Down But Not Out

Chapter 32

"Race ya" I said, glancing at Josh who grinned at me before we both took off, our feet pounding against the dirt. Josh gained in speed so I dug my heels in as well, to try and go faster, but Josh was too fast. He arrived at the entrance to the fair before I did. He sent me a cocky smile as I doubled over, breathing heavily.

"Wow I need to start exercising again" I huffed, straightening up and looking into the fair before smiling to myself.

Whenever a park near to Summer and I had a fair, we always make sure we have money to go because we both love rides. Okay sure, the rides are nothing like the ones you get at theme parks, but they are still fun. The fairs we usually go to are just choc full of rides for all ages and tastes as well as the occasional hook-a-duck game where you can win prizes and food stands selling hot dogs, burgers and chips. I just love the atmosphere that a fair generates as well as the fact that usually Summer and I see old school friends back home. Well we weren't home but I was still with friends.

"Go on some rides with me?" I asked Josh and he turned to me before smiling.

"Of course. I was planning on it anyway, but how about we wait for everyone else to catch up first?" he asked and I huffed but nodded anyway. He laughed at my impatience as I turned around to watch for my friends and started shifting my weight when they took their time.

I glanced at my watch after another minute and heard gasping. I looked up to see Dan giving Summer a piggyback, while he jogged and she bounced up and down on his back. We grinned at each other as she slid down and skipped over to me before embracing me. We hugged tightly before jumping up and down in excitement.

"Come on!" we exclaimed and I grabbed Josh's hand while Summer grabbed Dan's and we dragged them through the little opening and into the fairground, where a white booth stood with the word 'tickets' written above. We headed there and bought four adult wristbands, which let us go on anything for the next two hours- since it was closing in two hours.

We passed the ticket booth and emerged within the fairground as my eardrums were buffeted with the sound of music coming from each ride. Summer and I grinned at each other.

"Liz why don't you pick a ride first?" Josh suggested and I nodded, before spotting the ride I wanted to go on. Summer and I walked over there, since this was a ride we tended to go on back at home and we both loved it. I called it the 'Waltzers' but the ride was called many names, usually 'Spin City'. Basically it was an enclosed ride with a dozen circular cabs that seated about five sometimes six people, and these cabs had wheels on the bottom and were set on a black floor which moved around in a circle when the ride started. The cabs also spun around on their wheels as they were on a track which spun the cabs while the floor moved up and down in a circular motion. It was a lot more fun than it sounded though.

Josh and Dan followed behind us but by the time they had arrived Summer and I were already standing on the ride waiting for them. We headed to one of the cabs before sitting down. Summer and I were in the middle with Josh on my left and Dan on Summer's right. One of the guys operating the ride walked around and after we showed him our wristbands he pushed the bar down and we all held onto it. The cab we were sitting in had a black cushioned chair that went around half of the cab, since the other half was open for the people to climb into the cab, and also had the part where the bar attached to the floor.

We waited eagerly as more people came onto the rides and I spotted Matt and Ivy climbing in after Chris, Max, Christy and Kayleigh. I waved to them and saw that they were in sitting in the cab two behind us. They waved back and cheered so the four of us cheered as well before we laughed quietly. I frowned as Dan had to bend his legs at the knees, because even though there was plenty of leg room in here, he was a lot taller than Summer and I, and a few inches taller than Josh, so he had to bend his knees slightly to fit in.