Nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since I am reminscing about growing up in Wichita, when I was a kid, there was a wonderful amusement park called Joyland. This story took place long ago and while most of it is true, I confess to have taken a wee bit of artistic license. I have added a little dialog that, well, COULD have been said. At 63 years old, my memory fails me quite often, but this is how I remember: "Nightmare." I hope you enjoy!

Nightmare

Everything about Joyland was exciting. A big arrow on the neon sign pointed the way to the park and boasted of the giant roller coaster. My family bought tickets at the booth and crossed a a bridge to the entrance of the amusement park. On the right side of the bridge you could see the sparkling water of the large swimming pool. The pool was the site of many lazy summer days in the sun and moonlight swim parties sponsored by the local rock and roll radio station, KLEO. As we entered the park, the first thing we saw was the mammoth Wurlitzer Military Band pipe organ. It was played by an automated clown named Louie. The music was loud, adding to the carnival atmosphere. The smell of popcorn and cotton candy scented the summer air.

My sister, cousins and I were eager to ride the carousel, which to us, was a thing of beauty with its painted horses and pretty music. We also loved the ferris wheel, bumper cars and Tilt-a-Whirl. But the star of the show was the roller coaster. It was painted bright white and rose 80 feet high. Built in 1949 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co., the roller coaster was was a remarkable wooden marvel, and one of only 44 original coasters of its kind in the world. We didn't know or care about all that, to us it was the best, and scariest ride in the world. The coaster was appropriately named "Nightmare."

And it WAS scary. The cars flew at 50 miles per hour around a 26 hundred foot track with twists and death defying maneuvers. This ride was not for the faint of heart. The sign at the top of the first hill read "Last Warning: Do Not Stand Up, Sit Down." Some brave souls raised their arms above their heads but most hands were frozen to the lap bar. Passengers screamed their lungs out. The ride only lasted a few minutes, but the thrill of danger made many get back on and ride again.

Mother, my little brother, Gregg, and Aunt Carol stayed in the station to watch. Dad, my little sister Rhonda, Uncle Bucky and his young son Mike, piled into the first two cars. The last car on the train was the scariest because it seemed to leave the track as it rounded curves and plunged down hills. My cousin Ronnie and I were "older", thirteen and eleven. We ran to the last car.

Nightmare pulled out of the station and slowly dipped down a small hill, went around a curve and started up the first steep hill. At this point the cogs engaged in the chain drive system. There was a big jolt and a "click, click, click." It was almost time to scream. We held our breath. As we approached the big sign, we gripped the bar tightly and prepared to be terrified. As the train dove down the first drop of 76 feet, we hung on for dear life, screaming all the way down. At the bottom of the hill, the cars burst up a short incline and whipped around a curve. We felt like we were flying and our stomachs were feeling queasy. We didn't know it at the time but this is where the trouble started.

Uncle Bucky swallowed his cigar.

The remaining twists and turns were quick and fast As we pulled into the station, Dad was slapping a choking Uncle Bucky on the back. At some point the stub of a cigar flew out of Uncle Bucky's mouth. He was coughing and turning a funny shade of green. Dad had a big, booming bariton voice and announced to the world that Nightmare had almost killed his brother-in-law. Dad was laughing so hard that everyone, even strangers, started laughing. Our trip to Joyland was cut short that day and as we drove home, with Uncle Bucky recovering in the back seat, Dad said "It sure is a good thing that cigar wasn't burning!"

I never thought of Joyland again without remembering the day Uncle Bucky swallowed his cigar. And, if I listen very closely, I can almost hear my Dad's big laugh roaring all the way home.