AUTHOR'S NOTE: Again, I want to thank you all for reading these stories, especially "Meeting the Robinsons" and "Babysitting." For those who have been reading my stories all this time, and this is way back to about seven years ago, this story takes place before all of that. The first story I have ever written on here is called "Catastrophe," and this story takes place a month before that story. I didn't provide much background on Karena, so hopefully this will give you a glimpse of who she was before she meets the Robinsons. Also, in this story, Karena goes to Disneyland. I have written a chapter where Karena and her daughter go to Disney World, and I have written their experiences in Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror. Both rides are different in Disneyland, so the writing here is different. Lastly, this story takes place in 2013 before some of the changes happened, so if it is not accurate, please bear with me. Enjoy! Oh, and one more thing: I am taking a week off to show my parents around the state I now live in, so this will be my last story until the next Monday. I may or may not upload another one before I leave work tonight. See you then!

DISCLAIMER: None.

STORY #14: The Start of Change

STORIES OF REFERENCE: Catastrophe

NARRATOR: Karena

FEBRUARY 2, 2013 – LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA

"Wake up, sleepyhead."

I stirred awake to see my dad hovering over me.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"Thanks, Dad," I replied sleepily, rubbing my eyes before sitting up.

"Well, hurry and get dressed. I made something special for you."

I smiled as he left the room, and I got out of bed to choose my birthday outfit. The best thing about living in California was that the temperature was always nice, and it was especially nice in what is winter everywhere else in the United States. I got out some ripped jeans and a pink Aeropostale shirt, and I slipped those on before putting my long brown hair in a braid. After I slipped on my white tennis shoes, I walked out of my room and into the kitchen where I saw a pile of pancakes and a small present waiting for me.

"I made your favorite," Dad said with a smile on his face as I took a seat.

"The mint-flavored pancakes? You're amazing!"

I cut my pancakes and took a bite; they were perfect.

"Go ahead and open your present," Dad told me.

"I want to finish these first," I replied with a laugh.

I finished eating my pancakes, and then I opened my present.

"My own diary!" I gasped in awe, gazing at the purple journal with sparkles all over it with a lock on it.

"You're an adult now, Karena. You could write about your life in college in the diary like you were writing to your mother."

"I miss her," I replied, tears forming in my eyes.

"I miss her too, Karena. She would be proud of you."

We hugged each other as my tears fell on my father's shoulders.

"Well, good thing you're dressed because I have a whole day planned for just the two of us!" Dad announced, and I put a smile on my face.

"What are we doing?"

"I thought we would spend the day at your mom's favorite places: Disneyland and Santa Monica Pier. And you're dressed for both."

"She'd love that," I replied.

My dad gave me a kiss on the cheek before heading into his room to change. I washed my dishes and then sat back at the table, thinking about my future. I didn't know how I was going to break the news to my dad that I was going apartment searching since I was not going to college next year. My mom never went to college when she was my age and chose to tour with her band instead, which was how she met my dad. I already worked at Wendy's and saved all of my money the last four years since school was walking-distance from our house. I didn't need to have a car, and I was content with it.

"Let's go, sweetheart!" Dad said enthusiastically as I followed him out of the house and into his car.

The nice thing about Disneyland in February is that it's not too busy. Granted, today was Saturday, so it was busier, but not busy enough to be the busiest season of the year. But this was one of the few places that got me excited because it always lifted up my spirits in a pessimistic world.

My dad and I walked through the entrance of Disneyland Park and into Main Street where there was a band playing in the streets as well as a barber quartet singing in the distance. I was always in awe when I walked down this street, because this was Walt Disney's home at some point in his life. This was the one theme park Walt Disney engineered from beginning to end while he was alive, so this stretch was in memory of him. We walked up to the statue of Walt holding Mickey Mouse's hand, which reminded me so much of my mom holding my hand wherever we went. We walked through Sleeping Beauty castle, and we found ourselves in Fantastyland.

"What do you say we go on your mom's favorite ride?" Dad suggested, but I shook my head.

"Every time I heard the words a world of tears, I'm going to cry and I won't stop."

"Karena, your mother died eleven years ago."

"Because a drunk driver killed her!" I yelled out. "Because of a stupid drunk person, Mom is gone! Mom should be here with us, not in heaven because her life was cut short because someone was irresponsible!"

"Karena, hey, if your mom was here, hearing you say that would crush her heart."

"Mom's in heaven, Dad. She's not coming back. Let's just go."

We walked for a little bit until we approached a ride in a mountain. But I could not release the anger that was in my heart.

"What do you say we ride on the Matterhorn?" Dad suggested. "It's your favorite."

I smiled at that, forgetting for the moment that my mom was gone.

"Let's ride."

Dad and I sat in the front when we started going forward into the dark. I felt ourselves going up and up and up before finally taking a turn. But we never went down, despite the ride speeding up. There was one small drop when my dad and I got wet. Before we knew it, the ride was over. After we got off the Matterhorn, we ventured into Tomorrowland.

