The Wabash Cannonball Roller Coaster
Our day at Opryland started off like any other; four teens having a good time. We rode rides, played games, and ate plenty of junk food. But at 14 years old, I had seemingly overestimated my confidence; I wasn’t ready to put the moves on an 11th grader.
Then fate stepped in when we decided to ride The Wabash Cannonball Roller Coaster.
“Emily, see how long you can hold your spit before you suck it back up,” I said with a stream of saliva hanging from my mouth.
Emily and I thought we were pretty cool, leaning over the ledge while slurping our spit back into our mouths. It never dawned on us that we might accidentally drench someone down below.
“Hey, Ayers, why is that dude staring at us?” Brian asked.
“I don’t know but he looks pissed,” Justin replied.
Emily and I looked at each other in fear knowing what we’d done. But it was too late to fess up.
As we got closer to the front of the line, the red-faced man motioned for Justin to walk over.
“Hey Red, come’ere,” the stranger said from across the line.
He looked to be in his mid-thirties, was six feet tall, had a full-grown beard, and was covered in tattoos.
Justin was a 130 pound, 5 foot 8, 16-year-old kid.
“Uh, yeah,” Justin said as he hesitantly walked over.
Then suddenly, he grabbed ahold of Justin’s shirt, lifting him into the air.
“Who done it? Who done it?” he shouts while shaking Justin back and forth.
“What are you talking about?” Justin screeches back. The man’s anger continues to build as the commotion draws attention from everyone around us.
“Hey Ayers, I’ve got my pocket knife,” Brian quietly offers.
Just as the situation is about to really go south, an unexpected hero emerges; our youth pastor Jeff.
Jeff Stockdale, Emily’s dad, isn’t your average Baptist youth pastor; he’s also a retired Navy Diver. AKA he’s a badass! Jeff pushes his way through the crowd, jumping from four rows back. He grabs the stranger by his arm, immediately releasing Justin from his grasp.
“Holy crap!” Brian shouts as the four of us climb onto the coaster leaving Jeff to handle our mess.
After the ride ends we are all still shaken up. Eager to see the expression on our faces, I suggest that we glance at our action photos, hoping to get a laugh out of the situation.
“Are yall nuts?” Brian asked, “That dude could be right on our tails.”
“Well, there goes my chance of dating him,” I whisper to Emily.
“Don’t tell him it was your fault and he’ll never know,” she assured me.
A few minutes later I am standing in line for a snow cone when I feel a tap on my shoulder; it’s Justin.
“Hey sexy lady,” he says with confidence, “are you ready to ditch these two or what?”
“Of course,” I said, “let’s go.”
From that moment on, we both stopped being shy. We spent the rest of the evening holding hands, sharing ice cream, and almost kissing. This cute guy that I’d been crushing on for 3 months was finally mine.
Weeks later I asked Justin what it was that finally pushed him to make a move. He told me that his near-death experience that gave him the courage he needed.
He realized he may never get a second chance with a girl like me — a spitter.
“NEVER spit on anyone again,” he pleaded; I never did, and I never will!
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