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It started out like any other day of work; I woke up, got in my car, and headed to my office. That’s where any semblance of normalcy ends. I am a roller coaster designer, or, more professionally, I'm a physics based engineer, who specializes in coasters. Yep, my office happens to be located at Paramount’s Carowinds in Charlotte.
As I drove along the interstate in my brand new Saleen S7, I enjoyed the comforting thrill of piloting the 750-horse power engine. The light poly-carbonate chassis snaked easily through the heavy traffic, like a rock skimming the surface of a still pond. I was cruising at about 120mph, when I suddenly saw blue flashing lights ahead. I slowed down in time to notice that Jake McBride had gotten a pretty serious speeding ticket. I chuckled silently inside my car, fondly remembering Mrs. Ridolfi’s Honors English IV class. “I guess Jake got his license after all.” I thought. The rest of my ride was smooth and uneventful, as I arrived to work a few minutes early.
I stepped briskly into my luxurious office beside of my latest and most wonderful creation, the G3 Thunderstorm (or just G3 for short). The G3 is one of the most exciting and critically acclaimed coaster ever created, just for reference. My assistant and publicist Amanda Williams greeted me warmly at the door. Her career had blossomed from her photography duties in senior yearbook. She handed me the day’s schedule, and I was surprised to see several names I recognized.
“What would David Benge and Erette Bobbit want with me?” I quizzed Amanda.
“Umm…” she hesitantly replied, “they mentioned something about a business proposition, and given our closeness from senior English, I put them in your schedule.”
I casually nodded in her direction, while pondering what Erette and David had in mind. I had about 20 minutes before our meeting was supposed to begin, so I did what all roller coaster designers do in their free time: ride some rides! I got in line for G3, and was absolutely floored when I saw Elizabeth Manieri, Caitlin Pomerantz, and Allie Moore waiting in line for the roller coaster. Since I made the ride, I had the privilege of getting in line anywhere I wanted. It’s a pretty big perk, and I decided to see if the three would recognize me. I slipped in line behind them and listened to their conversation. The best part of my day was hearing them mention that my coaster was the only reason anyone came to Carowinds.
“Mission accomplished, Adam.” I whispered quietly. At that moment, Elizabeth screamed, pointing heavenward. Following her finger, I realized what was causing her screams. High above us, on the largest drop of G3, was a small figure framed against the crystal blue sky. Reacting immediately, I pulled out my park radio and called the security room.
“Security room, what’s the situation?” a low voice answered my call. The voice seemed familiar, but I couldn’t match a face to the voice. Returning to the situation at hand, I quickly explained that a man had somehow become stranded on top of the roller coaster G3. The guard reacted calmly and immediately headed towards my location to help find a way to get the man down. I closed down the ride while waiting for the security guard to arrive. Payden Mason appeared a few minutes later, dressed, surprisingly, as a security guard. Suddenly, I realized whom the security guard was that I had spoken to earlier. I greeted him brusquely, knowing that we couldn’t afford to loose time when dealing with such a serious situation, especially not on my coaster!
After attempts at communication with the man failed, we realized there was only one remaining option; someone was going to have to climb the enormous coaster and bring the man down. Payden volunteered, but I couldn’t let him climb the behemoth. It was my coaster, and I was going to solve the problem. I strapped on a harness and set off towards my coaster. Before I could climb onto the smooth steel and titanium track, a familiar face broke through the crowds and raced towards me.
“What are the chances of that?” I thought fleetingly, as the long forgotten face of Megan Priddy appeared beside me. She quickly explained that she had been in line behind me when she saw me set off towards the coaster.
“I think the person trapped on the coaster is Eric.” Megan said, gasping for breath.
“Eric Barnett, as in Honors English IV Eric?” I asked Megan incredulously. She simply nodded and told me to be careful. Only Eric could get himself stranded at the top of a roller coaster. I faced once more towards the coaster, determined to find a way to save the struggling figure several hundred feet above me.
Now, as much as I love roller coasters, climbing 400 feet over slippery titanium tubular track is not an easy task. I smirked, musing that Eric must not have changed much in 10 years. I began the climb and soon reached the halfway mark of the steep track. I realized that another person was also climbing the coaster, not from the actual track of the coaster, but from the support framework underneath. It was Andrew Gitt, the world-renowned mountain climber. I was silently thankful for his help.
