I’ve been inspired. So, I’ve decided to write an on-going saga, as a means to join together two passions: writing, and Disney.
So, I’m writing an impromptu story, one (very short) chapter at a time and will post the story here. I can’t say how often I’ll post the next chapter…but I wrote chapter one, and am posting it here for your reading pleasure. Chapter two will come in the coming week when I get a chance to write it.
Enjoy!
The “Magic” Kingdom
CHAPTER ONE: Missing
It was supposed to be the most magical place on Earth, filled with happiness from sunrise to well past sunset. Months of planning from my parents, and years of wishing from me and my little sister, and we were ready to experience it all.
Only, it didn’t turn out the way anyone had thought…nor could have imagined.
Mom held tightly to Sarah’s hand as we boarded the monorail. I paused at the gap between the station floor and the train. It was barely perceptible, completely unnoticed by most. But as I hesitated before leaping over the crack, I peered down long enough to worry I might get stuck, my mis-tied shoelace wedging itself in, no one noticing, and when the monorail door would close, no one would notice and I’d have my food ripped off as the train started forward.
“Hurry up, Ian!” Mom said. “You’re holding everyone up.”
I took in a deep breath and leaped inside. Safe from harm. For now.
The trip around the lake was amazing. We even went straight through a hotel building, people inside busily shopping or eating below. It was only seconds, but it opened a world of wonder. This was so different from anything I’d ever seen for real. Was it real? Was this just a dream?
It wasn’t long before we were making our way up Main Street toward the castle. They called it Cinderella’s Castle, but I thought that was crazy. It was too familiar. Like I’d seen it a million times, and yet never seen it at all, like coming home after a long camping trip. Everything was exactly the same, and yet something was different about it. I knew what it was, though. Every movie I had ever grown up watching, it seemed, had shown me this castle. But here it was. For real.
Dad bought us Mickey bars and later we all took turns spinning the Tea Cup, making Mom decide it was time for a rest. We plopped down on a bench near a giant white structure–Space Mountain, it was called…although, I’m not sure where in space you’d find such a place–and soaked in the sights and smells. It was the wonderful aroma of carnival food intermingled with the exhaust fumes of the Speedway cars puttering in the distance.
Mom left us there to use the restroom. Sarah went with her. Then Dad pointed to Space Mountain.
“How about we try that next?” he said. “Just you and me.”
“What about Mom?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I don’t think Mom’s feeling up to it at the moment. You had that Tea Cup spinning awfully fast!”
I smiled, remembering how fun it was, unable to even keep my head up straight as we whirled around.
“Okay,” I said, hesitantly, after considering the white monstrosity in front of us. Inside, I was scared to death at the idea. Mom had shown me videos of what it was like inside. Dark, like there was something to hide. Some evil too frightening to show you outright. But Dad was determined, and I didn’t want to make him think I was a chicken or anything. I was nine, after all. Almost ten.
He tousled my hair and laughed. “It’ll be fun. Don’t worry.”
But I wouldn’t get a chance to find out.
A few minutes later, Mom rushed out, looking decidedly less green than she did before going in, but more panicked.
“Carl!” she shouted, garnering Dad’s attention.
At first, he just smiled. But then he noticed how she was half walking, half running the distance between us and the restroom. “What….what’s wrong?”
“Is Sarah with you?”
We both shook our heads, then Mom put her hand to her mouth, her expression turning to one of terror.
“She was with you!” Dad said, almost sounding angry.
“I…I know. I told her to wait by the sink until I was done, but when I came out….” Mom spun around, surveying the sea of people. Mom had been smart, dressing us in bright neon pink shirts so that we’d be easy to spot. But there was no neon pink anywhere, apart from me, Dad, and Mom.
Dad started running around, calling out, “Sarah? Sarah?” over and over. Mom did the same, leaving me there on the bench with the instructions that I keep my eyes peeled for Sarah.
An hour later, Sarah was officially declared missing.
(Jump to Chapter Two.)