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

“I guess only one. The story of a little boy who fell off this ride. Mary’s brother.”
    Henry looked at me flatly. “And what do you know of that story?”
    â€œWell, not much. . . . Mary never really talked about it, and I never really asked. But I do know he fell to his death. So that’s why I’m a little anxious up here.”
    â€œSeems like a story she would have told you about. That’s a pretty big life event, losing your brother. And you say Mary was your fiancée? Tell me, how much of Mary’s life story do you really know, then?”
    He asked the question at the top of the ride, and as we began our descent I felt my heart fall as well. Mary had never been one to talk much about the past. Whenever I asked about her life growing up, she would just say, “Oh, those are boring stories, and anyway, the past is just the past. Let’s live for today.” She always said that, and her face lit up with an optimistic glow.
    As we neared the bottom I turned to Henry and said, “I guess I never knew her life’s story too well, but I always knew her well enough. We connected like that. ” I snapped my fingers.
    We passed the bottom platform, and the ride came to a sudden, screeching stop. Our cart tipped forward and nearly dumped me out. I looked wildly toward Henry, but he sat calmly, as if nothing had happened. The wizard stood still, holding his arm in one place. I looked back to Henry, and he nodded for me to look forward.
    Two children boarded the cart in front of us.
    One was a small boy. The other was a small girl . . . Mary.

    T he wizard moved his hand, and the ride lurched to a start once again.
    I couldn’t take my eyes off Mary’s younger self. She looked exactly as I had seen her in childhood pictures: brown hair in pigtails, pinkdress, black glossy shoes with neatly folded white socks, smile a mile wide.
    As we rose higher the two kids talked excitedly and began tickling each other. When their cart was beneath us and I lost my view of them, I gave Henry a worried glance.
    â€œSometimes,” he said, “we think we know a story, but maybe we don’t know the full story.” He turned around and looked at the cart behind us.
    Todd, Mary’s brother, was winning the tickle war. He raised both arms above the safety bar in victory.
    My heart sunk as I realized what was about to happen.
    â€œ NO! ” I screamed. “ I don’t want to see this! ”
    Mary leaned over Todd and pointed out their parents walking below.
    I sat horrified, looking up to the kids’ car as we descended.
    When Mary and Todd’s cart passed the loading platform, they yelled down happily to the people waiting in line.
    The people in line — where did they come from?
    We rose once more to the top of the Ferris wheel, and I saw that the park had come to life again. There were hundreds of people below. I heard the roller coaster in the distance. I saw a barker handing over a stuffed animal at one of the game booths. The noise and sights distracted me for a second.
    Then I heard Todd scream.
    We were descending again, and as I looked up I saw him screaming and waving at his parents below. “Hi, Mommy! Hi, Daddy!”
    We passed the platform, and I saw the operator arguing with a man at the front of the line.
    Our carts rose to the top again, and I looked back to see that Todd had pulled his legs up and under the safety bar. He was kneeling in his seat.
    Mary was grabbing at him. “Sit down!” she demanded.
    â€œI want Mommy to see me!” Todd squealed.
    I tried to scream at Todd to sit down, but no sound came out of my mouth. I looked to Henry, who was staring at something below. Ifollowed his gaze. The man in the front of the line suddenly stopped arguing and pointed skyward. The operator looked up to see Todd leaning far over the safety bar, waving at his parents. The operator screamed, “Kid! Sit down!”
    Mary was