Dark Ride Read Free Page A

Wallace looks over to his wife. Scanning her face looking for praise, he is sorely disappointed by her lack of adulation.
    â€œWallace, hush. Jack, what is wrong with you? I thought you were meeting the boys at the pool?”
    With the scolding fresh in his mind, Wallace Braddock finally looks at his son and sees the boy's dropping demeanor. For all of the good intentions of Wallace Braddock, he is a businessman through and through. There have been one too many days when Wallace has simply ignored the kids.
    From the corner of Jack's eye, he sees Blair turn her attention away from some reality show and focus on him.
    â€œThey're closing Storybook Hollow.”
    Not missing a beat, his dad isn't surprised at all and says, “’Bout time.”
    â€œWallace.” His mother attempts to redirect her husband.
    â€œWell, look at it this way, son, that area of town was really going downhill fast.”
    Again Brenna rebuffs, “Wallace, really?”
    â€œWhat?”
    She gestures to Jack, who is on the verge of tears. Her eyes shoot daggers at Wallace, and the man retreats into his letter to the editor.
    Jack is aware of the conflict. His mother has been on his dad's case for years. He overhears her in quiet conversations with his dad at night, saying things like, “You have other responsibilities, Wallace,” and, “The kids really need their father right now.” The pleas are always met with his father's irritated retorts, such as, “I do the best I can, Brenna. When are you going to appreciate the fact that my work is what keeps food on the table?” For years the cycle has continued behind closed doors. Now it is happening right in front of Jack's eyes. Dad is thinking about his business and his letters, and mom is irritated.
    His mother turns to Jack. “I'm sorry, dear. Those things tend to happen, though. Part of growing up.”
    â€œBut they're gonna build a mall on top of it.”
    This has Blair's full attention. “A mall? Sweet! Think we'll get an Abercrombie and Fitch?”
    Brenna begins to play referee. “We can't afford that place, sweetie. Not many people around here can.”
    Pouting, Blair says, “I can browse.”
    â€œNobody cares that a local icon is going to be bulldozed?” Jack angrily scolds his family.
    Brenna finally stops what she's doing, goes over to Jack, and as tenderly as she can, responds, “What can we do?”
    Out of the side of his mouth, Wallace offers, “I can write a letter.”
    â€œDear?” instructs Brenna, which is code for Wallace to shut up.
    Jack considers a moment, then states, “I want to go. Tonight or tomorrow.”
    â€œNot by yourself,” Brenna advises.
    â€œThen you or dad can take me.” Jack includes his mother because he's being nice. The whole family knows that Brenna, after having had a bad experience with Blackbeard's Pirate Ship as well as a bad funnel cake a few years ago, proclaimed she would never set foot near the park again. So, all eyes turn to Wallace.
    â€œOh no. The only night we have free this week is Friday. And that's game night.”
    â€œDad, come on. How many more game nights at the Zuckerman's are you gonna have versus how many more times can I go to the park?”
    Wallace Braddock stares back at his son. “Let's don't get overdramatic, Jack. Talking to me like that is not going to get you anywhere.”
    â€œWallace, Jack is very upset. Perhaps you could make up for some lack of sensitivity by overlooking his tone just this once?”
    Jack can see that his mother is on his side. He looks at the businessman, clad in suit and tie, to see if her persuasion is registering.
    â€œOkay Jack, I'll take you tomorrow night.”
    It is a victory, but Jack is still in mourning and too upset to even acknowledge his father's acquiescence. He gives a nod to his mother, who came through for him, and simply turns and walks back up the stairs. A