a ride called "The Zipper." It's something like an oblong Ferris Wheel. The cars
swing and flip (you can see one in action here).
It started out great," Frank recalls. "Music was playing, the car was rocking and there was this incredible view as we rose higher and higher."
"Then the car leaned backwards. Suddenly, this fire hose of vomit sprayed down from the car above. There was a safety grid but it let everything through. And it kept coming! We tried to move out of the way but there was nowhere to go."
"So it's all over us and we're going 'Stop the ride! Stop the ride!'".
It didn't stop.
"Finally the damn thing stopped and we got out. We were soaked! My friend punched the operator. Meanwhile I'm running the fair, stripping off my shirt and pants and shoes and looking for a place to wash them. It sucked!"
"Ever have a moment go from perfect to pure hell in seconds?"
*name been changed
12 comments:
Love the top illustration!! I'm scared of roller coasters, etc.
Thanks, Stray. (I was trying to capture the moment without getting too gross.)
I'm surprised the surrounding thirty feet areas of rides like that aren't totally covered in puke, let alone all over the ride itself! But people would still get on, wouldn't they?
Hi Mike,
Good point. If I ever spot this ride, I'm keeping my distance.
Wow, Namo. I love that top illo, too, just like Stray.
I love BOTH your illustrations!
Thanks, Linda, Pile Girl.
Blogger actually shrank the images (you can click 'em to get larger versions),so I was afraid they lost their impact. I guess they still work.
Regarding the first illustration, I think it's more funny when you don't see it, or know it's there. Think of the party scene from "Caddyshack" as opposed to, say, "Family Guy"' where a character spews out oceans and rivers of it in full view. Yuck!
Hi Mike,
I think keeping the "horrifying element" offstage (be it a monster or something nasty) can be more effective than having it take center stage.
Plus, who wants to look at something gross?
I've ridden "The Zipper" so many times. It's incredible that I've never experienced anything quite like what you've described. I have lost quite a bit of loose change though.
Love your illustrations.
p.s. "pretwes" was the wonky word verification. I should keep track of all these and make up a story using them.
Thanks, RHSteeleOh,
I don't think I'd like to be stuck in one of those spinning cars with a bunch of coins either. Too much like being in a rock tumbler.
As for word verification story, I say go for it.
Twas pretwes in the sobsti toves...
There's something similar to this in a book I'm writing. Mega Man X and his friend Zero go on the same ride, and they don't know what's happening, and they're yelling "STOP THE RIDE!".
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