“Oh,” I said half disappointed, “I thought it would go a little faster.” “It’s not a ride; it’s a form of transportation. People use the trolley to get around downtown. No one wants to be scared.” I did, imagining a ride at Disney World where the trolley was a giant enclosed roller coaster, speeding up and down hills, around sharp corners, and coming to screeching halts to pick up passengers. “It will feel faster once we’re on board,” mother explained. “Really?” I excitedly asked. She had spoken the sentence which allowed my imagination to soar. I imagined sitting on the trolley, the driver flipping a switch labeled supersonic, and shoulder straps appearing and dropping down from the ceiling, just so everyone could remain safely on board. I wished it would go upside down like the Revolution at Liberty Land, a ride I desperately wanted to ride in order to show up my friend Jasmine, who met the height requirements. Why couldn’t this be my first upside-down roller coaster? We should have gone to Liberty Land, I thought. “Toot toot!” The trolley driver pulled down on the horn. “He’s almost here!” I yelled, forgetting about my discontent seconds earlier. I grabbed my mother’s hand. “Okay, get back from the tracks.” Using her arm, she nudged me backwards. He wasn’t going that fast, I thought. The trolley stopped in front of us, and by pulling a lever on the floor, the driver opened the doors. I began inching forward, looking at the trolley and back at my mother, anticipating an order to stop, somewhat tiptoeing in order to avoid detection. I looked at my mother. She scanned the trolley, watching passengers exit. She said nothing, so I didn’t hesitate and ran for the open door of the trolley. “Wait!” She clothes-lined me again, and pulled me backward off the step, mouthing apologies to people getting off the trolley. “Okay!” I loudly reacted to her unnecessary roughness. Once it was our turn to board, I rushed to find a suitable seat. “Not this one,” I gripped the back of the seat, “or this one,” I touched a seat several rows back, “Maybe this one,” I sat down, and slid close to the window. My mom instantly followed, sitting right beside me. “I don’t want to sit here if you sit next to me.” I stood up in protest.
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