What Can You Not Buy With Money?

The group had split up; Lucy and Vern were still at the bumper cars. Apparently Lucy and Vern got into another argument, this time more out of comical affection than malice. They were in a heated debate about who would outdrive the other.

So Walker and I simply left the two to their violent methods of bonding.

“I want to ride the Ferris Wheel,” Walker pointed upwards at the tall circle that was spinning gaily in the afternoon light. The way the sun was glimmering through his hair was like that of a peripheral vision. He looked surreal in everything he did. I was idealizing him, but then again, I wouldn’t have minded if he looked any different. My emotions were rapid and ecstatic, but I was sure of what I felt.

I was relieved at his suggestion, as my brain had been thoroughly air dried by all the roller coaster rides. And the Ferris Wheel is one of my favorite rides.

Walker, being the sweetheart that he is, was holding my hand and wore wide smiles that day. He worked hard to make my time with him as fun as possible—which wasn’t that hard for him to do. Winning a person over was his specialty, and he kept causing me to break out into laughter or he’d captivate me with just a quick wink or a sudden interesting story.

And I was falling for him.

We managed to get on the ride the moment we got in line, so we both sat on one side. Surprisingly, Walker put his arm over my shoulder. I looked up at him pleased, noticing that he wasn’t holding back any longer.

The ride was simple, and there were people in seats above and below us. They, too, were enjoying the view whenever they were up in the highest points of the ride. It seemed that day was perhaps one of the loveliest ever to reside on the planet.

"Look, you can see the other side of the world." Walker joked as he pointed off on the horizon.

"I know," I joined in with my eyes wide and a playful smile on my face. I leaned forward, no longer seated. "You can see when the Earth curves down--"

But then, there was a creak that dug its sound waves into my spine. I cringed, as Walker did as well. We both looked around aimlessly for the source of the noise, but could not find it.

The ride suddenly came to a halt, the sensation of the sudden change in body movement felt heavy on my skin. I looked down at the small people below, noting that we were second to the highest point of the ride. I wasn’t alarmed, but then I noticed that the workers below were scrambling like frightened ants, trying desperately to fix the machine.

“Who’d of thought we’d be stuck here,” Walker whistled and made light of the situation. “It could be worse, right?”

I forced a smile and shrugged. “Yeah, it could be. But at least—” I was interrupted again, this time by the sound of the metal groaning and squealing from above our cart. I looked up, noticing that some of the screws looked like they were rusted and about to break.

“Mary,” Walker held out his hand, his other already clinging to a metal pole of the cart that he felt was secure enough to hold him. “Take my hand.”

I quickly reached, but then suddenly I felt the ‘ground’ below me give away and I began to fall.

I let out a gasp as the air vanished from my lungs. My knees scraped against the metal of the cart as I collapsed and plummeted towards the hard pavement below.

But I felt my left limb sting as Walker had grabbed onto my wrist to prevent me from falling to my death. “I’m not letting you go, Mary!” He proclaimed, but he too was also holding for dear life.

Below, I heard screams all around and I looked to see the mass of people pointing and crying out. A rescue crew was already driving up to the throngs; a fire engine and a cherry picker were honking at the people to get out of their way.

I looked up at Walker who was beginning to drip with sweat, his eyes so wide and darkened by terror that I wanted to comfort him. “Talk about falling for you, right?” I weakly cracked as I tried my best to grin, despite the painful throb in my wrist and shoulder. I was more worried that my left arm would be dislocated than ending up in a wheel chair for the rest of my life.

“You’re—you’re joking at a time like this?” Walker choked, but then he couldn’t help but join in on the light hearted snickering. He was holding for dear life onto the bar, looking down at me sadly. It seemed that his grip was slipping on the beam. “I’ve got this,” he reassured me, though his own voice sounded insecure.

“If we don’t make it, I want you to know this now.” My breath was beginning to hyperventilate from the absolute horror I was facing. My heart was beating so fast, the rhythms were molded into one solid thud that played forever.

“What?” Walker cleared his throat as he repositioned his hand to refasten his grip on his metal tourniquet.

“I really do love you.”

