Two boys stood beneath the shadow of a towering slide. One, who had black hair and a mischievous smile, stood in a way that said he was ready to take on the world. The other, who had a lovely head of blond curls, shifted nervously as if he were about to poop his pants.
"Kyle," said the first boy, whose name was Aaron, "are you TOTALLY nervous? Huh? How does the slide look?"
Kyle shot him a withering look. "Shut up."
Aaron knew Kyle was afraid of water. He'd known ever since they were little and Kyle wouldn't step into the pool. Aaron had always found this immensely funny; he had never passed up a chance to mock his younger brother.
"You know what I heard about it?" Aaron said, gesturing towards the slide. "I heard some terrible things, that's what. So there was this one guy, right? He was one of the first to ride it. Well, he was so thin, so tiny, that when he went down he went twice as fast as the builders intended. He was too speedy; couldn't curve along with the slide. He ended up slamming into the plastic at the end of the long drop. Just a pile of skin and bones."
Kyle laughed. Aaron was a pest, but he didn't scare him. He'd gotten over his fear of water -- why else would he agree to go to The Wetlands, the best waterpark in the area? He told himself that the only thing he was worried about anymore was a stray band-aid getting into his mouth.
No, Kyle had actually been looking forward to this. The Torpedo Tube: it was the latest, the greatest! No other slide could beat this thrill machine. It had a few twists and turns at the beginning, but that just prepared you for the massive drop. From his place in line, Kyle thought it looked like a ninety-degree angle.
"Yes, you definitely look nervous," Aaron continued. "Frightened. Terrified. Kyle, you can't wet your pants. I'm serious. They'll already be wet."
The long line inched forward a bit more. This ride had been highly anticipated, and everyone wanted a turn. Kyle had spent a good part of the day standing in line, but he was sure it would be worth it in the end. He imagined the envy on all his friends' faces when he told them he had ridden the Torpedo Tube! Of course Aaron would be right by his side, exclaiming how Kyle had peed on the slide or something ridiculous like that.
"You worry about yourself, Aaron," Kyle said. "I'm going to go faster than anybody. You know those pictures they take as you go down? You won't even see me. I'll be a blur."
"Bull," Aaron spat. "You'll die. Just like that one guy. And they'll be scraping your guts into a bulldozer. That'll be hilarious. But hey, at least you'll be on TV, bud."
Kyle jabbed Aaron in the back, his hand pointed into a karate chop. "You wanna make a bet, huh?"
"Yeah right. Then how will you pay for your funeral?"
"At least people will go to mine, 'tard!"
The sun beat down hard on Kyle's bare skin. It was a real scorcher. He wished he'd applied some sunscreen before he got separated from his mom and dad. They had all the swimming supplies.
"Kyle! Oh no! Dude, you forgot your goggles!"
Kyle cursed himself inwardly. It was true. He absolutely hated when water got in his eyes; now he was going to be blind the whole way down!
"Whatever. Who cares," he bluffed.
"Uh, it's called chlorine, Kyle." Aaron didn't have goggles, of course. He was a natural fish, and water in his eyes had never bothered him. "Your eyes are gonna burn out of their sockets! You know what it's like. Ahhh, ahhh!" He did a funny dance, clawing dramatically at his face.
"I only did that once," Kyle retorted. "At least my swim trunks have never come off."
Aaron blushed. "Shut up." Kyle knew that was still a sensitive issue for him.
They were almost to the long metal staircase that curled up into the sky. It looks a bit like a DNA helix, Kyle thought. Then he cursed himself for remembering school. Summer was way too good for that. It's a slide. Just a slide.
He could imagine his classmates sitting at home in the sweltering heat, with no way of cooling off except the public pool. Lame! They're probably staining their couches with sweat right now, he thought gleefully. Watching stupid Price is Right reruns. Bob Barker is even worse in bad weather.
He winced as Aaron punched him on the shoulder. They had reached the base of the stairs.
"Ready?" Aaron said. "Remember, I'm going first. Mom will kill me if I let you die, so I gotta make sure it's suitable for babies. I wouldn't get your hopes up."
They began ascending the sparkling steel construct. Water dripped down from higher steps, splattering on their heads. It actually felt pretty nice.
"Gross!" Aaron cried. "Toe jam wine."
"Shake it off. Don't be a wuss," Kyle scolded.
"I'll show you wuss!" Aaron raised his meaty hands and shoved Kyle into the railing. Kyle's head whipped back, and for a moment he could see the park laid out below him, bright and topsy-turvy. He righted himself and brought a hand to his stomach. That was the last thing it needed. He wasn't afraid, but he had a few butterflies.
