Meeting the Jokers

Part 19

The rollercoaster began, pushing Q forward at 100 miles an hour. Maybe more.

He swore. The words that were always bleeped out on the show. I was witnessing them live. The s's and the f's and the craps all repetitively used.

The rollercoaster took its first upside down turn, Q's face went a mixture of purple and green.

"I can't... I can't do this," he said slowly, his eyes wandering aimlessly.

"Is he ok?" Sal sounded genuinely worried.

"Of course he is," Joe said, staring intently at the camera which I hid behind purposely.

The rollercoaster took another loop, and his face went a dark green, then returned as the ride went straight.

Leading to the tunnel. The drop.

"I don't know if he can carry on," Sal stepped out of the camera range and had a quick discussion with one of the producers.

"The show must go on," the producer said. To which Sal tutted and went back to his spot in front of the monitors.

Into the darkness Q went. "What's happening now?" He asked.

No reply.

"I'm scared guys..." he said slowly, "I'm getting dizzy."

Q didn't know it yet, but he was suspended 15 meters high. When the lights come on he will drop.

"GUYS," Sal shouted nervously, pulling his microphone away so Q couldn't hear his worry.

"Help," Q said, slightly more perky than the last time.

Then the lights came on, and as fast as a bullet he was off, falling in a 90 degree drop.

Q's face changed imminently. The fluorescent lights amplified his bulging eyes and green face as he tried to contain himself on the drop.

The drop lasted around 10 seconds, then the ride was over.

The crew cheered behind me, with Sal looking pretty happy up front. The guys raced to where the ride had finished, to congratulate an ill Q.

"That was horrible," Q said, "but I don't feel great."

"You'll be fine," Murr insisted, but Q shook his head slowly.

"Is he ok?" I asked Sal.

"I'm not sure. The same thing happened a few years ago, and things didn't end well."

Now I knew something was wrong.

"We need to take him to a hospital," I said, but no one looked up from their phones. The producers barely took notice to Q's confusion and dreariness.

"You think it's that serious?" Sal asked.

"I think I need to go," Q said.

"Olivia, call the ambulance," Sal commanded, and I did.

I dialed 911.

Automatically, they picked up.

"Hello, this is 911. What is your emergency?"

"Hi, I have a friend who looks like he's about to pass out-"

And just like that, Q smacked the floor forcefully, his eyes not moving. His body not moving even seconds after the drop. Everyone looked up from their phones.

"Have they answered?" Sal shouted over to me, panic spread across his face. Joe was trying to talk sense into Q, to check up on him but no reply. Murr was with Casey, anxiously recollecting what had happened.

"My friend has just collapsed." I stared, "we're at the Florida Theme Park."

"Ok, we'll send an ambulance out," the woman said, "but it's looking to come in about 20 minutes."

"20 minutes!" I shouted. 20 stinking minutes!

"What?" Sal hissed.

"I'm sorry, my friend is Brian Quinn... from Impractical Jokers." I sensed everyone burning lasers through me so I was determined to try anything, "and he needs help right now."

And then she hung up.

"So what's happening?" Sal asked, his eyes wide.

"They'll be here in 20 minutes."

"Can you hear me?" Joe shouted to Q's face, to which Q didn't even bat an eyelid. "What's your name?"

"Oh my god," Sal sighed, breathed in and out, and then sat down.

"Calm down," I said, "everything's going to be fine..." I trailed off.

Nee naw nee naw

The sound of the ambulance arriving.

Sal and Joe took a sigh of relief. My heart beat began beating slower.

Q was rolled onto a stretcher and rushed into the vehicle.

"OK," one of the police officers came up to us, "there's only room for 2 of you to join Mr Quinn."

"You guys..." I pointed at Sal and Joe.

"Are you sure?" Joe asked.

"Yeah, you guys go. We'll meet you there."

And so off Sal, Q and Joe went. Riding off to safety.

I'll meet you there.