16

Lauren Hart
“Lauren, when am I going to the amusement park?”
“Ask your uncle, buddy. It’s up to him.” I mumbled without lifting my eyes off my laptop screen. It was noon and I was lying on my bed, flat on my stomach with my legs flying in the air and my face facing the headboard of the bed. I was working; sending replies to the emails and Ryan was lying beside me on his stomach, looking into the screen without knowing anything about what I was doing on my laptop.
I hadn’t even typed another word and I felt the side of the mattress wave. I looked at my side to find Ryan gone. Whoa, that was quick! Shaking my head in amusement I again began to do my work. Within the next minute, I heard the knock on the door. I, without breaking my focus said loudly,
“Come in Ryan.”
For a while, I didn’t hear any noise but when I heard a familiar clearing of the throat, I bolted up in a sitting position with the laptop on my lap. I looked at the intruder-well not exactly, I gave him permission to enter- with Ryan standing beside him. Mr. Peterson wasn’t looking at me but roaming his eyes here and there. Goodness, I was wearing shorts and I think I gave him a good show of my legs. It’s not that he hadn’t seen me in shorts-I wore them comfortably at his place- but this time he saw me lying on my stomach with a good view of my back. Ugh!
“Yes, Mr. Peterson?” I asked after adjusting myself only then his eyes landed on me.
“Go get ready, we are going to the amusement park.”
His statement turned my eyes wide. “Me? But I gave the idea for you two to spend some quality time together.” I reasoned out.
“Well, you were the one who gave the idea so you’ll have to stick with us as Ryan won’t leave without you.” He replied casually and I flicked my eyes to Ryan who was now grinning widely while looking at me. I passed him a gentle smile. If it were for Mr. Peterson, I’d have said no but I couldn’t say no to Ryan.
I raised my eyes again but I was uneasy about one thing. “Uh, okay but-”
As if he knew what I wanted to say, he cut me off in between. “Don’t worry about anyone seeing us together as I’ve already confirmed that none of our mutual known people are going out as they are busy so we’ll be safe from being caught. You just have to confirm from your housemate.”
I already knew what he meant by mutual know people; they were Knights and Adams. It was relieving that he had already run his brain cells. And I knew about my housemate, Chrisy; she would be at work.
“Okay, then, I’ll dress up,” I muttered.
“Be quick as I don’t want Ryan to cut his trip short.” Saying that he left the room and I threw daggers at his back. What did he think I’d take hours to dress up? No, I was very quick when it comes to dressing up.
I huffed and then bolted out of the bed in utter excitement; we were going to an amusement park. Yay!
I quickly grabbed Ryan’s hand. “Come on, buddy, let’s dress you up first.”
After dressing up and packing some essentials in a handbag I headed downstairs where I knew that impatient man was waiting for me as he had already called for me five minutes back.
“Finally, you are here.” He grunted. “I told you not to take much time.” I decided not to come up with a retort as it would have taken much more time than my dressing up took.
“And why are you carrying this heavy bag? We are going to an amusement park, not for a two days trip.” He scowled.
I frowned. “The bag contains essentials, Mr. Peterson.” I then raised my hand and began to count. “I have packed a water bottle, face wipes, antiseptic wipes, tissues, hand wash, sanitizer, pain relief spray, and some medicines -in case we need it- some energy bars and snacks for all of us, and-”
“Let’s go, Ryan, the park will close the entry if we keep on listening to the list.” He cut me off in between with the sarcastic comment and held Ryan’s hand and marched out.
“Hey, wait for me too.” I ran after them.
It took us half an hour to reach there and it already was nine past five in the afternoon when we reached. Bubbles of excitement were erupting inside me. I was enthusiastic like a kid going for the first time to an amusement park. Oh, come on don’t judge me. Amusement parks are for every age group, Period.
As soon as Mr. Peterson found the right spot to park the car, I dashed out of the car and pulled Ryan out too. I got a little irritated when Mr. Peterson didn’t come out of the car as he got busy on the phone call.
“Mr. Peterson, come out fast,” I said impatiently. “Goodness, Ryan, your uncle is taking too much time and then he complains about me being late,” I grumbled to Ryan, who giggled in response.
After what it felt like five years, the king came out. Finally! With the handbag hanging on my one shoulder, I held Ryan’s hand and sprinted towards the entrance with Mr. Grouchy following us. He purchased the entry tickets for the three of us then we gained the entry and sighed in relief.
“Yay, we are gonna have fun, right buddy?” I lowered my head to look at Ryan.