“That’s my line,” Walker protested. “It’s not fair, I’ve loved you before you even realized it. When you were kidnapped by that—bastard Bohr, I felt like I was dead. I’d rather die than you.”

“No, don’t say that.” I was trying not to cry but already I felt like life was done with. I had faced so much and it didn’t seem fair that it was going to end so soon. I felt a tear fall off of my cheek, and I looked down to watch it plummet down to the earth. But a large white tarp greeted me, and I realized that it was a giant trampoline. Firefighters were stretching out the large fabric below us. “Walker… look.”

Walker did, and a rush of relief went through him. “See? We’ll be fine.” He gritted his teeth but he refused to let go. It was obvious that my weight was hard on him.

“Why don’t you let go of me, Walker? I’ll be fine.” I swallowed, but added, "They'll catch me."

“No, we’ll wait until the firemen get you. That little trampoline’s our last resort.”

I looked at him, impatience flooding me. “Walker, I really just want this over with.” I wonder what I was thinking when I grabbed Walker’s hand on my wrist and pried myself out of his grip. I probably just felt like having a free fall for the fun of it. Maybe it was the teenager in me who still believed she could live forever. Or maybe I was just used to all of the life threatening events that had taken place in my life. I survived them all; what made this danger any different?

I have no idea what was wrong with me, but all I can do to explain is I felt I was going to be all right. It was an impulse.

And I acted on it.

“Mary!” Walker screamed as I felt the air below rush through my body. It was almost like I was flying, which I actually enjoyed. Of course, I was screaming as I kept descending to the ground but there was a sick thrill I got from that release.

I felt the trampoline hit my lower back and butt, and I bounced a good many meters back up in the air until I landed down. After I was safe on the ground, I collapsed and hugged the dirty concrete. I was trembling all over, my limbs sore and vibrating like a cellphone. I waved at Walker to show him I was all right.

A fireman went to retrieve Walker, who, after he also reached the ground, went at me with a look of murder in his face.

“What were you thinking?” Walker yelled at my face. “Have you lost it? You could have died! What if they didn’t catch you? What if you were hurt?” He grabbed my upper arms and had his voice on the highest volume in history. I never saw him so angry or passionate before.

I looked at him wide eyed, expecting him to keep yelling at me. But there was a good feeling that radiated from how he was squeezing my arms to the point of pain. He was alive, and I was as well. We were okay. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him—glad to hear him screaming. We made it.

The bystanders all applauded, thankful that no one was harmed.

>

“I’m impressed,” Lucy smirked as Walker and I held hands and got out of the taxi. “That make out session right after you two almost died looked pretty hot.”

“It wasn’t a make out!” Walker protested, one arm around me as he squeezed me. “And you’re not the least bit concerned that you almost buried two friends?”

“Not at all. I wouldn’t be doing the burying.” Lucy quickly changed her tone and punched Walker in the shoulder. “Of course I was terrified, you kidding me?”

Walker’s eyes softened and he nodded his head. “Yeah, and Mary here is in trouble for that little stunt she pulled.” Walker pulled his authoritive tone onto me as he looked at me angrily. I never saw him so temperamental before, and I didn’t like it. “I’m going to take you to dinner and then it’s off to bed with you.”

“Thanks, daddy,” I sniffed as I tried to walk away from the group. But Walker’s grip tightened on my hand, as though he wouldn’t let me go again.

“I’m just worried,” Walker explained. “Come on, let’s get changed.”

“Right,” Vern winked at Lucy. He took out his hands and made peace signs, turning them into quotations as he sarcastically repeated, “Changing.”

The biker and the receptionist burst out into roars of laughter while Walker and I both blushed. Then again, I couldn’t help but notice how much heat radiated from Walker. And his hand was soft. To put it bluntly, I was a bit horny. I guess when you’ve given Death the biggest bear hug imaginable you can’t help but think of carnal thoughts.

Walker and I shyly entered the lobby and were about to go to the elevators. Everything seemed normal; tourists were all around in the air conditioned room.

“Mary!” A familiar voice that I wasn’t expecting to hear for another few weeks struck the chords in my brain as I slowly turned. Adelmo Bohr.

And behind him, glaring at Walker and I holding hands, was his boss—my former boss—Ben Burgess.