Chapter 2 – The Park

The girls spend the rest of Thursday night unpacking in their room. Luckily, the rooms can accommodate three people and the gals were able to get to room together.

"What should I wear tomorrow?" asks Clover, as she pulls out a tube top and a tank top, along with shorts and a mini skirt.

"I don't think I'd wear the skirt on the rides, Clover! I'd go with the shorts!" say Sam.

"Whose worried about riding the rides? I'm more interested in spending time with David!" responds Clover.

"But Clover, David is probably going to want to ride the rides! Dress so you can join him!" says Alex.

"You're right, Alex! Maybe they have a 'Tunnel of Love'!" responds Clover happily. Sam and Alex give her an 'oh brother' look.

As expected, the students are up bright and early Friday morning in the restaurant eating a light breakfast at 8 AM. They are all eagerly anticipating the Park opening at 10 AM.

The girls are at one table. Clover has her WOOHP umbrella with her, just in case it rains.

"Do you plan to ride any other rides before the 'Stratosphere', Alex?" asks Sam.

"No, Sammy. If I want to set the record, I need to get as many rides in as possible!"

As the girls are talking, they are interrupted.

"Hi, gals! May I join you? I'm a bit late, and it seems like all the other tables are pretty full!" says David.

"Sure, David! You can always join us!" invites Clover. David sits down next to Clover. Clover can see out of the corner of her eye that Mandy is about to blow her stack! She is complaining bitterly to her clone friends at her table!

"So, David, have you decided what attraction you're going to visit first?" asks Clover.

"Well, no, not really! I want to walk the park and see what they have available. Then I'll choose," replies David.

"What a coincidence! That's exactly what I planned to do to! Why don't we do it together?" says Clover hopefully.

"Sure, Clover."

"Oh well! I guess I'll be the 'Lone Ranger'!" says Sam wistfully.

"Why don't you join Clover and I, Sam? I don't mind and I'm sure Clover doesn't either!" says David.

Sam takes a quick glance at Clover. She doesn't want to horn in on her and David. But Clover gives Sam a smile indicating that the arrangement is fine with her.

"Thanks, guys! But let's all first ride with Alex on the 'Stratosphere' so she can set the record!" responds Sam.

"Fine with me!" says David. Clover and Alex smile. All three of them will be able to share David's company for at least part of the day! On hearing this, Mandy is REALLY blowing steam out of her ears!

At 10AM the Park opens to the 'running of the bulls'. That is the workers' expression for the enthusiasts who run to be first in line for their favorite attraction, normally one of the rollercoasters. Needless to say, the girls and David are part of this, and they end up on the first ride of the day for the 'Stratosphere'.

The 'Stratoshere' is a metal coaster, with an 80º first drop, propelling the coaster at speeds up to 90 MPH! It features a few corkscrews and loop the loops. The ride is only 3 minutes long, but what an exhilarating 3 minutes!!! All of the riders are laughing and clapping as their car comes back to the station.

The friends wish Alex good luck! Alex is sitting in the last seat of the car.

"Good luck, Alex!" says Clover happily.

"Set that record, girlfriend!" adds Sam happily.

"If you get tired of the ride, Alex, you can join us!" says David.

"Thanks, guys! I appreciate the offer, David, but I really want to see if I can set the record! Have a good time!" says Alex just as her car starts on the next trip around the track. Clover, Sam and David move down the exit into the park.

The threesome happily starts to explore the park. Soon they are in line for another rollercoaster, the Runaway Minecar. But as they approach the front of the line David, gets a bit antsy.

"Ah, Clover, Sam, I think I'll pass on this ride! I'm not up to another rollercoaster just yet!" and with that, David leaves the line. Clover and Sam really want to ride this coaster.

"Okay, David! We'll see you after the ride!" says Clover.

The gals end up in the last minecar on the coaster. This coaster doesn't go nearly as fast as the 'Stratosphere' but because of the sharp turns and drops, it is every bit as exhilarating! The girls are happily screaming their heads off as they come down the last straightaway into final sharp turn, when all of the sudden their car becomes disengaged from the rest of the cars! They are coming into the final turn without the aid of the brake from the rest of the train!

"OH NO!" screams Clover.

"Quick, Clover! Put the handle of your WOOHP umbrella on the handrail and open it! It's our only chance to slow down in time!" shouts Sam.

"Okay!" says Clover, as she puts the handle of the umbrella on the handrail and opens the umbrella just in the nick of time! The umbrella works perfectly as a parachute-brake, and the car slows sufficiently to where it safely gets back to the station.

Rollercoaster World immediately closes down the ride, and sends inspectors and medical personnel to the scene.

"Are you two all right?" asks a concerned worker.

"We're fine," says a relieved Sam.

Another worker asks, "What caused the car to disconnect? We inspected the ride this morning and everything was fine!"

An inspector says, as Sam and Clover look over his shoulder, "It appears like the connecting pin sheared! That's never happened before!"

Sam takes a picture of the connecting pin with her compowder surreptitiously. She wants to examine the pin more closely, as she and Clover leave the ride.

The gals sit on a bench in the midway and Sam recalls the picture. Both she and Clover study it intently.

"Clover! Look how cleanly that pin 'sheared'! More like it was lasered!"

"You're right, Sam. Pins don't shear at perfect 180º angles to the connection! If anything, they'd shear on an angle!"

"It doesn't make sense! Who would want to laser a connecting pin on a ride?"

The girls continue on into the park with that question unanswered. They wonder what happened to David. He wasn't waiting for them after they got off the ride. The gals become alarmed and go looking for him.

They find David, with Mandy, a number of midway benches from the 'Runaway Minecar'.

"David! We've been looking all over for you!" says Sam.

"Why?" says Mandy snottily, "David obviously wants to spend time with me!"

David responds, "I'm sorry, gals! Mandy sprained her ankle and I was helping her walk the sprain out!" The gals give Mandy an 'if looks could kill' look.

"Well, I'm sure you two wouldn't have helped me!" declares Mandy.

"As if you really needed help!" says Clover, about the obvious set-up to grab David.

David can see that he is in the middle of what could break into a catfight, so he bids a hasty retreat. "Gals, I need to hit the restroom! I'll see you all around!" and he hurries off.

"Nice one, Clover, Sam! You scared David away!" says Mandy angrily as she stomps off.

"Obviously her ankle wasn't sprained too severely!" says Sam loud enough for Mandy to hear, as she and Clover watch Mandy dissolve into the crowd.

The gals decide to continue their exploration of the park by themselves. They ride five more coasters, along with two of the carousels. They then hit one of the arcades, before checking on Alex. The episode with the minecar has faded from memory.

The gals see Alex still in the back row of the 'Stratosphere'.

"How's the record coming, girlfriend?" asks Clover.

"Great, Clover! I get a 5 minute break every hour, and my time still counts toward the record!" says Alex happily.

"Well, good luck!" says Sam.

"Thanks, Sammy! See you guys later!" responds Alex.