Purple Ride

As another person steps onto the varnished birchtree platform.

They see a purple sign that says: ‘This ride requires a ready heart, and an open mind.’

They would smile and think, ‘This looks fun!’.

They’ll turn their head and smile at the employee.

The employee nods and gives a little grin.

The employee asks them, “Are you sure? This ride isn’t built to be short, you might be here for a while.”

“Yeah I’m sure.” They reply.

The employee nods, something flashes against the employee’s eyes.

Too quick for the heart to know.

The employee pushes the lever, and an empty cart appears at the edge of the platform.

They’ll hear a light voice whisper, “Step into the ride of my lifetime.”

“Tread lightly, because your cart might break.” The employee warns.

They nod and step in with light steps.

The cart smells like the first page of a good book.

You could tell that it was a bit worn, the leather seat started to fray at the ends.

The windows were a bit murky, and a few writings on the door frame.

But nonetheless, it was cozy.

They’d take a seat as the ride slowly starts it’s journey.

‘Smooth sailing’. They thought.

The cart bounced off lightly as it should.

‘Spoke too soon.’ They smiled.

They would enjoy the view from up high, hills rolling, rivers flowing.

Full of life, like the Pantanal in Brazil.

Questions started to sprout from the back of their minds.

Then they’d feel the cart go a bit faster.

They’d feel their stomach twist as the first loop came.

They let out a sigh of relief.

‘That wasn’t too bad’.

But then something made a metal clang against the floor of the cart.

They looked down and saw a screw.

They picked it up, pondering.

‘Where did you come from?’. They wondered.

And then a cold chill would run against their spine.

Their stomach would flip, as the cart descended from the ride.

They instantly closed their eyes, the feeling of falling continuing.

‘No, no, no, please stop!’ They’d scream in their heads.

But then came the feeling of light-weightedness.

‘What?’.

They’d open their eyes slowly.

They were floating!

They heard the winds sweep the murky windows.

Light wind passing through the cracks blowing the leather frays.

‘Yeah!’. They’d howl in joy.

The cart did a few loops in the air.

But they didn’t feel it.

The hills became mountains, and the rivers became oceans.

Life became bigger.

And the questions increased in number.

They yearned to go down there.

Know the deepest trench, the highest peak.

Meet the creatures dwelling.

Then like instinct, they dug their heels in the soles of their shoes.

Closed their eyes, and their heart beat faster.

The cart descended to a drop.

The light-weight feeling gone, instead it was heavy.

But then it came to a stop.

Opened one eye, then opened the other.

The familiar birchtree platform showed itself.

‘Huh?’.

They’d look up in confusion and see the employee smile sympathetically at them.

“I’m sorry miss, the ride wouldn’t start, there seems to be a problem with the gears.”

The employee explained with a sympathetic look.

Their eyebrows would furrow even more.

“What do you mean? That was the greatest ride I’ve ever had! The view was incredible!” They’d exclaim with conviction.

The employee frowned and scratch their heads.

“Gee ma’am, you sound like all the other passengers who never even-”

“No, I saw it. It was beautiful” They’d argue.

The employee offered a hand.

They looked at it, and begrudgingly took it.

“Well I guess come back anytime.” The employee offered.

“I will.” They replied.

As their feet touched the ground, they smiled knowingly.

‘Light-weight huh?’ They thought to themselves.

Hearing the employee shout ‘Next!’.

But wait, wasn’t the ride broken?