As they entered the gates at long last, Veronica saw that many other mothers — who probably didn’t have as much reason as she to be paranoid — had the exact same idea. There were children on harnesses to prevent them from running and getting lost in a crowd. Children in strollers and children being held tight by the hand or wrist. Veronica approved.
Brayden was happily munching on his cotton candy, coming up with a pink mustache where his wet lips kept dipping into the spun sugar. Veronica’s stomach was starting to talk to her after her light breakfast of dry toast and coffee. She looked around and spotted a hot dog stand that didn’t look like it had a mile-long line.
“I know you’re eating your cotton candy, but do you want a hot dog, Bray? I’m starving.”
“Heck yeah, mom.”
She pulled …show more content…
It had been pretty gross. “So where we off to now, kiddo? You wanna ride a ride first? Play a game? I don’t know when the shows start, but I’m sure we can find an itinerary floating around.” For as bad as her dream had been earlier, and the moment of panic at Brayden running off, she felt surprisingly good.
“Well, my friend Donovan from school says the Thunderblast ride here is good.”
“The Thunderblast? Sounds fast.”
“Yeah,” Brayden admitted. “It might be too much for an old lady like you.” He snorted laughter.
“Go right ahead, mister. This old lady came in first in our precinct arm-wrestling contest last month. And that includes against the guys. I think I can handle this Thunderclap ride.”
“Thunderblast,” he said.
“Oh, sorry. Must be my old brain misfiring.”
They laughed together. It was a good moment. They hadn’t had many of those lately with Veronica’s hectic schedule and just getting the kid back from his father. It had been a long fight, but well worth it for a day like this. Maybe it wasn’t so bad she’d gotten the night off. Maybe it was time she let go of all the fear and paranoia this place brought out in her. You couldn’t live that way forever. No one
Brayden was happily munching on his cotton candy, coming up with a pink mustache where his wet lips kept dipping into the spun sugar. Veronica’s stomach was starting to talk to her after her light breakfast of dry toast and coffee. She looked around and spotted a hot dog stand that didn’t look like it had a mile-long line.
“I know you’re eating your cotton candy, but do you want a hot dog, Bray? I’m starving.”
“Heck yeah, mom.”
She pulled …show more content…
It had been pretty gross. “So where we off to now, kiddo? You wanna ride a ride first? Play a game? I don’t know when the shows start, but I’m sure we can find an itinerary floating around.” For as bad as her dream had been earlier, and the moment of panic at Brayden running off, she felt surprisingly good.
“Well, my friend Donovan from school says the Thunderblast ride here is good.”
“The Thunderblast? Sounds fast.”
“Yeah,” Brayden admitted. “It might be too much for an old lady like you.” He snorted laughter.
“Go right ahead, mister. This old lady came in first in our precinct arm-wrestling contest last month. And that includes against the guys. I think I can handle this Thunderclap ride.”
“Thunderblast,” he said.
“Oh, sorry. Must be my old brain misfiring.”
They laughed together. It was a good moment. They hadn’t had many of those lately with Veronica’s hectic schedule and just getting the kid back from his father. It had been a long fight, but well worth it for a day like this. Maybe it wasn’t so bad she’d gotten the night off. Maybe it was time she let go of all the fear and paranoia this place brought out in her. You couldn’t live that way forever. No one