"Karena, I'll bet you that your future will be prosperous," Dad told me as we walked around. "You're going to be in a place full of hope and where your dreams will come true. And you're going to be surrounded by a family who loves you."

"What family, Dad?" I asked with an eye roll. "I'm not planning on getting married."

"So you're going to follow your mom's path and not fall in love?" Dad asked with worry in his voice.

"I'm not going to go down that path, Dad. I don't want what happened to Mom happening to me."

"Karena, I wasn't expecting to fall in love with your mom. But I did, and I'm still the happiest man in my life because your mom was in it. She still is. Everywhere I go, she surrounds me with her love. And Karena, no one expected your mom to die. Life happens, and sometimes, you can't change that. But you can change the way you react to things. Karena, you're still grieving over mom's death eleven years later. You're always cleaning the house when you're home. Whenever you're not home, you're always someplace, like a school event playing the drums or participating in the color guard, or you're always working. Have you thought about moving forward from this?"

"Dad, you were never home when I was home during my childhood," I explained. "That was why I cleaned. I kept waiting for Mom to come home and give me a hug and kiss, and for her to tell me how proud she is of me looking after the house. I couldn't grieve for her because I had to watch the house while you were gone, and I had to make money too so I could start my own life. But words cannot describe how angry I am everyday that no one was able to listen to me."

"Karena, you've always been independent, and I'm sorry you felt that way. I wish I was home more so we could spend more time together, so that you always had a parent around. Have you asked your teachers for advice?"

"I didn't want to burden them with my problems," I answered.

"Oh Karena Michelle… you've kept this bottled up all this time?" Dad paused, giving me a hug. "Karena, how about we go away for a week? Just the two of us. You can tell me everything that has been on your mind for the last eleven years."

"Dad, you can't get away from your work," I replied.

"Karena, I haven't taken a vacation since your mother died," Dad explained. "I think we both need a vacation."

"Dad, I don't think that's a good idea. I was going to tell you something anyway."

"What is it?"

"I've decided to find my own place."

"Karena, are you sure you want to do this?" Dad asked, and I nodded.

"I'm an adult now. I need to start living my own life."

"Karena, you're in an unhealthy state of mind because you never properly grieved. I don't think having your own place is a good idea."

"Dad, I need to do this. I've saved up all the money I've earned from working."

"Karena, living in your own apartment is expensive. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"Yes, Dad, I'm sure. Now, are we going to ride Space Mountain or what?"

My dad and I had a blast riding Space Mountain before visiting Roger Rabbit in Mickey's Toontown. Then, we walked to New Orleans Square to ride Pirates of the Caribbean before having lunch at the Royal Street Veranda. The last thing we did in Disneyland Park was venture on Splash Mountain, where I sat in the very front seat with my dad behind me.

The ride started off with a small climb and very small drop as a pirate ship, which was a play area, came into view. There was another small climb and very small drop after we made a U-turn. There was music playing as we rode outside, and the music sounded very jolly with its violins. We passed Brer Fox's house before the pirate ship came into view again, and then we made a turn to pass Brer Bear's house.

Suddenly, we felt ourselves drop, and we did get a little wet before venturing inside. We heard geese singing "How do you do?" to us as we took so many turns. I noticed that the sun was shining through the roof, which told me that it was sunny in this setting, and it made everything beautiful. I took a quick glance to my left to see a sign that said, "GRINS ONLY."

"Here comes the laughing place!" Dad announced.

We screamed as we fell, went forward quickly for a short distance, and then fell again to be greeted with a bigger splash than last time. I looked up and saw a bunch of bee hives in an even darker place.

"Dad, I feel like I'm in Halloweentown," I said to him, glancing back over my left shoulder while watching the fluorescent mushrooms flash by me.

"Let me out of here!" I heard someone say.

I turned back to my left to see a rabbit trapped by a beehive. As we waited behind another log, I heard a woman sing about someone becoming rabbit stew.

"I think I get it," I said out loud, realizing why the rabbit was trapped.

When we got up to the big climb, I looked up to see vultures taunting us, telling us that they were taking us to our laughing place. I looked ahead to see a glowing wall ahead, and when we got there, I saw the same rabbit, trapped on a pole with fire right in front of him.

"Here you go!" I heard a voice say.

We screamed as we plunged downward, and we were met with a big splash, soaking everyone in the log.

"Dad, I'm freezing!" I said, shivering.

"Relax, kiddo, we're in California," Dad assured me. "It's not like we're in Chicago where it's below freezing."

We took a few turns with music up ahead, and I heard the words "Zip-a-dee-do-dah" playing.

"Well, someone's celebrating," I said out loud. "Maybe the rabbit got what he deserved?"

"Well, sure," Dad answered. "The rabbit's learned his lesson. It's the bear and the fox that got what they deserved for falling into a trick."

