Gooseberry Island (27 page)

“Good,” Paige said, “at least one of us did.” She stormed out of the kitchen, marched down the hall and slammed her bedroom door behind her.

Abby hurried in after her. “We talked about this, babe,” she said, taking a seat beside Paige on the bed. “Please don’t be upset. I like Richard. I do. But he’s no threat to you…to us. You have to believe that.” She stroked her hair. “I breathe for you, ya know. Always have, always will.”

Paige looked up from her bed, and sighed.

“Do you believe that?” Abby asked. “…that you’re the most important person in the world to me?”

It took a moment, but Paige finally nodded.

“Good. Then what do you say we forget about bed times tonight, make a big bowl of popcorn and catch a late movie together?”

Paige wiped her swollen eyes and started to get up. “Another movie?” she said, but her voice was lighter; relieved. “Fine.”

As children, Rick and Abby planted romantic seeds that would unexpectedly blossom later in their lives—in the novel,
Pressed Pennies
. After a magical summer, Abby and the neighborhood gang receive some very bad news. Richard’s dad has accepted a new job and the Giles family is moving away. Abby is devastated. As a final gift to Richard’s friends, Jim Giles takes the kids to Lincoln Park, an amusement park that hosts a day of unforgettable memories.

The brief excerpt I’ve selected is a glimpse of young Rick and Abby—and their friends—having one last adventure at Lincoln Park; the perfect place to cultivate puppy love.

The Carousel was more romantic than thrilling. Hand-painted panels along the outside roof depicted murals of yesteryears, while hundreds of mirrors and clear light bulbs decorated the inside. Though the majestic carousel had lions and tigers mixed in, horses posed in various positions were the coveted prize. As a brass bell sounded the beginning, each of them searched out the grandest horse. Abby hoped Richard would choose the double-seated Chariot. He didn’t. He looked at her and then over at Grant and Vinny’s grinning faces before he grabbed a horse. A moment later, the sweet notes of a calliope and the beat of a marching band set them off on their course. It was long and boring—even for Abby—but from the smile on her face it was perfect for Tracy.

To redeem his childish sense of honor, Grant pressured Vinny into jumping off the Carousel before it came to a complete stop. At a sprint, they headed toward the Flying Cages. Once the ride stopped, Abby and Richard followed—to watch.

This test of strength and endurance usually catered to adult men. The idea was to stand upright within the heavy steel cage, and work its weight back and forth by pushing against the padded bars at the front and back. Each time Grant and Vinny pushed, the cage climbed higher toward the top in a circular motion. If enough momentum was gained, the riders were able to muscle their weight and the weight of the cage right over the top, and keep going.
There’s no way Grant and Vinny are ever going to make it to the top,
Abby thought.
Men twice their size can’t get the cages to go all the way around
.

As they waited for the boys to finish their failed attempt, Abby, Richard and Tracy took a seat on a nearby bench to do some people watching. Lincoln Park was the perfect melting pot. From every walk of life, people came in droves to experience the thrill rides and crooked games of chance.

Panting and soaked in sweat, Vinny and Grant returned and offered their excuses, taking turns playing the blame game. “Vinny wasn’t even trying,” Grant complained.

“Yeah right, Grant,” Vinny barked, “you’re the one who wanted to quit just as we got started.”

No one doubted it and everyone laughed—everyone but Grant.

The Carousel and Flying Cages bought time from facing certain illness.
But unfortunately not enough
, Abby realized.

The Round Up was a twisted invention designed for the brave of heart. The five of them stood back and watched for a minute.

It looked like a UFO turned sideways, red and yellow lights spinning out of control, human screams escaping from within. Essentially, each rider stood upright while the ride spun in circles so fast that gravity sucked them flush to its steel cage.

“Let’s do it!” Grant egged them on.

There was a pause.

“You big chickens,” he said.

Everyone—even Tracy—jumped in line.
Lunch is definitely getting recycled this time,
Abby thought
.

