Disneyland at Daybreak

Chapter 8

Rapidly Splashidly

I hesitated for a moment before turning around. His voice brought the feeling of guilt over me like a blanket. Everything flew back into my mind. I lied to my parents, snuck out, I'm meeting a stranger who I've only met once, and worst of all... I'm at Disneyland.

"Grace. It's just me, Landen. It's not Jafar or something!" he chuckled. "Sorry, Disney humor. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just... oh never mind."

"You can tell me anything. I won't make fun of you. Only throw in some comic relief."

"Comic relief? Really?" I answered hiding a smile. "Is that how you fix all your problems?"

"It doesn't fix my problems, but it helps me get through them. Anything that can make me share my goofy laugh with the world helps me keep my mind off any problem."

"Hm. You have a strange way of thinking." I said smiling. "So, what're some examples of this 'comic relief' thing?"

"Anything really. Whatever makes me smile or laugh. It could be a book or TV show, or I'll try to make a joke out of my situation. Whatever makes me laugh really."

"What about really bad situations. When you have no clue what to do?" I ask.

"I come here."

"You just come here? And do what?" I laugh.

"I'll watch shows, go on rides, talk to the characters, or just sit somewhere and think. Disneyland helps clear my mind. I've never had a problem that this place hasn't helped me fix." I had no reply or snarky remark to that. It didn't make any sense at all, but yet it made perfect sense. "So are we just gonna sit here and discuss the meaning of life or are we gonna go? Because I've been craving a churro all week." Landen asked with a wide grin on his face.

"I don't know. I've been wondering what the meaning of life is since the third grade. Would you like to discuss it? Maybe help me write my book?" I said trying my best to hide a smile.

"Oh come on." Landen said as he yanked my arm towards the nearest churro stand.

After Landen chowed down his churro, he led me back towards the rapids. We walked closer and found a point that stuck out from the rest of the trail right next to the big drop. I stood back while Landen walked to the edge. He leaned over to try to get a look to see if anyone was coming down. "Hurry!" he yelled. "You're gonna miss it!"

"What?" I asked as I hurriedly walked towards him and leaned over the rail. One moment I saw a family coming down the huge drop and the next moment I was sopping wet with Landen behind me laughing.

"Every time." Landen had to add. I was gonna yell at him, but what he just did was totally something I'd pull on my friends, so I ended up laughing too. "Well since you're already wet..." he said as he pulled out two Fastpasses with a grin. That's why he asked for my ticket while I bought a water.

"Uh. I don't know." I said as I glanced down at the drenched people below us.

"Come on, you'll love it! Trust me."

"Alright."

        He led me to the fastpass line and in 5 minutes we were already loading our raft. The raft held eight people. Besides Landen and I, there was a family of four and a couple who looked like they were in college. I sat between Landen, and was by the opening, and the couple. I won't be the one getting wet now!

The water was really smooth so far and I was still dry. Landen kept looking over at me and tried to hide a chuckle. It was making me nervous. We starting heading up on a long conveyor belt that seemed to have no end. What's up there? I must have looked nervous because Landen couldn't hold back his laughter any more. We reached the top and I held on for dear life. The drop must have been at most 3 feet. I glared at Landen, all he did was laugh some more. Even the family across from us was holding back chuckles.

"Sorry, first time!" I pretended to laugh. They laughed along.

"Oh it's ours too dear." replied the mother. "My son has been talking on and on about wanting to go on this."

"Well I was kinda forced to go on th-" Before I could finish the sentence I had to spit out a mouthful of water. The raft was turning and going up then down then left then right then backwards. I didn't know what was going on. I could barely see! Every trickle, every splash, every wave landed on ME. Don't get me wrong, Landed was wet too, but I... Well I can't even describe how wet I was. The family was laughing. The couple next to us looked bored. Landen looked like he was about to die. Of laughter. Before I knew it I was laughing too. It finally slowed down and we bumped against the raft in front of us. Then, the raft in front of them disappeared. Leaving only the sound of screaming to help us guess what the next part of the ride was. When we got up to the gate I was facing backwards. Oh dear lord. I heard the gate screech open and we started moving. We dropped. I was hurtling backwards towards my death. Then halfway down, the raft turned. Leaving the 'bored couple' to get drenched. After that it was a blur. Landen and I were laughing so hard I couldn't see or breath. Once we were off, I was finally able to stop laughing.

      We headed inside the gift shop. While I was pressing a penny for my collection, Landen was over looking at a wall with shiny things all over it. I slid my penny into my pocket and walked over. "Watcha doing?" I asked.

"Oh just looking at pins for my collection."

"Pins?" I asked confused.

"Not just little old pins." he laughed. "Look at them!"

I looked. They were amazing. Landen was right. They weren't just little old pins that you bought in gift shops in museums. They had every Disney character and Disneyland ride.

"Wow."

"I know right. I collect them. I have all my favorite rides and characters. I also collect the limited edition ones and sets."

"That's pretty cool. I pretty much only collect pressed pennies."

"I think everyone collects those." he laughed.
"Here. Let me buy you your first pin." He walked over to the cashier and pointed over the counter at the wall. "I'll take two of the passholder Grizzly River Run pins." The lady asked for his pass and  ID. After he paid he walked back over to me. "You're in luck. This months limited edition happened to be the rapids."

"It's perfect! Thank you so much Landen! How much?"

"Aw don't worry about it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'll just make you buy me a pretzel later."