Leaning over to watch him, she made sure he was buckled in. “You have to make sure to look at both sides. You’ll miss all the fun stuff if you don’t.”
The ride began to move just as it did before. It started off slow and this time there was a soundtrack being played over well-hidden speakers. This was the first time she heard the music so the ride was even more loved by her. She grabbed hold of his arm and squealed. The boy tensed at her sudden excited touch but relaxed soon after. “I take it this is the first time you heard the music?”
“Yes! I love it even more. Do you like it?”
He didn’t have a chance to answer her when the ride reached the peak. They both screamed and squealed in delight as they went around the mountain. It felt as if the ride was over too soon. They exited the ride. Emma jean grabbed hold of his hand. There was another place she wanted to go. The two of them went on the Ferris wheel. Looking out one end she marveled at the view. She was more than happy to have experienced the full effect of the ride.
“I never get tired of seeing the whole park from up high. It’s the best ever.”
When their cart stopped at the bottom, she looked at him nervously “Can you walk with me to the office? I’m ready to go back.”
The boy took her hand and nodded. “It was fun by the way.”
She looked up at him with big green eyes unsure of what he meant.
“The ride. It was fun. One day I hope to make a ride just as fun as that.”
“You should tell daddy. No, when I run the park, I want you to work in it too. That way I can see you all the time.”
He covered his mouth with his free hand to stifle the laugh that threatened to spill forth.
Emma jean and the boy reached the head office. Dallas came out to greet her. She wasn’t aware that after she left the carousel that the attendant contacted her dad to let him know what was going on. Instead of looking for her they all kept a watchful eye on her as she made her way through the park.
Dallas swept her into his arm, squeezing her tightly. “Never run off again. That was a scary thing to do.”
She only smiled at him and pointed to the boy. “Daddy, I want him to work with us. He was so nice and kind. He’s the best.”
Dallas looked from her to him and nuzzled his head against her cheek. He whispered something in her ear before putting her down. Patting her butt, she went inside. The boy stood there awkwardly rocking on the balls of his heel. He was nervous. Dallas was a big man. He seemed even bigger when he walked over to the boy. He stuck his hand out waiting for the boy to take it. When he did, he shook his hand firmly, clasping his other over it. Keeping his hand locked in place. “Thank you for sticking with her today. It must have been hard to be separated from your family to watch a stranger.”
“It was no problem. My family wanted to look at the educational side. I wanted to have fun. I’m a young man, not a kid.”
“Well, young man education is important but you were a huge help to me. I, no we all, thank you for staying with her. Good thing you didn’t have any bad intentions. You and your family would have been banned for life along with going to jail.” Dallas let go of his hand and smiled. “Have fun at the rest of the park. Oh and a gift for you and your family.” He reached into his pocket and took out a voucher. It was free for a weeks stay at the hotel and free admittance to the park for the duration of the stay.
The boy started to wave his hand to decline but it was thrusted at him. He was forced to take it. Shoving it in his pocket he turned around to leave. He didn’t want to be rewarded for doing something that should have been a given. Being kind should be normalized in his eyes. That’s the way his parents had taught him. You see someone in need you help them. If they are doing it for the wrong reasons then the fault lies with them.
The boy managed to rejoin his family towards the end of the day. He handed them the voucher and explained how he got it. His parents were both in awe and proud of what he did.
Emma jean and her dad were in the office. Emma was sitting in his chair spinning around. Dallas was on the phone with Rowan, her mom. He explained the events of what happened. They agreed that Emma would have to be punished for her action of running away. Dallas went over to her and stopped the chair from spinning. He squatted down to her eye level. “Emma jean, mama and I have decided you are grounded from the park for one week. No rides, coming with me to work, or visiting on the weekends. You have to stay with mama. Do you understand me?”
She looked down not wanting to meet his eyes. She had her bottom lip poking out. Emma jean understood but didn’t want to admit that it was what she deserved for being naughty. “Yes, daddy. I understand. No park for a week. Does that mean no park from Thursday to Wednessday?”
Dallas nodded his head, taking her little hands in his calloused ones. She squeezed his hands as tight as she could. “Sorry dumpling.”
“I’m sorry daddy. I won’t do it again.”