Starting at a tilt, the ride lifted vertically until each of their bodies was parallel to the blurry ground beneath them. Richard pulled his wallet from his pocket and held on tight. Two minutes later, the world was one big smudge.
What a mistake!
Abby thought. Before the ride came to a stop, Grant was projectile vomiting. Only the irony of it made the others feel better. Through the queasiness, Tracy’s smile returned. “You okay, Grant?” she asked, while the others giggled at her rare display of sarcasm.

Grant could only moan. “Go ahead, keep laughing,” he muttered, “I’ll get you back.”

Another vote was taken. “Okay, Grant,” Richard said, “even though you don’t deserve it, we’ll give you a break and play some more of the games.” The first signs of relief appeared in Grant’s handsome pasty face.

The penny arcade beckoned with a game called Fascination. Each player rolled small balls under a plate of glass and into holes to form straight or diagonal lines. Though winners were paid in coupons to be redeemed for prizes or cash, each game cost ten cents and proved much too rich for the gang’s young blood. Instead, they settled for skeeball and the newest video games.

At the end of the arcade, Richard, Abby and Tracy squirt streams of water into a row of clowns’ mouths until the first balloon broke. While Tracy won herself a small polar bear, Grant and Vinny abandoned “the game for little kids,” and hurried off to race the remote control cars at the park’s miniature speedway.

With fresh and disgusting memories of Grant’s recycled lunch, the gang passed The Scambler and waited in line at the Ferris Wheel. The wait wasn’t long. From their swaying car, Abby and Richard were able to see all the rides along the midway and looming above them all was the giant roller coaster. To the right, they could also see cars traveling down Route Six, glimpses of the real world and a reminder that six o’clock was quickly approaching.

“This has been a really fun day,” Abby said.

“Yeah, definitely,” Richard agreed.

“I’ll have to thank your dad when he picks us up.”

“For what?” Richard asked, sarcastically. “…making me move?”

“No,” Abby said, and instinctively grabbed for his arm. “Not at all.”

Richard shook his head and looked away, obviously struggling with his emotions.

“I’m sure if your dad didn’t get promoted, he’d never make you leave Wilbur Ave.,” she said.

“Yeah,” he said, avoiding eye contact.

Sitting at the top of the world, the wind whistled past them and rocked the car back and forth. Abby gasped and clenched the bar tight.

“You okay?” Richard asked, looking her in the eye again.

Abby nodded, her knuckles turning white. “Yeah…at least I will be once the ride starts moving again.”

Richard grinned and slid closer to her. In one quick movement, he threw his arm around her and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Relax,” he whispered. “The ride will be over soon. We’ll be fine.”

Abby’s fear was suddenly challenged by the excitement of Richard’s firm embrace. She glanced to her side and smiled at him.
This feels so good
, she thought,
but I wish he’d just kiss me already
.

Richard returned her smile and was just starting to move closer to her when the ride started up again and they descended toward the earth. “See,” he said, “I told you we’d be okay.” But he never removed his arm from her shoulder.

They were nearly to the bottom when Abby blurted, “We’ll still stay in touch, right, Richard?”

He looked at her again and his eyes filled. “Of course,” he said, his words muffled. “I’d never be able to say goodbye to you, Abby.”

Abby sighed at his sincerity, while her own eyes filled. A moment later, the ride operator was lifting the bar from their laps and helping them off the ride.
Not yet…please
, she thought, but the ride was over—and so was Richard’s hug.

Once Vinny and Tracy climbed out of their car, Richard addressed all of them. “You guys ready?” he asked.

They cringed. A few nods later, they faced south and marched the length of the midway—past Kiddie Land with its WhirlyBird helicopters, Mother Goose ride and boats that went round and round in four inches of murky water. The moment of truth had finally arrived.

The Comet, or giant roller coaster, was a rite of passage and the greatest test of courage for children in southeastern New England. Standing in the middle of the midway, with the Kiddie Coaster and Mini golf course on the right and the giant coaster on the left, the only real decision of the day needed to be made. “I’ll watch the stuffed animals,” Tracy said, and plopped down on a green bench with no intention of going anywhere. The rest of them looked at each other. While little kiddies chased each other in circles on The Flying Jets—raising and lowering their planes but never getting an inch closer—the decision was made. The time had come to take the risk and overcome their fear. “Let’s do it!”

