Last Ride on the Screaming Mimi

The quickening clink-clink-clink of the cars making their way up the metal track matched Kevin’s pulse as the top of the giant hill loomed closer.

​“How did I ever get talked into this?” he wondered to himself as he looked at Ben in the seat next to him.

​Ben was grinning from ear to ear and pushing against the restraint bar as if willing the procession of cars to move faster. He looked at Kevin.

​“Isn’t this great?” The shouted words were ripped apart by the air rushing past.

​Kevin managed a weak grin and wondered to himself if Ben would still think it was great if he got sick all over the both of them. The coaster slowed as they reached the crest of the biggest drop. Kevin peered over the edge and instantly regretted it. The track dropped away in a steep decline which seemed to end miles below before rising up again in an apparent effort to reach the sky. Ben’s uncontrollable giggling reminded Kevin of a cackling hyena, but he could not bring himself to join in his friend’s glee. He closed his eyes and held the safety bar in a death grip as they began to tip over the edge.

Ben’s family had recently moved to Texas. He really hated leaving his friends in Michigan, but with his father’s condition worsening, they needed the best cancer specialists so here they were. His mother worked full time and so Ben helped take care of his little sister Beth. Things were a lot different than Ben was used to, but if it would help his Dad then it was worth it.

​Kevin was only child and felt unsure of himself a lot of the time. He was smaller than most of his junior high classmates and over the summer had to get glasses. The coke bottle lenses that now adorned his face did nothing to help his confidence. His father worked long hours and his mother was very involved with her friends and social events, which left him by himself quite often. He spent a lot of time constructing model cars, carefully painting the pieces and gluing them together, and also made detailed drawings of futuristic cars and how they worked. His mother asked him more than once why he didn’t spend more time playing with the other kids. He would try to explain how he didn’t really fit in, but she would just shake her head and Kevin would go back to his models and glue.

​About a month into the school year came the dreaded “day of the frog dissection” in science class. Ben looked at the nervous looking kid that he had been teamed up with and just hoped to himself the poor guy was going to make it. Kevin looked down at the frog his stomach churning. He didn’t want to make a fool of himself and he was afraid to get sick in front of the class. Ben smiled to himself as he thought up a brilliant solution. He hit the edge of the metal tray holding the frog and it flew up into the air and across the classroom. Kevin’s mouth fell open and he stood gaping while several of the girls screamed and ran in all different directions. Ben collapsed in gales of laughter and after Kevin recovered from the initial shock, the two of them bent over holding their stomachs, snorting and whooping and they were ordered to sit in the hall for the rest of the class. That was the beginning of their friendship. Ben was always the cut up and Kevin the cautious one. They were a perfect balance.

​It was a warm spring day when Ben pulled Kevin aside on the playground. “We have to do something totally rad today,” he whispered in excited tones.

​“What?” Kevin was intrigued but a little worried. You never knew what Ben was going to come up with.

​“We are going to sneak out of school and go to Greenpoint Park. “

​Kevin knew the place that Ben was talking about. It was an amusement park that he had been to once with his cousins a few years ago. “I don’t know Ben. Besides, don’t you have to walk Beth home?”

​“We’ll be there and back before school lets out,” Ben assured him. “We can sneak back in to school through the basement window.”

​“How will we get there?” Kevin asked.

​“We’ll take the bus. It’s only about a twenty minute ride. Come on...when everyone starts to go back in we will sneak around the side of the building.” Kevin didn’t have time to respond because just then the bell rang. As everyone lined up, Ben grabbed his hand and pulled him around the side of the school.

​Twenty minutes later, they were at Greenoint Park standing in front of a sign which read The Screaming Mimi in brilliant, sparkling letters. The wooden framework was painted red and Kevin squinted his eyes against the sunlight tilting his back and looking up at the sight before him. The track seemed to stretch upward forever and the twist and turns were dizzying. He started shaking his head as his breath caught in his chest.

“I don’t think I can do this.”

Ben clapped him on the back, “Come on Kevin. If you can do this, you can do anything!” Ben grabbed his hand and they sat in one of the cars before Kevin could protest further.

​As they went down the giant hill, Kevin held his breath and held on for dear life. They seemed to hover for a moment and then thundered down the track. Kevin felt like he left his stomach at the top as they rocketed downward. When the rollercoaster reached the bottom and headed back up, the force pushed them back. They blasted upwards followed by a sharp turn to the right and then to the left and the boys were flung sideways. Kevin lost count of how many more turns and hills there were, and he vaguely heard Ben yelling in the background but the sound he heard the most was the pounding of his heart in his ears. Finally after what seemed like hours, they came to a stop. Kevin took several deep breaths. He waited another moment and then grinned at Ben.