Emma jean learned her lesson that day. Not just the one she was taught by her parents but also by the boy who helped her out that day. She grew into a kind, caring, and intelligent young lady. Popular in high school because she was patient and understanding. When the people around her were acting ridiculous she would tell them. Emma jean kept to her dreams of wanting to take over Kari-Hope land. Her senior year in high school she had been accepted into the best business school in the country. Sophomore year in college Emma jean went to a fraternity party. There she met Kieran Smith. The two of them hit it off instantly. Kieran was majoring in business management as well. While the two of them talked at the party, Emma jean found that the two of them shared a couple of classes together. “Do you know where you’ll end up after college?” Kieran held is solo cup in his hand as he pondered for a little while. “I haven’t the foggiest idea.” “You should come
Kieran woke up in an unfamiliar place. The ceiling had a different texture than the one he had become accustomed to in his dorm room. The bed itself was plush and comfortable. When he looked over there was Emma jean sitting in a chair holding a glass of water and an aspirin bottle. Kieran jumped out of the bed in shock tumbling on to the floor. “What are you doing here?” “I live here. If I recall you said last night and I quote ‘I’m going to sleep with Emma Jean.’ End quote. Does that not ring a bell?” His face turned a light shade of pink at her recollection of last night. He remembered what he had said. He felt embarrassed at his actions. “AH, sorry about that. I bet you wouldn’t want dome drunkard to work with you, now would you?” “That’s not true. Well, I wouldn’t want someone that was a slave to the bottle to work with me or for me but if I can help I would. I liked your honestly plus you’re super cute. It would help out a lot when I meet with certain cl
It had been a long time since he had been in this park. Having gotten a job at this particular park made him feel as if his dream of one day opening his own wasn’t so far in the realm of impossible. His palms felt sweaty. There was a few more minutes before he needed to be ready for the first meeting. The notion of wiping his trembling hands on the pristine white and baby blue uniform shirt and khaki shorts made him feel as if he would faint from the audacity.Taking several deep breaths, he calmed his nerves, then wiped his hands on his jeans. Now more relaxed he was able to get dressed. He exited the locker room. Nearly bumping into a beautiful brown skinned young lady with freckles. Her hair was auburn and pulled into a top bun. She looked at him with a small smile.“Excuse me.”He was speechless. When he attempted to say something it came out a mumbling mess. “duh ouy me excuse.” He smacked his forehead with his palm.She laughed at him and patted his sho
Emma jean waited with bated breath for her name to be called. He was calling the first partner in alphabetical order. There were several minutes before her was called. “Emma jean Scott, you’ll be paired with Kenji James at the carousel. Hurry and get to your stations the park will be opening in 30 minutes.” Emma jean stood up dejected. Another day and for the fifth time she had been thrusted to the carousel. She rubbed the bridge of her nose hoping that would help dissipate the annoyance she was feeling. Plastered on a smile she turned to Kenji. “We should hurry to the carousel. The little kids love that one a lot.” Kieran was placed with a slightly older gentleman. He looked at Emma jean and Kenji talking as they walked away. He pouted at his misfortune of being separated from her. They may have only just met but he wanted to cling to her as a newborn babe did to it’s mother. He was smitten with her. The man clapped his hand on Kieran shoulders. “Let’s go young buck
Once everyone was settled into their chosen seats, Kenji got down off the carousel and went towards the controls where Emma jean stood. Pulling the lever, the carousel slowly started to spin. The music played and the sound of laughing children soon filled their ears. The precious laughter of all children made her smile. There was a time when her dad told her that her smile was the most important one, he cared about when it came to the park. She understood what he meant in that moment. The smiles and laughter she seen and heard from others warmed her down to her soul. Kenji may think she could be great anywhere else but there was no place she would rather be using her knowledge and passion for. The ride slowed to a stop and the music shut down. The children ran screaming off in the direction of the exit and their parents. The next batch got on and it started all over again. Emma jean showed him how to do man the machine so the next set he could run. Kenji stumbled through his
Emma Jean put her car in reverse looking back she pulled out of her parking spot. She pressed the automatic windows to go down. When she got out of the parking lot, she headed to bar not far from her studio. It was only a 5-minute walk away from her place. The bar looked plain on the outside. A brick building on the corner of a less traveled street. They had amazing booze and great food to go with it. She led Kieran inside the bar. She was greeted by name; it was a place she always came to after her time at the park. It was something that Emma Jean did for herself. It was still daylight outside; they were going to only have one drink then head back to her place. Parking her butt at the bar she smiled at the bartender. “Hey Hank. Meet my friend Kieran. It’s his first time here so give him the first timer special. You know the one you guys gave me.” Kieran looked at her quizzically but didn’t think anything of it. Hank the bartender came back with a metal tumbler fille
Kenji had been switched over to EJM, his new partner was less talkative. He didn’t seem to like his job very much. It made him wonder what could be so bad about working at the most loved place in the world. The line for EJ was never ending. It was the most popular attraction at the park. The carousel, from him knowledge, was second to this ride. Knowing that Emma and Kieran would be just as busy as he was made it feel as if it wasn’t unbearable. The end of their shift came, being at a popular attraction did help with the time flying by. The two men walked down to the employees only section. Kenji tried to make small talk with him. “I didn’t get a chance to ask you before but what’s your name?” “Hmm? Oh, it’s Camereon. You’re Kenji, right? You worked with the little princess before right?” He tilted his head to the right, questioning what he had heard. “Little princess? You mean Miss Emma Jean? Why would you call her that?” “You’ll understand when you’
It was Friday, Emma Jean had gone into the main office to speak with her daddy. The receptionist looked up from answering the phone and gave her a smile. Emma Jean gave her a polite one back before motioning her head towards his office. The lady nodded her head and went back to the call that was in progress. Emma Jean knocked on his door and walked in when she heard his gruff voice. He was behind his desk on a call. She could only hear snippets of the call. “Sweetheart…. Yeah… then why not…. But my dear…. I have to go. Emma Jean is here. Yes dear… I know dear…. Got to go dear… yes… bye.” He finally managed to end the call. A sigh was the only sound in the office before Emma Jean decided to speak. “Was that mom?”“Yeah, she says she misses you and you should come home more often. Now what does my little precious dumpling want?”She tilted to her head embarrassed, “Dad. Plea