“Are we going to go on every ride, Lauren?” He asked me.
“Oh, yeah. Definitely.” I chirped.
“You seem to be more excited than Ryan.” Mr. Peterson commented nonchalantly.
“What? It’s an amusement park.” I casually shrugged my shoulders, looking over at him.
“Come on, uncle Sean, I can’t wait anymore.” Ryan grabbed his hand and urged us to walk forward. With Ryan’s one hand in mine and another in Mr. Peterson’s, we strolled in the pathway until Ryan spotted the kids’ cars section.
“Uncle Sean, can I drive the car?” He asked hopefully. “Ryan, you don’t have to ask to go on any ride, just say it, okay?” Came his reply and smiled gently. With Ryan, this man becomes totally different; his demeanor takes a sharp 180-degree turn when with him.
Thankfully, there wasn’t a big line to wait for and Ryan got his chance to drive the mini car quickly. I helped him settle inside the car and went back to stand with Mr. Peterson. Ryan drove the car with other kids, laughing with joy. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, he looked so happy and at that moment I felt like a satisfied mother who feels elated to see their children happy.
I took out my phone and began to click his photos and while I was doing so, my phone camera came at an angle where it captured smiling Mr. Peterson.
It felt like the time paused for me. I kept looking at him, not through the camera but with my own eyes as my head was tilted to take a clearer look at him, my hand still raised, holding the phone. He was leaning on the boundary-railing, his composure was calm and his smile appeared satisfying. Looking at his smiling and his peaceful face, my own lips curled up as it was rare to see him smiling sincerely and freely. He definitely loved his nephew, he knew how to manage time to give his full attention to the family and work.
He never fails to amaze me and that’s what I like about him.
I don’t know for how long I kept gazing at him but my eyes only flicked when his head turned in my direction. Caught off guard, my phone almost fell from my hands but I gripped it tightly before it could fall. I again faced Ryan and saw him getting out of the car. Already? The ride was given for five minutes…Holy shit! Did that mean I was starting at Mr. Peterson for the whole five minutes that too without blinking?
Embarrassed, I ran up to Ryan, and grabbing him I sprinted forward to find another ride.
“Why are you running?” Came a question from behind.
“Oh, I’m just making sure Ryan enjoys almost every ride,” I said without looking back and without halting my steps but I had to come to an abrupt stop when my upper arm was grabbed firmly.
“We aren’t going back until Ryan enjoys every ride he wants to. Don’t run.” He said sternly to me without losing his grip on my upper arm.
“Okay,” I mumbled lowly as I wiggled my arm free from his grip. We then strolled for a while with him walking beside me giving me sweet shivers from time to time.
Suddenly, I saw bumper cars and my jumbled, sweet feelings vanished in the air and I felt like my feet became bouncy balls as I started jumping like a five-year-old. “Hey, see bumper cars.”
“But there’s a long line,” Mr. Peterson said.
“There are only seven people in the waiting line. It’s not that long.” I quickly and forcefully handed my handbag in his hands and grabbing Ryan’s hand I stood in the line. I had just stood in the line when my arm was again grabbed by Mr. Peterson as he pulled me out of the line.
“I am not here to carry your bag, Miss Hart.” He grumbled shoving the bag in my hands. “And what are you, five? We are here for Ryan not for you or me-”
“Either way, we are here, so don’t ruin the fun and enjoy,” I replied quickly with a frown.
He scoffed. “You didn’t even want to come in the first place. You know what? I should have listened to you, I shouldn’t have brought you here.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as he was ruining my fun. I then took a quick look at the line and saw two more people lining up after Ryan. I gasped. “My spot is taken.” My heart and mood, both dropped from the tenth floor of a building. Crossing my hands across my chest, I turned my back to him. I did not care if I was acting like a child, I was deeply hurt. What’s the use of coming to an amusement park if you can’t sit on a ride?
“God, you are such a child! Ryan is a hundred times mature than you.” I heard him say and I didn’t care to reply; I was angry.
“Ugh! Give this to me.” He yanked the bag out of my hands and shoved me in the line. “Go, do whatever you want.” He then pulled Ryan back to me.
I didn’t look at him to show him my grinning face. I had to bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing out loud. I knew he must be grimacing and I really, really wanted to see his face but I stopped myself from doing so as I would definitely have laughed hard.
Anyway, after waiting for a while when our turn to sit in the cars came I and Ryan sat in one car and I aimlessly slid the car onto the slippery floor, bumping into other cars and the boundary. It was absolute fun! As the ride ended, I and Ryan made our way to still scowling Mr. Peterson.