Abby stepped up to the wooden cutout of a boy who warned that each rider had to be his height to ride.
Drats!
She’d made it.
I’m finally tall enough
. As the gang stepped in line, others filled in behind them. More fear took hold.
We’re trapped
, she thought. With sweaty palms, Abby took a few steps closer. As it shot its latest riders up and down its steep hills, the rickety wooden coaster creaked and complained. Each step took Abby deeper into a war that was being waged between her heart and mind. Everything inside her begged her legs to flee. Her pride, however, held on—though just barely. People screamed on the ride.
This is supposed to be fun?
she thought.

Before long, she and the boys stepped up to the final platform’s worn boards.
Thousands, maybe even millions, have come before us and survived,
she realized. It was no consolation. Her mind raced, and she recalled her mom and Richard’s dad speak of those who rode the coaster with reverence and respect. She swallowed hard and took another step forward. She wanted that respect.

As they stood before the tracks, the car fired down the home stretch and screeched to a sudden stop. Everyone’s faces were white. The passengers climbed out on unsure legs and Abby swallowed hard again. It was time to get aboard. Richard went first and though she followed, she felt like crying. “Good luck,” she joked.

“Same to you,” he replied, and then pulled the safety bar across their laps.

A kind-looking, old gentleman wearing a soft hat and chewing on a cigar approached. As he bent to tug on the safety bar, Abby’s frightened eyes searched for his help. He winked once and offered a grin that said everything was going to be fine. He walked slowly and with purpose to his podium. With one last look at the cars, he pushed a button that caused the train to belch out a steam of air. He then pulled on a long handle and the cars began to coast forward. White knuckles threatened to crush the safety bar. There was time for a brief prayer and then the hyperventilating began.

Through a short patch of forest, the cars rounded the first bend. A huge, steel chain grabbed the front car and jerked it violently into control. There was a brief, merciful pause, and then the cars began to ascend slowly toward heaven, the chain clicking off each final moment of life. The sky was blue, spotted with a few marshmallow clouds. Abby’s body felt numb. Her mind rushed from primitive panic all the way to surreal acceptance. Perhaps shock had already set in. She gave one quick look toward Richard, her riding companion, and fake smiles were exchanged. At the top, the cars paused briefly again. This time it felt cruel.

Abby held her breath. Like a nightmare come true, the car plummeted down the notorious first hill and straight toward the earth. The fall lasted no more than a moment and no less than a lifetime. The hill was longer than expected and lasted well beyond the screams of those who chose to exhale. On empty lungs, they hit bottom and were catapulted back up to an invisible turn. Abby thought they were going right off the track and struggled to roll herself into the fetal position. The bar would not allow it. The turn was just another sick joke from the ride’s sadistic designer.

Gravity took over. While the wood boards swayed and moaned from the weight of the cars and their uncontrolled momentum, premature questions of life and death were considered. The train of cars then rolled home where the old man was waiting to apply the shrieking brake.

On rubbery knees, they climbed out. Abby was breathing again and smiling to be a survivor.
Yes!
She screamed in her head. She’d conquered the giant, they all did, and so much more than that. The entire experience was exhilarating, filled with equal amounts of fear and excitement.

Richard turned to Abby, and grinned. “Go again?”

She nodded. “Oh yeah!”

They went four more times.

It was dusk, almost six o’clock, when Lincoln Park lit up with neon.
It’s already time to g
o, Abby realized.

As they waited for Mr. Giles to pick them up, Abby grabbed Richard’s arm. “Let’s go see the ballroom before your dad gets here.” She smiled wide. “Please?”

He followed her.

Every time the ballroom door opened, the magical sounds of Big Band music leaked out. Abby watched the dancing couples hold each other close and looked at Richard.
I hope we’ll dance this same way one day when we’re grown.

Richard smiled at her before punching her in the arm, and making her chase him all the way back to the awaiting station wagon.