"What's wrong, Kyle?" Aaron taunted. "You afraid of heights, too? What are you thinking, trying to ride a slide like this with those two phobias? Crazy, man. You're insane. You're totally batty. Am I gonna have to apologize to your friends when you fall off the tower? Don't slip!"
Kyle scowled and shoved Aaron up the packed stairs. Someone above called out in protest, but he didn't care. He was getting sick of Aaron's attitude. All talk, all talk -- Kyle knew he could beat him in a fight if he really tried. But not today. Not before he went on the Torpedo Tube.
At last they reached the top. The ride attendant, a kid in his late teens, sat on the railing reading a sports magazine. Wrap-around sunglasses hugged his face. Every few seconds he'd look up and say "Go." Sometimes he didn't even bother saying anything, just waving his hand nonchalantly.
"Hey dude," Aaron said to the attendant. "You think this thing is appropriate for my lil' bro to ride?"
The guy pulled his sunglasses down, examining the two of them with annoyance. "Nah, brah," he said, and returned to his magazine.
"Sorry, Kyle," Aaron said with glee. "Back to mommy and daddy!"
There were only two people left in line before they got their turn.
"I swear to god, Aaron, when we get to the bottom I am going to drown you."
"Oh, I'm so afraid of the little child! You're adorable, really. Seriously. Just adorable."
"Hey!" The obese man directly in front of them had turned around and was speaking to Aaron. "Shut up, idiot! We didn't go to an amusement park to hear two babies googoo and gaagaa at each other!"
"It's a free country! Get close to me and I'll push you off this stupid tower!"
"Hey now," said the attendant, tearing himself away from the pleasures of football. "Cool off, brahs. I don't wanna kick you out."
Aaron made a face, but he shut up, as it was almost his turn. Kyle knew Aaron wanted to go down the slide just as much as he did, and even his brother wasn't stupid enough to sabotage himself.
"Go," the attendant said, and a little blond-haired girl swooshed down the slide, her screams echoing through the air.
"Kyle, this is too much," Aaron whispered, sure not to disturb the man who had protested. "That girl is gonna die, and you're just standing here? Go save her. Be a hero, dude."
Kyle grit his teeth and stared forward, counting the seconds until Aaron would be on that slide. He imagined sending a wad of spit down after him -- that would be good. He knew that when they were back on the ground Aaron was gonna get it. Embarrassing him in front of all these strangers. Kyle boiled inside.
The fat fellow was next. He braced his hands on the top of the tube entrance and grinned at his friends, who were further back in line. The attendant gave him the go ahead, and he swung himself full-throttle down the chute. Kyle got a sick feeling just watching. He really wanted to go -- really he did -- but the suspense was beginning to get to him.
"My turn?" Aaron asked the attendant.
"Yeah, sure. Follow the rules."
Aaron giggled in his creepy way and positioned himself in front of the opening.
"Watch, Kyle," he said. "This is how real men do it. Huh? You watching? Good. Swimming lesson, Kyle."
Then he sprang forward, flinging himself head-first down the slide.
"Whoa!" said the attendant, standing up in alarm. His magazine hit the metal-grille floor with a wet smack. "Not cool, dude!" He poked his head into the tube and yelled, "I'm on to you, peewee! You're not riding in my ship again!" He straightened up and ran a hand through his surfer hair. "Not supposed to go head-first, brahs," he said to the people in line, gesturing to the laminated sheet of rules that stood on a steel pedestal near the tube opening.
Kyle couldn't believe it. Head-first! He had to give Aaron points for that, but stupid is stupid, and even he didn't want to see Aaron crippled. Well, maybe it'd be nice for a bit, but not forever.
"Hey man," Kyle said to the attendant. "Is he gonna be okay?"
The attendant sat on the railing again with his magazine, scowling in disgust at the soaked pages. "Well I dunno, dude. Stupid is stupid."
Kyle was next in line. He was conflicted. He wanted to go, but now that he was on top of the tower, it didn't seem like such a great idea. What a conundrum -- his gut told him to walk back down those stairs and never go anywhere near as high ever again. But his pride told him to be awesome.
In the end, he knew he had to listen to the sages of the schoolyard, who would frown on such cowardice in a time of thrills. He wanted to have a story. He wanted to return home with triumph, the other kids waving palm branches as he entered the hallowed grounds of the cafeteria. Most of all, he did not want to suffer through the teasing of Aaron. If he could go head-first, then Kyle could go feet-first. Simple as that. It wouldn't be as impressive, but it would be the bare minimum, and that was what Kyle needed to retain his pride.
He took a breath and grasped the curved edges of the tube. He climbed forward into the tiny pool. Jets of water tickled his feet, carrying a torrent of water down the slide. It was a waterfall, moving so fast that Kyle was sure anything to cross into its path would be crushed. But when the attendant shouted Go!, he flung himself down the chute anyway.
****
Part two HERE!