“I want water,” Ryan muttered, looking up at me.
“My handbag, Mr. Peterson.” I pointed at my bag and he passed it over to me. I then took out the water bottle and a cup and poured water for Ryan.
“You want water?” I asked Mr. Peterson who was studying my every move. “I have an extra cup,” I mumbled and rummaged through my handbag to take out another cup but before I could take out the cup, the bottle was snatched out of my hands. He gulped water from the water bottle and passed it to me. Shaking my head in disbelief I tossed the bottle back in the bag and hoisted it on my shoulder.
“Where to now, buddy?” I asked Ryan as we started to walk forward. “Spinning Teacups ride.” Ryan jumped as he saw the ride.
“Teacups ride it is then.” I smiled widely and we made our way to stand in the line but I huffed in frustration when I saw Mr. Peterson standing aside.
“Why is uncle Sean standing there, Lauren? Doesn’t he want to ride?” Ryan asked me with a pout. “Let’s go and ask him.” I again with Ryan walked out of the line to where Mr. Peterson was standing.
“Why are you out of the line?” He asked.
“We came to invite you over,” I said sweetly, giving him a sweet smile hoping for it to work.
“No chance. I’m not a kid.” He dismissed in a heartbeat making my smile convert into a pout.
“But I want to go on it with you, uncle Sean,” Ryan said in the most innocent way possible. If he had asked me that way I would have never said no.
But it wasn’t me whom he asked so, he got the expected reply. “No, champ. It’s for you, go and enjoy.” Ryan’s face dropped and in the end, I had no other option left but to drag Mr. Peterson into the line.
“Come on, Mr. Peterson, don’t kill the mood. Loosen up a bit.”
“Leave me! What the hell you think you are doing?” He tried to yank his hand out of my grip but I didn’t lose it.
“Look at Ryan, Mr. Peterson. You say that you are here for him but you are spoiling his mood. One ride won’t hurt your pride.” I forcefully made him stand in the line in front of me so he couldn’t slip away.
“Ryan, grab your uncle’s hand and stop him from leaving.” I sweetly said to him and he did what I said.
Mr. Peterson groaned. “You are so gonna regret it.” He said looking over his shoulder.
“What? You’ll force me to do extra work? I’ll do it. For now, don’t be a mood spoiler.” I whispered in his ear and gripped his t-shirt from behind. I felt his body turn stiff but I didn’t pay much attention to it.
Three of us sat in a cup ride; Mr. Peterson sat to my left with Ryan to his left, making him positioned in between Ryan and me. We gripped the handle when the ride started. I and Ryan were grinning like fools but Mr. Grouchy was sitting with a poker face as if the motion of the ride wasn’t affecting him. I huffed, at least he was with us. Beggars can’t be choosers, right?
I felt my hair covering my face so to push the strands back I lifted one of my hand and tucked the strands behind my ears but all of a sudden, the ride sped up, moving on the right side and I had almost hit the edge of the ride if it weren’t for a hand that gripped my waist tightly to steady me.
“Are you stupid or what? You could have been hurt.” I received a good scolding from Mr. Peterson as he pulled me towards him. “Hold the handle tightly.”
“Sorry,” I muttered apologetically and did what I was told to but couldn’t help but feel dizzy, not because of the circular motion of the ride but because of his hand on my waist which was giving me weird sensations. I felt tickles and butterflies in my stomach. His firm grip didn’t waver until the ride stopped and when it stopped I bolted out the cup to breathe freely.
“Let’s go to another ride.” Ryan bounced while clapping his hands.
We then went on other rides; Ferris wheels, Jumbo the Flying Elephant ride, Carousel ride, Twister, many more. And for most of the ride, I forced Mr. Peterson to ride with us, he was acting a total jerk by refusing every single time but I didn’t give up until he sat with us. We even had light snacks in between.
I was busy strolling aimlessly in the pathway, looking at the happy people enjoying their day that I failed to notice that Mr. Peterson was walking beside me, carrying Ryan and my handbag. I only noticed it when I heard two passersby teenage girls making a comment.
“Hey see that cute family. The guy is carrying his child and his woman’s bag. I wish I could get a guy like him.”
I blushed profusely for being called his woman. I immediately stopped and snatched my handbag from his hand, taking him off guard.
“Uh, sorry; I forgot you were carrying my bag,” I said and his facial expressions told me that even he didn’t know he was holding my bag all along.