​“Let’s go again.”

​The procession of black cars wound around the cemetery to the grave site where William Sterling was being laid to rest. Kevin stood beside Ben and his mother and sister. Several other students who went to the same high school were also in attendance. Ben didn’t say much and neither did Kevin. They didn’t need to. Ben held his mother’s hand tightly and put his other arm around Beth. After the service, Kevin walked with Ben back to the car.

​“When is the move?” Kevin looked at Ben and waited for the answer.

​“Next week. My mother’s sister is getting ready for us. You know, I hated leaving Michigan, but now I don’t want to go back. But we can’t afford to stay here and Mom has a job lined up. So…” Ben’s voice trailed off.

Kevin nodded at him as Ben got in the car with his family and Kevin watched them drive away. His mother was waiting for him and he got in the car. He couldn’t help the tears that coursed down his cheeks as she steered down the long drive leading out of the cemetery.

​The years passed quickly as they often do. Kevin and Ben rarely saw each other, but they always kept in touch. Both graduated, Ben with a business management degree and Kevin with a degree in engineering. Kevin’s success in the auto design industry brought him much acclaim, and his wealth quickly grew beyond what he ever thought possible. Ben went to work for the American Cancer Society and his management skills helped them hit an all time high in their fundraising efforts. An article about Ben on their website made Kevin smile as he knew Ben’s father must be smiling down at him.

Time continued to pass and one sunny day Kevin decided to walk to a nearby café for lunch, and stopped at a news stand to get the local paper. Once seated at the café, he opened it and was surprised to see a picture of the Screaming Mimi. The article was about the ride being torn down for a new one to be built in its place. Kevin felt a twinge and he knew he would miss the old roller coaster. He picked up the phone and dialed a very familiar number.​

​Ben’s voice was good to hear. “Hey, buddy how have you been?”

​“Making it in the rat race so far,” Kevin replied. “Hey, I have something to ask you.” He went on to tell Ben about the Screaming Mimi and its upcoming demise. “We have to go for one last ride before they tear it down.”

​Ben’s response was less enthusiastic than Kevin was expecting.

​“That would be great, but I really can’t come right now. Things are a little hectic.”

​Kevin pushed for more details but Ben seemed eager to get off the phone. After Kevin hung up, he sat thinking for a moment and then got an idea.

​A slender woman with pale blue eyes answered the door. “Kevin Stillwater?” Her voice was hesitant.

​“That’s me. How are you Beth?”

​At the sound of her name she reached out and hugged him. “I thought that was you Kevin. It has been a long time. What brings you here?”

​“Well, I haven’t seen Ben in what seems like forever so I thought I would surprise him for a visit.” ​

​Beth’s smile faltered which made Kevin wonder what was wrong.

​Beth went inside and returned with her car keys in hand. “Come on, I will take you to him.”

​The disease had ravaged Ben’s body and Kevin had to hold back a gasp as he looked at the thin face of his friend. “Why didn’t you tell me?” escaped his lips before he could stop the question.

​“I didn’t want you to see me like this. I wanted you to remember me like I was...the old Ben.” Ben’s eyes filled with tears as he spoke.

​Kevin sat on the bed and put his hand on Ben’s shoulder. They spent the next few hours reminiscing about good times.

​“Man, I just wish I could take that ride with you. That would be just...” His voice trailed off. “I just can’t leave here...but what a ride it would have been.”

​The nurse came in and announced that visiting hours were over. Kevin looked at Ben.

​“I’ll be back tomorrow.” Once in the hallway, he punched a number into his cell phone.

​The next day Ben was wheeled from his room to an ambulance waiting outside and then to a small airstrip where Kevin’s private plane was waiting along with a private nurse that would accompany them.

​Ben looked at Kevin in astonishment. “I can’t believe you did all this.”

​The plane took off and a few hours later, he was seated beside Kevin on the Screaming Mimi. He looked up at the sun glinting off the top of the hill as the familiar clink-clink-clink jerked them forward. ​

​Kevin looked over at Ben. “You ready for this?”

​The Ben that looked back at him was the boy that had really started them on this journey so many years ago.

“Yep one last ride, diggin’ it!” Ben shouted as they went up and over the edge.

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