An Unfortunate Event by Zahra Makda
“I can’t get down! I’m not getting down!” I tried to cry but the cold had frozen my tears. I didn’t think my life would end like this, clutching onto the jagged edge of a seatbelt with the minutest of strength I had left. I was only 9 and I had so much still to do in the world. I was going to be the youngest prime minister, at age 16, to ever actually make a difference in the world and I was definitely going to be the first human being to create a time machine so I could go back in time and make my science project better than horrid Herbert! My tiny ears started tingling as I could hear the sirens approach to rescue their future saviour!
***
It was Saturday morning, the day my family and I had decided to go Marty’s Adventure Park, but it was also the one day I could have had the chance to prove my science teacher wrong on the theory of Quantum physics! It was truly the most horrendous day, with the sun hiding behind the clouds who unloaded their endless supply of rain. I could tell you how they are formed but that’s a fact for another day.
“Danny! Are you ready yet?” shouted my annoying 22 year old brother John. “Dad says, if you don’t get in the van now, then he’s going to delete your monthly allowance for the science magazine, so I think you better get in the van and stop whatever geeky masterpiece you’re working on.”
Oh, I hated it when he impersonated my Dad. He even did the raised eyebrows and the widened eyes.
“Fine. I’m coming, but if you don’t get out of my room right now I’ll rip that eyebrow off your face and stick it onto my sculpture of Stephen Hawking!” I slammed my journal shut and forced myself down the stairs.
And, as if the day couldn’t get any worse, Rebecca strolled in. This was the Rebecca who ruined my bright yellow sneakers on my birthday just to find her imaginary pet rabbit, whose name was Rabbit. I had to clamber into the marsh outside my house and as I did so, I felt her cold snigger at my shoulders.
“You didn’t think I was serious did you?” she’d said whilst laughing and petting the air. This was also the Rebecca who was my brother’s girlfriend.
As we all scrambled into the van I quickly learned that my prized possession, which was the back seat away from all the undesirables, was taken by John and rotten Rebecca. Making my way to the seat in front, I couldn’t help but notice Rebecca in the mirror. I had never noticed it before, but she was quite pretty, although not as pretty as me, of course. I caught a glimpse of her thick brunette hair and her gleaming green eyes glistening. Her father was the CEO for the science department of a building that I have been trying to get into, through her. That was the only reason I tolerated her nonsense.
We finally got there and it was just as I expected on a dull, gloomy day. Empty. There were more than 10 roller coasters and a few empty stalls for fun and games. Flashing lights and music drowned out the sound of my Dad’s voice. All I noticed was ‘that’ ride. A circle of seats suspended on chains that radiated out high in the air as the ride spun. In large black writing, a large banner proclaimed “Quantum Drifter”. Suddenly, I wanted to be there; I wanted to go on that ride if it was the last thing I did.
Without warning, my miniscule legs carried me to the empty queue for the ride and, of course, I was the first one for the day. Breathless, I scampered onto the nearest seat. Once seated, I waited for the supervisor to come and swipe it shut, my feet dangling. After a few moments, the ride juddered, before my seat eased forward and began its dizzying flight tipping me back and up into the sky. My feet rose further and further away from the ground as it threw me into the air. Yet, as my heart fell into my stomach, the view was incredible. Even through the pouring rain, I caught a glimpse of everybody down below waving hysterically. So, I waved back briefly before fiercely again gripping the chain. But they wouldn’t stop waving, neither did Rebecca. That’s when I realised I had been in the air far too long and something was definitely wrong. The ride had stopped. I tried to move to see behind me and as I did so my bottom slipped off the wet seat and my seatbelt was the only thing I could hold onto. I can’t believe my life was in the hands of a lifeless little thing!
“I can’t get down! I’m not getting down!” I tried to cry but the cold had frozen my tears. I didn’t think my life would end like this, clutching onto the jagged edge of a seatbelt with the minutest of strength I had left. I was only 9 and I had so much still to do in the world. I was going to be the youngest prime minister at age 16 ever to actually make a difference in the world and I was definitely going to be the first human being to create a time machine so I could go back in time and make my science project better than horrid Herbert! My tiny ears started tingling as I could hear the sirens approach to rescue their future saviour!
I still wonder to this day why I couldn’t have stayed home and finished my theory, proving my science teacher wrong, once again…
