Free Twisted Endings: 5 Disturbing Stories by Timothy D. McLendon Page A

glorious freedom!
    My anger began to subside until I saw her look at her watch, like she had something more important to do. She was in a hurry to get back to that bag.
    “Daddy?”
    I looked down at Crystal with a smile. It had been a long, vicious race, but the finish line was just ahead.
    “Yes, Hun?” I said as relief started to set in.
    “I’m hungry.”
    My jaw collapsed
    “Okay.” I winked at her. “We’ll get something to eat as soon as we get home.”
    “But I’m hungry nowwwww…”
    I gritted my teeth. We stuffed ourselves earlier with cotton candy and hot pretzels. We stood in that line forever, waiting, sweating, and all of the sudden she wanted something else to eat?
    “We’ll get something later, Hun,” I reassured her. I put my palm under her chin and saw the raw tears streaming down her cheeks.
    The Teacup Lady walked around all the rides and unlocked the safety harnesses on the seats. If I had any sanity left, I lost it when she winked at me.
    My jaw tightened.
    She could no longer have control over my daughter and me. Something was vastly wrong in the world and I alone could fix it!
    “I'll be right back,” I told my daughter. I couldn’t stand to watch those tears anymore. Let it be noted that I was angry — no, beyond angry! I walked over to the booth where the Teacup Lady would control the ride, opened the top drawer and snatched the bag of surprises. I peeled the bag open to observe the merchandise: red, chewy circles of sugar — probably Sweet Tarts.
    I didn’t care if anyone saw me. The bag was going back with me, far away from the fat lady.
    “What's that, Daddy?”
    “Just a bag,” I replied, “with some candy. You can have some as soon as the ride’s over.” I was a hero, a bona fide hero.
    She nodded like a happy bandit just as the Teacup Lady motioned for us to come towards one of the rides.
    I hid the bag behind my back.
    We finally sat together in one of the teacups. Crystal was so happy. So beautiful. I wish I could have been as excited as her but my sticky, sweaty body stuck to the seat like Velcro. I held my breath as the fat vulture circled around her prey, making sure everyone was buckled in nice and tight.
    “Let me apologize again,” the Teacup Lady blurted, still out of breath. She glanced at her watch and smiled at me.
    I couldn't look at her. She needed to take those vulture eyes off of me. I wanted to shout, “Your candy’s gone lady and you can’t do anything about it! It’s right here under my seat! Boo-yeah!” I was relieved when she waddled away and hit the red button on top of her booth.
    It didn't take long for the spinning to start. Sobriety was forgotten. Memories of better days were brought back. My daughter loved it, too. At last, we were having fun.
    A minute later I realized I wasn’t feeling so good. Too much cotton candy and too many hot pretzels. I was afraid I’d have to taste them a second time. The expression on my daughter’s face told me that she felt the same way.
    “Hey!” I tried to shout. “Stop the ride!” I knew I sounded like a drunken monkey.
    “Better get a water hose!” someone offered back.
    I prepared to yell again, right as we passed the Teacup Lady's booth, but I had to stop myself. A crowd had gathered around her sad little booth. People were gasping and running over to it. I couldn't see the Teacup Lady anywhere; the ride spun around too fast.
    A few seconds later we faced the booth again. A much larger crowd had assembled in a matter of seconds. Several people appeared to be screaming into their cell phones.
    The ride kept spinning.
    I was scared shitless — not just for me — for my little girl, too. The ride was out of control and we were all going to die! I wasn’t sure if the wetness on my seat was from sweat or urine. For God’s sake, no one's supposed to die at an amusement park!
    Faster and faster.
    I heard someone shout slurred obscenities. It sounded French or German or something, but hell —