Life's Golden Ticket by Brendon Burchard Read Free Book Online

“No.”
    Henry let out a sigh and looked to the ground, as if disappointed in my reply.
    â€œStrike one,” the wizard said sternly. “When you arrived here, you signed a contract. That contract is everything. You agreed that you would be open to experience and possibility, but your response shows that you do not accept what is happening, which tells me you are not open to possibility, which tells me you care little about the contract. This is happening to you. Mary was hurt. You did speak with your mother. You are standing here with an old wizard and a gentle groundskeeper. And you are in danger of being asked to leave because you just broke your contract.”
    The wizard’s eyes turned cold, and he stared at me expectantly.
    â€œI . . . uh, I’m sorry, I just . . . this is all overwhelming, and I don’t know how to . . .”
    â€œFine,” the wizard said, cutting me off, “just hold your doubts and don’t break your contract, or you’re gone. Clear?”
    I was stunned by his harshness. Where was the kind old man so full of hope?
    â€œGot it,” I said, confused.
    â€œGlad we got that out of the way.” He turned to Henry and winked, then smiled at me. “Because I bet you’re really not going to believe what happens next.”

    H enry and I boarded the Ferris wheel, and the wizard lowered the safety bar across our laps.
    â€œReady for a little magic?” the wizard asked, his eyes sparkling once again as they had in the cavern.
    â€œSure,” I said without meaning it. I hadn’t been on a Ferris wheel in years. Not since I met Mary.
    The wizard walked off the operator’s platform and stood in front of the Ferris wheel. Lifting his right hand, he pointed his finger at the ride, slowly following the outline of the Ferris wheel with his finger.He appeared to be drawing counterclockwise circles in the air. He started speeding up the circular motion, going faster and faster. I saw him close his eyes, and at that precise moment a light began to emanate from his hand.
    Suddenly, the ride lurched to life.
    Henry and I were pushed forward into the safety bar as our cart swung backward.
    â€œHoly—”
    â€œHang on!” Henry said, cutting me off and laughing like a child. “Here we go!”
    Our cart swooped backward and upward. The Ferris wheel was in motion and moving fast.
    â€œWhoopee!” Henry cried. His eyes sparkled with the excitement of a child.
    We rose higher and higher, and the full expanse of the park revealed itself. The moonlit view showed the park to be much larger than I had thought. A square walkway formed the perimeter. I could see kiddie rides and game booths surrounding the square, then food huts and a large grassy area, a pirate ship, a carousel, and a gigantic metal barn. On the inside of the walkway stood a massive, circular tent, painted red and blue and gold, and dozens of smaller tents and walkways, more food huts, bumper boats, roller coasters, and dozens of other rides.
    When we hit the top of the ride and started down the other side, Henry said, “Quite a view, isn’t it?”
    â€œYeah,” I said, in awe.
    As we neared the bottom of the ride I looked to see the wizard, still making circular movements with his arm. When we made eye contact, he speeded up the motion. Our cart once again leaped backward, and I grabbed frantically at the safety bar.
    â€œNot a fan of the Ferris wheel, huh?” Henry asked with a broad grin.
    My knuckles were bone white on the safety bar. “No, not exactly.”
    â€œWhy not? Seems fun to me.”
    â€œYeah, I guess it is for most people. But I’ve heard stories about these rides.” This very ride, in fact.
    We were traveling only about one and a half times the normal speed, but that was too fast for me.
    Henry huffed, “Nonsense, these things are very safe. What stories have you heard?”
    I looked at him nervously.