We went back inside to see a ship ahead full of animals celebrating. Right after the ship was, as Dad said, the fox and the bear getting what they deserved by running into a crocodile. I saw the rabbit being comfortable and content with how his life is, and the ride was over.

We walked back to our cars after we got soaked and traveled to the second park in Disneyland: Disney California Adventure. We followed the path down Buena Vista Street to Hollywood Land.

"Karena, look: it's the Tower of Terror. Wanna go?"

"Let's go!"

We eagerly walked to The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, and we waited about an hour and a half before finally walking into the library. But I was amazed at the architecture on the way in. There was some sort of paint on the front of the building that indicated that something happened to the Hollywood Tower Hotel. But the inside looked deserted as there were cobwebs everywhere, and we even passed a broken elevator.

When we walked into the library, a video started to play, telling us the story of how five passengers walked into an elevator one Halloween night and disappeared along with all of that wing into the Twilight Zone. We were then directed to the second floor of the boiler room, where we were boarded half an hour later. Suddenly, we were pulled backwards.

"You are the passengers on a most uncommon elevator," I heard a male voice say, the same voice that was in the video in the library as we saw lightning all around us. "About to take the strangest journey of your lives. Your destination? Unknown. But this much is clear: a reservation has been made in your name for an extended stay."

"Whoa!" I yelled out as the elevator quickly rose.

"Spooky, huh?" Dad asked with a chuckle.

"It took me by surprise," I replied. "That's all."

We found ourselves looking into a big mirror of all of us.

"Wave goodbye to the real world."

I saw some riders waving, and so Dad and I also waved before lightning appeared again, leaving a distorted picture of us waving, and then we disappeared from the mirror.

"For you have just entered the Twilight Zone."

"Fascinating," I heard Dad say as we descended down a floor.

"What happened here to dim the lights of Hollywood's brightest showplace is about to unfold once again."

The missing guests showed up and beckoned us to join them before they disappeared.

"This is creepy," I told my dad.

"One stormy night long ago, five people stepped through the door of an elevator and into a nightmare."

The elevator ahead of us opened the door to reveal the missing guests.

"That door is opening again, but this time it's opening for you."

We watched the guests fall, and then we felt ourselves fall. I screamed loudly as we felt another small drop, and then we rose to the top. We felt ourselves fall briefly again, but not before the doors opened to reveal a magnificent view of the park. We fell again, and then rose again to what I thought was the top before falling without a stop. We rose one more time to the very top and fell to the very bottom of the shaft without stopping. We felt the car go forward as the music came back on.

"The next time you check into a deserted hotel on the dark side of Hollywood, make sure you know just what kind of vacancy you're filling. Or you may find yourself a permanent resident… of the Twilight Zone."

"That was fun," Dad said with a grin as we left the gift shop. "What now?"

"We could look around," I suggested.

We walked back up Hollywood Land and came upon an ice cream shop. Once we got our ice cream, we ventured to Cars Land, and the main street was…

"Route 66?" I asked. "Why does that sound familiar?"

"You've seen Cars, haven't you?" Dad asked.

"No," I replied with a flat expression.

"Well, Los Angeles is part of Route 66," Dad explained. "And the end of Route 66 is at Santa Monica Pier."

"That's it!" I exclaimed, snapping my fingers. "The End of the Trail sign! Well, let's look around!"

I was in awe while looking around, and we did end up going on one ride: Radiator Springs Racers. The ride was the most scenic ride I had ever been on. I was a little creeped out by the talking cars giving me advice about racing, but I had a fun time.

After we had snacks at Flo's Café, we walked through another section of the park until we approached Paradise Pier. Before we went anywhere else, Dad snapped a picture of me with both the Ferris wheel and the roller coaster in the background, and then I took a selfie of the two of us. I also took a picture of the reflection in the water, instantly inspired. Then, Dad and I rode both the Ferris wheel and the roller coaster called California Screamin'. We also gave Toy Story Mania a try, and my dad just barely defeated me in all of the games.

We left the park and made our slow way to Santa Monica Pier. When we parked, we made our way to the entrance sign, which was already lit up due to the early sunset. We looked around for the End of the Trail sign and had our pictures taken there. We explored all the shops and we found ourselves on the Ferris wheel.

"So, did you a have a good day, Karena?" Dad asked me.

"It was better than I expected," I answered. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"Hey, your mom's death wasn't easy for either of us. I lost my best friend that day."

"I remember my mom telling me I was her whole world. I don't know whose world I'm part of anymore."

"You're part of mine, Karena."

I looked up at him with a smile on my face.

"You always will be part of my world. I'll make it up to you, Karena. If you ever need to talk about something, just give me a call. You are more important than my job at the lab."

"I knew I could count on you," I replied, taking a picture of the view from the top.

"Happy birthday, Karena," Dad said. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Dad."