Up and Away
“Are you sure
this thing is safe?” Walter fidgeted in his seat.
“Yes! Yes. Completely
safe,” the man in the fancy suit and top hat swished his fingers dismissively
in Walter’s face. “Are you ready? Away we go!”
Walter’s heart
pounded as the roar of the fire inside the orbs suspended above them grew
louder and the carriage shuddered and lifted. For just a moment, it bumped the ground and re-settled. The urge to jump was overwhelming, but
Walter’s brief hesitation cost him his only opportunity at escape. They ascended rapidly and within seconds they were too high for Walter to jump.
“Wait!” he shouted.
“I want to go back.”
“Sorry. There is
no ‘going back,’ the man said. The steam engine on one end of the frame fired up, followed by the
whir of the giant propeller behind them. “The motor will boost us into the jet stream. Once there, we’ll only need the lamp-lifters.
Walter craned his neck out the window to look at the glowing orbs straining
above their ornate carriage.
“What if those
cables break?”
The man laughed.
“Such a practical boy. Where’s your sense of adventure?” His eyes glowed as
bright as the flaming bubbles pulling them higher and higher into the heavens.
He looked so familiar…. At that moment, the engine sputtered and died and the propeller slowed. Walter leapt
to his feet.
“The motor!”
“Sit,” the man
said calmly. “We’re high enough. We no longer need it.” Walter perched on the
edge of the bench seat across from the man and tried to relax. He glanced up
and the man smiled at him. “You might want to enjoy the view, Walter. It really
is a beautiful evening and this will be the last you see of your home. You might
want to take a look while you still can.”
“What do you
mean ‘the last I’ll see of it’? Who are you? Where are you taking me?” He was frightened and began to cry. He wanted to go home. He wanted to see his mom and dad. He even
wanted to see his stupid little sister, Angelina.
“Remember telling your family you never wanted to see them again? Well, I came to rescue you from them. As soon as we get to
where we are going, the child version of you will be no
more. You’ll be the adult you’ve always wished to be. Every decision will be
yours to make. No more parents to tell you what to do or little sister to annoy
you. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“No!” Walter
screamed. “Take me back! I don't want to be an adult! I want to go home!”
The man leaned
forward and took Walter by the shoulders and shook him. “Walter! What’s wrong?
Walter!” He shook harder. Walter blinked and suddenly, the man became his
father.
“Walter! Wake
up! You’re having a nightmare!”
The young boy looked
around the bedroom - at all the familiar trappings of his childhood. He buried his face in his father’s warm
chest and sobbed.
"I'm sorry, Dad, I didn't mean it."
"I don't know the first thing about steampunk." LOL
ReplyDeleteWell, after reading yours I should've said, "I don't know the first thing about propellers." LOLOLOL!
DeleteDid you catch that I quoted our FB convo about this pic?
DeleteI love it, it was a complete surprise ending! :D
ReplyDeleteYay! I love it when you love it! Ha!
DeleteAw! I love how you did this story!!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Kind of a cheat, but, hey...all's fair, right?
Delete