“Exploring life through fiction, together.”

My favourite ride at theme parks is the carousel. It used to be rollercoasters, but I don’t enjoy them anymore. To be honest, I don’t think I ever did. I just wanted to prove I was ‘man enough’ to all the strangers in the line behind me.

Fiction Bite - It looked fun from the ground

He held his breath.

The ride inched higher. Rusted metal creaking on rusted rails.

There was too much air in his stomach.

The ticket office looked like a Duplo building. Pigeons flew beneath him.

His lungs burnt. Stars flashed in his vision.

They teetered at the top. Beneath was an aching chasm that hopefully connected with a rail somewhere before they were obliterated against the cold, hard ground. They waited.

And his chest was going to explode from the pressure.

And they waited.

And it hurt.

And they waited.

And he exhaled. The carbon dioxide burnt on the way out.

The cart fell, racing towards concrete. But since he’d just breathed out, he had nothing left to scream with. So he smiled.

Which looked really nice in the photo.

Quote of the Week

“After all, spinning is its own reward. There wouldn't be carousels if it weren't so.” — Adam Gopnik.

Book of the month

A Responsibility to Awe by Rebecca Elson

She bridges science and religion, life and death, nature and technology. The first section is her published poems, which are followed by selections from her notebooks. Both sections are fascinating in different ways. For a taster, you can read my favourite poem here.

Final Words

But those strangers I was trying to impress never cared. They were far too tied up in their own worlds, just like I was. 

Now I have less to prove. I can enjoy glittering lights and gilded horses. I can turn and turn in a magical world, floating in a brighter reality, at least until the ride stops.

And never feel like I’m going to vomit.

Do you like theme parks? Have they become more or less exciting as you’ve aged? What do you enjoy now that you never used to? Would you be willing to hit reply? It’d make my day to hear from you.

With Love,

Josiah



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