Ironically, we both reached Eric at the same instant. It was a unique reunion, the three English students on top of one the most intense roller coasters in the world. It was even more ironic that both Andrew and I were saving a fellow student.
“I guess nothing changes after all.” Andrew remarked sardonically.
“They sure don’t.” I laughed back to him.
“Will someone GET ME DOWN!” Eric shouted, breaking up the reunion. Andrew and I shared a laugh, and we immediately set to work to strap Eric into a harness. From far below, I heard the faint, echoing voice of Gerome Belton, the chief firefighter for this area of Charlotte. I just hoped that he hadn’t said anything vital, since his voice had become lost in the brisk wind that was blowing that day.
After rescuing Eric, Andrew and I were met with thunderous applause when we made it back to the ground safely. I nodded appreciatively, letting Andrew enjoy his moment of recognition. Before I could escape, two reporters pushed me back into the spotlight with Andrew. Andrew gestured towards the two reporters with a slight smile. Curious, I examined the reporters more closely, only to discover it was Brittney Heath and Amanda Knott.
“There is no way this is coincidence.” I muttered to myself. “It feels more like some reunion paper Mrs. Ridolfi would make us write.” The four of us shared a knowing smile, remembering those long lost days of long papers, late nights, and more grammar than any mortal can withstand.
After Andrew and I had a quick interview with the girls, we made sure Eric made it to a nearby ambulance; I was about to return to my office for a long overdue interview with David and Erette. I nearly fainted when I saw Allegra Long and Keshia Dickens inside the ambulance. Apparently, the two of them had gone far in the medical profession and now served as EMTs. I was duly impressed, but sadly I didn’t have the time to enjoy the reunion-like moment.
I returned to my office, only to find that Amanda had gotten a call from David and Erette, who wanted me to meet them in the water park section of Carowinds. I sighed, and made my way back into the bustle of the busy theme park.
“Oh you’re going to love this!” Was the only greeting I received from the two guys upon my arrival. Apparently, they had a large entertainment event planned. I pumped them for details, but they only told me it would be a welcome surprise. I soon learned that David and Erette had somehow convinced Chris Sneed and Dean Goins to play in a senior English game of water football.
“It’s called the reunion bowl, a water football game for our entire senior English class!” Erette babbled excitedly. Suddenly everything clicked! No wonder I had bumped into nearly every single person from that distant memory of a class. I stood pondering the day’s events, while Erette and David further explained their scheme. Their words washed over me, when I suddenly made another discovery.
“Wait!” I interrupted a dejected looking David in mid sentence. “if everyone from our English class is coming, then where are Teresa Pack and Jessi Fitzpatrick?”
“Oh no!” Erette exclaimed, “We totally forgot to call them!” Devising a plan before the words had emanated from Erette’s mouth; I was already running to the parking lot and my Saleen S7. I pulled a cell phone from my pocket and dialed Amanda.
“Amanda, there’s no time to talk! I need the addresses of Teresa Pack and Jessi Fitzpatrick. Upload their addresses to my car.” I hung up before her reply echoed across the line. I hurdled the hood of my car and landed in the drivers seat in mere seconds. In less time than it takes to read Pygmalion, my car was hurtling at 240mph down the Charlotte highway. I passed Jake McBride, who had apparently been pulled over for a second speeding ticket.
“Some things truly never change.” I thought to myself, and mashed harder on the cool acceleration pedal.
In a pure stroke of luck, I had set a new land speed record, and saved a high school reunion football game in under ten minutes. I arrived at Teresa’s apartment, which happened to be Jessi’s apartment as well. I explained what was going on, and somehow managed to get them into my car. They didn’t say much on the way back to Carowinds; I guess something about going 240 on public roads can be upsetting to the stomach; go figure. Back at the football game, the reunion had been saved! Everyone was there and having the time of their lives! Ironically, Mrs. Ridolfi was the star of the show, amassing over six touchdowns, and four interceptions. I played for a few minutes, and then retreated to the sidelines to watch the spectacle. How interesting that 22 people could get together ten years later, and pick up friendships exactly where they had left off. I smiled, thinking of how much fun we had had together. I even chuckled, remembering that enormously long paper I had to write about a situation in which all of the class would meet up again. Who really knows where we will be ten years from now?