InsaniKey 2

I stood at the bottom of the towering hammer shaped next ride, sizing up the simple chair with an over the shoulder restraint that went as high as a crane, spinning counter clockwise and allowing the cart to spin upside down as though careening into the air without a cage of protection overtop weren’t bad enough. I would’ve felt my stomach sink into my feet but it was still spinning around on the carousel.

“I can’t even.” I shook my head.

“I can wait all night.” Andy shrugged patiently.

I sighed and stood on the metal platform, jumping back to sit in the chair, pulling the shoulder restraints down and noting that they didn’t fit snugly against my shoulder – I knew I’d have to feel my butt leave the seat as my shoulders slammed against the restraints upside down mid-air in a few seconds. I stared up at the sky again.

“Try to look forward.” Andy warned.

I replied with something between uh-huh, okay, and all right before the ride propelled the chair into the air. It’s funny how fast logic, gravity and timing escape you when you’re trapped inside your head. The ride spun around once and I didn’t have to see the entire amusement park upside down, maybe I wouldn’t have to.

The second spin around caused the chair to turn sideways forcing the chair face the ground horizontally. Before I could wonder what it would feel like to slam face first into the pavement the ride went through the motion, pulling the chair upright again just before I could react. Everything was okay until the ride slowed at an angle near the top and the chair tipped upside down. With the sky at my feet for once I waved my legs in the air and grinned, dropping my hands down toward the ground and swinging them. I felt weightless, carefree.

“You’re freaking crazy.” Andy shouted.

The novelty of being weightless soon wore off and I started to wonder how long I’d be stuck upside down at the top of the ride. I started to feel panic set in again when I noticed something moving toward the lights at the edge of the park…was Jinxx waving at me? “Heyyyyyyyyyy!” I yelled, waving back.

The ride started again and for a couple of spins I watched the world upside down, sideways, and right side up. I started overthinking things, like what I’d do if something bad happened and felt the panic of something bad about to happen then the comfort of accepting that I was powerless to change my circumstances. Once I came to terms with these things the ride stopped and my shoulder restraints lifted. I jumped off the edge of the leg restraints and stood on solid ground, everything seeming unreal for a moment.

“You’re all right.” Andy said firmly.

My eyes shifted focus to stare blankly at him. “Yeah.” I said faintly.

Notes