Sammy awoke sometime later to find his head splitting, his business pass missing, and his wallet short ten bucks. As his vision slowly returned, he looked around to discover that he was alone. All the people with the annoying smiles must have already gone inside. In the wake of madness, he couldn’t help but feel vindicated by the peace. In the unusual silence he could almost hear his heart echoing.
Even though he tried to maintain his equilibrium as best as he could, his head throbbed so violently that it contorted his brain. Or, that’s how it felt at least. He stroked his temples to massage the pain away, but the world around him pulsated in a dizzying fashion and he wasn’t certain that he was actually touching his temples. Managing to stay balanced, he took a step forward, but barely. His body endured a slight tremor from a shock to his brain. It was a challenge to maintain straightness, but one he couldn’t let himself lose. His boss was still waiting for him. The pain from his injury would have to ride in the backseat. He carefully walked in a zigzag pattern down the ramps toward the parking lot exit.
Sammy approached the guard shack while the world around him did the cha-cha. His steps were uneven, but he managed to hobble to it. The doorframe appeared secure enough to hold his balance, so he rested his hands against it for a moment and looked inside the shack. Another parking attendant sat on the stool inside, reading a Happy Fun Land brochure. The new attendant looked up and smiled.
“Welcome to Happy Fun Land, kind and happy sir,” he cheered. “Hope you enjoy your stay.”
The new attendant’s smile did the wave for Sammy. He decided his ten bucks wasn’t worth it, so he continued toward the park’s entrance.