Dark Ride Read Free

Storybook Hollow. ” He freezes.

Chapter 2
    It's been two hours since Jack read the haunting words. Sitting on the corner of his bed, he reads the article again for perhaps the fiftieth time.
    End of the Story for Storybook Hollow
    After decades of entertainment, Storybook Hollow will be shutting its gates for good, making this the park's final weekend. It is a sudden end for the Park, which has beenopen for nearly 60 years. The current owners of the once popular local amusement park, Newcastle, Inc., sighted decreasing attendance and rising maintenance fees as the reasoning. Senior spokesman, Art Snodgrass, told The Herald that they intend to build a new outdoor mall where the park has stood since 1952. The original owner sold the park to the group before his passing in 1989. Many locals hoped that the sale would revitalize the park since many of its attractions had become dated. The park has suffered major losses within the past ten years, and many locals have considered the park an eyesore.
    Snodgrass continued, “While we hate to let go of this part of Cassidy Falls’ past, judging by the recent attendance lull, we feel like today's consumers want a totally different experience.”
    Hopefully the new outdoor mall can pump some energy into an area in need of a facelift.
    The last few words reverberate in Jack's mind. Swiping his falling bangs from the corner of his left eye, Jack blinks back tears that have been waiting to gush out for the last two hours. Storybook Hollow had been his palace, his escape, and the home of his fondest memories. He thought that maybe if he just read the article one more time he would see that it was just a hoax.
    â€œJack!” his father yells from downstairs. “Where is the paper?”
    The thundering voice of his father wakes Jack from his self-induced stupor.
    â€œI have to leave for work soon, and I want to see if the letter I wrote made the editorials.”
    Readying himself to reveal the horrible news to the rest of the family, Jack slowly descends down the steps.
    The Braddock family mornings were always the same. His mom, Brenna, would scrap together some breakfast for his dad, but the kids were forced to scavenge for themselves. This suited Jack just fine. He simply raided the pantry, looking for the white powdered doughnuts his mom always said were bad for him but bought anyway because he asked her to.
    â€œSo what's the game plan for today?” his mother cheerily calls to him. “Another day of fun at the pool? It's the last days of summer. You should take advantage of them.”
    Jack does not respond.
    His father, Wallace Braddock, proud partner of Gaylord and Braddock Accounting, waits in anticipation. Grabbing the paper from Jack, he greedily he scans the editorial page.
    â€œHere it is! They printed another one of my letters.”
    His father's obsession with writing letters to the local paper has gotten out of hand. The letter writing has become a badge of pride to Wallace and a bane to Brenna. He reads it aloud as if the family has actually never heard it, forgetting he read it to them at least five times before he sent it off.
    When will the city see the injustice? Just because our elected officials cannot meet a budget, it does not give them the right to allow the citizens of Cassidy Falls to be hounded on the highways and intersections by their very own police officers. There are more speed traps in this town than there are streets. Why are we being punished? Because drivers roll two miles an hour over the speed limit?
    Ignoring the victorious dramatic reading of her husband, his mother can see that Jack is in a daze and asks, “Jack, are you okay?”
    â€œBrenna here is the best line,” Wallace says then continues reading, “’It seems to at least this citizen that their relentless pursuit of speeding fines keeps them from doing more important things like keeping the citizens of Cassidy Falls safe.’”