Trips+and+Surprises+2

Universal Studies, By Marcelina Argh! Another zombie made it’s way through the crowd only this one looked even worse than the others. Dried blood coated his hands and peeling scabs full of pus covered his legs. He held a bloody knife and wore a battered hat; the crowd parted like the sea to let him pass through. Amelia freaked. She started crying even harder than she had before, she was shaking so hard she nearly fell off dad’s shoulders!

I can’t say that I wasn’t scared either even though I knew that the knife was a stage prop and the peeling scabs on the zombie’s legs were just a really good costume. I was annoyed more than I was scared really. This was supposed to be a great day full of roller coasters and cotton candy. Instead we had spent hours waiting in lines and were now walking through a crowd full of the walking dead!

//Why did the night of the walking dead Halloween special have to be on the only day we could come here?// //This sucked//.

“In here,” my mom shouted; she and my older sister Tosia were standing in the entrance to some ride. My dad took my little sister Amelia off his shoulders and the three of us ran for the entrance. Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any worse... Argh!!!!!! Another zombie was coming right at us. His mouth was open and I could see blood dripping from his black teeth. Whoever designed these costumes was a Halloween genius; all the zombies’ looked so zombie like. It made me wonder it these were costumes after all.

“Hurry up Marcelina,” my dad called. My sisters and my mom had already entered the ride. “Better long lines than zombies,” my dad said as I walked in.

“At least there are no lines now,” my older sister Tosia said. She was right; all the people were outside looking for zombies so we were second in line in only two minutes. This ride was called Jurasstic Park and looked pretty cool. If there weren’t zombies walking around outside this ride would have an hour-long line.

“Next!” called the security guard, standing by the big closed doors that were the start of the ride. We walked through them. There was a boat on a river with a bunch of people getting out laughing. We got in along with the three people that were behind us. I had a front row seat and I could see another big door with the words Welcome to Jurassic Park on them.

The doors slowly opened as the boat moved towards them along the river, creepy music filled the air making the ride seem even more intense. We passed through the big doors and there were a bunch of plastic dinosaurs standing in the water. //This was just great - another kid ride!// At least Amelia wasn’t crying anymore, she was the only one having fun now.

After about two minutes a huge cave came into view. The boat slowly floated in and there were more plastic dinosaurs only these ones were escaping big crates and eating plastic people. ARGH!!!!!! There was a huge plastic T-rex in front of us it’s mouth opening and closing slowly. The boat was heading straight for him; wow this was not scary at all the T-rex looked so fake.

This was a really lame ride and a lame day; the T-rex was going to stop moving right when we reached it, that’s what happens at all these kid rides. Suddenly we were flying over a cliff into the open lake below us. The boat landed on the lake with a splash. “That was so awesome,” my older sister shouted.

“Again!” I yelled. But I’m not sure anybody heard me because Amelia was crying again.

The cool wind blew in my face. I had half a bag of popcorn left and the train was going to be here any minute. It was time to go home and leave the crowds and zombies behind. While I waited I realized I wasn’t angry anymore, this day had ended up being really fun.

** My Dad Swam Under the Boat, by McCauley ** He dived off the edge of the boat making a huge splash. I tried looking through the murky water but is was useless. Seconds ticked away and he still hadn’t come up. My heart beat faster and faster. My dad was now under the boat with some kind of unknown sea creatures. My dad’s colleagues looked concerned then both jumped in after him. I didn’t understand what was going on but knew that now the only adults on the boat were underwater trying to pull the anchor out of the thick sand. The children looked at each other all worried for their fathers. In that very second I saw bubbles, coming slowly then faster. My dad emerged from the water face bright red from holding his breath and I instantly relaxed. A few seconds later the other men swam up gasping for air. They told us that the anchor was still stuck.

The day had started out bad and gotten worse. The motor started and we sped across Lake Norman. My hair was wildly flying everywhere. My dad and his colleague were talking about the weather and the fishing conditions as I sat there bored out of my mind. There were only guys on the boat and there was no way I was making friends with them. The “teenagers”, as my mom called them, were loud and annoying. I walked up to my dad and his colleague, Mr.Dave. They were talking about where to set up their fishing lines, if the boat was in the right spot and all of the other weird fishing stuff. I asked my dad if just maybe I could try driving the boat.

“McCauley you are only 8 years old, maybe when you're older you can drive,” that’s what he always says. //I was too young....//

“But Dad! We are out in the middle of nowhere, it’s not like I could crash into anything, all there is is water!” I pleaded.

The oldest “teenager” walked up to us. He was the only one that had been respectful and quiet so I didn’t mind if I was around him. “Let her drive Mr.Schneider, she’s right, all there is, is water. I will sit up here with her and if anything goes wrong I’ll step in.”

The oldest teenager was... nice. At least someone on this boat understood me!

“Fine, fine, fine. Looks like you have a friend on this boat after all. Just be careful and please drive in that direction.” My dad pointed out to nowhere again and I sat down.

“Max,” he said. Max showed me all the gears and switches and buttons that you use to control the boat. It was really cool, I mean I actually got to control something! I pulled the lever on my right and I heard the engine rumble to life. The other teenagers stopped their screaming and stared in awe.

“How come SHE gets to drive the boat! NOT FAIR!"

"Really! She’s only 8! We are older than 13 and we don’t get to to drive!"

"Mason’s already got his drivers license!”

As they were bickering I pressed the start button and the boat jolted forward FAST. Too fast - it was speeding around everywhere and I was frantically trying to turn the wheel. Max reached over and pressed another button then the boat slowed down. I stared at the wheel as a big smile spread across my face, “That was SOOOO fun!!!!” Max laughed at me then we slowly drove off towards where my dad wanted to fish.

I pressed yet another button on the control panel and the anchor plopped down to the bottom of the lake. Max was talking to his brothers, really more of a fight than just talking but I didn’t care. I ran to my bag and pulled out my lunch. Cheetos, strawberries, goldfish, and cookies. My mom must have been in a really good mood this morning! All the guys were fighting over whose fishing spot was whose while I pulled out my beautiful book. They could bicker all they wanted while I got to peacefully read and eat my lunch on the quiet lake. That was until I saw my dad walk over. Parents never let you do anything.

I stared at the slimy fish in my dad’s hands. It was flopping around like crazy so my dad and Mr.Dave were trying to hold it down. “Ewwwww!” My line was just sitting there bobbing in the water motionless and boring. //How come people find fishing fun?//

After another hour or so it was time to go. Max pressed the button for the anchor to come up and we started the engine. Max turned the gear on high and we moved forward really fast, slammed back, then I realized I had fallen off the seat. The anchor must have not come up. I sat up rubbing my head because it hurt so bad. I would never cry in front of all these people but I wanted too.

Max was helping me up when I heard, “ROCK PAPER SCISSORS SHOOOT!” My dad and his colleagues were “figuring out” who was going to go get the anchor out from the “sand”. I did not want my dad going under this boat but he was cursing under his breath and then took his life jacket off. I ran towards him but Max held me back.

“Don’t worry it’s not that deep, plus your father is the best swimmer here. He will be fine.” I didn’t care how deep the water was. If I was stuck on this boat with his weird friends all day, I could NOT stand it!.

The anchor was stuck, my dad smelled, the “teenagers” were fighting, my head hurt, and it was hot. This day stunk.