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[ 3 minute read ]
I never laugh at someone else's misfortune but I was intrigued by the different responses to a slingshot fairground ride and couldn't help making a story in my head as to what was happening.
The following three images are taken from a compilation YouTube video, because I wanted to make a 'story' in my head, and these provide a healthy scope for expansion. However, there are only two paths to follow from these.
At seventeen, Sharon was tall for her age. A strawberry blonde with pale white, un-tannable skin, it was obvious she could trace her heritage back to the Celts. And, like the Irish of today, she had a wonderful sense of humour and a wild imagination. She was the type of girl that laughed at seemingly anything, even how the lather was always on the outside of the bar of soap. When the soap bar was worn small it had no lather left. But she wasn't silly; she knew that everyone threw the last piece of soap away and there was no point in putting bubbles in that bit. Sharon was canny.
Her effervescence was attractive and boys were drawn to her openness. She was popular. She could take her pick from a wide spectrum in a well populated field in her local area and had, had 'fun' with some.
Despite not being able to stay too long in the sun, Sharon was a regular feature at the Theme park, just a short drive away, and since she had learned to drive she, her brother, and a couple of boys had ridden every ride at least once.
Sharon was currently in a young relationship with Amanda, an interesting first for Sharon, and she had forgone boys. Amanda was sweet and largely innocent. She had recently moved into the area from some distance away and the Winter months had closed the theme park. So, the girls hung around, and stayed in, and went to parties. Amanda didn't really like to try new things, preferring to stick to things she knew.
It was at the end of the long, boring Winter months that Amanda discovered that she had a preference for Karen. She and Karen spent more and more time together. This did not go unnoticed by Sharon, who realised that the fun of the relationship with Amanda was diminishing. However, she also knew that Amanda took relationships to be important, and so Amanda would need to formally end her relationship with Sharon before it was closed. Sharon felt that she might need to hurry it along. In any case, she much preferred boys, and having a girlfriend was only an experiment.
In Spring, the theme park opened. On Amanda's birthday, Sharon suggested that she and Amanda go to the theme park and meandered through some of the rides.
'I don't like the really rough ones.' Amanda appealed.
'That's fine, they have some really gentle one's.' Sharon knew every ride backwards and felt she could guide Amanda around.
After a few rides and lunch, Sharon said, 'Let's go on this one. Slingshot, it's really gentle, like a Ferris Wheel.'
Lulled into a feeling of being protected from the worst by Sharon's obvious experience, Amanda, meekly acquiesced.
.
'I think we are through, Amanda.' said Sharon.
-end-
In the video (as I mentioned, available on YouTube in at least two compilations), you can see that 'Sharon' has never been on the ride before, and it is obvious that 'Amanda' is completely oblivious as to how the ride will affect her.
The Slingshot operator asks riders if they would like a count-down, and the first picture (above) is 'Sharon' about to make the tiniest shake of her head. As soon as the operator recognises that to mean 'no' the Slingshot is released. You can see the fizzing excitement and trepidation in 'Sharon' which I find fascinating to see. The girls are plainly holding hands for mutual support.
However, in the first picture 'Sharon' could be completely aware of the imminent acceleration and the look on her face could be interpreted as mischief. She could be trying to shield it from 'Amanda'.
I typed in 'crazy fairground rides fail compilation' into YouTube, and as of 08:54 on Tuesday 02 September 2025, the Thumbnail shows 'Sharon and Amanda'. 'Amanda' passes out TWICE. If you want to see them in the the video that has their thumbnail, they are number 85.