We again began to walk as nothing happened and I slapped my forehead for being ignorant. Ryan again saw the kids’ train ride and urged us to take him there. While I was making Ryan stand in the line, Mr. Peterson’s phone rang so he excused himself. Suddenly, another kid of Ryan’s age came over and pushed Ryan out of the line which made him fall on the concrete ground. I immediately rushed to help him.
“God, Ryan, you okay?” I examined him and found a scratch on his knee as he was wearing shorts. I immediately took out antiseptic wipes from my handbag and cleaned his wound. He didn’t cry but hissed in pain and tried to stop me with his hand and that’s when I saw a light scratch on his wrist. I flared in anger and standing up I narrowed my eyes at the kid.
“Hey, it’s a bad manner to push someone. Do you know it’s considered bullying?” I kept my voice low while scolding him as I knew he was just a kid.
Out of nowhere, a woman came rushing over to me and pushed me away. “How dare you shout at my son!”
Oh, she was the mother. Like mother like son. And how dare she accuse me!
“Excuse me? I did not shout at your kid. You are the one that is shouting at me.” Now I raised my voice.
“I saw you yelling at my son, don’t lie.” She pointed her finger at me. I swatted her finger out of my face and pointed mine at her.
“Then you must have seen your child pushed my Ryan. Teach him not to be a bully.” I narrowed my eyes in anger. Then I laughed humorlessly. “Oh, how will teach your son when you yourself are a bully.”
“How dare you! I’m sure this little brat must have teased my child.” She pointed her filthy finger at my Ryan.
My Ryan! And did she call him brat?
I had had enough. I grabbed her finger and pushed her away. “How dare you call my Ryan a brat?! You are a brat, you are a bully. First, look at yourself before accusing others.” I yelled at her. And till now we had gained the attention of the curious people. They surrounded us, watching us fight.
As she looked at the crowd she turned into a beast; I too was ready to give a fight. She pounced on me but before she could touch me I was lifted off the ground and was dropped behind a huge muscular shield.
Sean Peterson
I was on a call when I heard a commotion at my back. And as I turned to look at it, I saw a few people circling a particular area. I frowned when I couldn’t find the trouble and Ryan. My frown deepened when I heard her voice coming from the middle of the crowd…and she was yelling?
Shit! What has she done now?
I rushed there and when I saw a stranger woman about to ponce on her, I immediately lifted her off the ground and shielded her with my body.
“Wait, wait, wait, what happened here?” I raised my hand to stop the stranger woman from pouncing on me.
She stopped and glared at me. “Oh, so you are with her. Then let me tell you. She yelled at my son for no reason and pushed me. She’s crazy, she’s a maniac” She shouted. Okay, that was harsh.
“Listen-” Before I could say further to settle the matter, the crazy woman I was shielding came forward, shouting. “No, Mr. Peterson, she’s lying. Her son pushed Ryan out of the line and she pushed me as well. She’s lying.” I again grabbed her by her waist before she could bang her head against the stranger’s head.
“What are you doing? There’s no need for violence. I’m trying to settle the matter by talking.” I whisper yelled in her ear but she didn’t listen as she furiously started wiggling under my grip.
“Talking? Talking won’t set her straight. Leave me, let me do it correctly.” She was blazing in anger. Oh, man! She was a ticking time bomb.
“See? I told you she’s crazy. Look how she’s trying to pounce on me.” The stranger woman pointed.
“Crazy? Crazy? I’ll show you how crazy I could be. I’ll bang your head against the railing until I set your mind in right place. Parents like you spoil their children. You turn them into a brat. Instead of pointing his mistake, you are siding with him-”
God, women!
I forcefully covered her mouth with my palm and lifted her off the ground by her waist. “Stop, you hulk!”
She kept on yelling and threw her hands and legs but I turned her away. I then looked at the stranger woman.
“Let’s not make it a big issue and finish this matter here,” I said politely and looked at Ryan, who was standing silently with us. “Let’s go Ryan.”
“Yes, it’s better you take your girlfriend out of here and make sure to tie her with chains, and don’t forget to consult a doctor.”
Girlfriend?
I completely ignored her nonsense remark and walked away with the raging woman still muffle-yelling and wiggling in my arms. Dropping her on the ground I grasped her shoulder and turned her to face me.
“What the- Ryan cover your ears,” I said looking down at him and when he did I glared at the woman who brought nothing but trouble to me.
“Now, tell me what the bloody hell was that?”