CRIMINAL MIND

CHAPTER 3 FERRIS WHEEL

After they got out of the tricycle, Mrs. Rebecca immediately paid the tricycle driver. Erin glanced around at the whole area and was amazed at what he saw.

          There are lots of people everywhere and he heard inaudible noises, children are playing, there are children holding hands with their mothers while buying fruits, there are different stalls of shops in the market, and shoppers are haggling over fish while smelling the slimy smell of fresh fish that others had even placed inside the cooler with only chunks of ice, in the other section there were butchers chopping meat while blood stains filled their aprons. Erin seemed to be amused by what he saw, it was his first time coming to the market so he was just amazed at the things he witnessed. He didn't think that the place was so big and so many people were buying various products, he just kept rolling his eyes until he was stopped to one side when he noticed in a store where the colorful and elegant children’s costumes are located, not at least he can wear such beautiful clothes and he thinks his mother can’t afford to buy expensive clothes.

For a while his mother Rebecca noticed him and she spoke it.

"Son, someday you can also buy beautiful and branded clothes." She said in a lively statement.

Erin turned to her.

"Really? How?" he asks full of curiosity.

His mother replied.

"When you finish your studies and you have a good and permanent job you can save a lot of money, you can buy everything you want." she smiled enticingly as Erin’s eyes twinkled in pleasure.

Erin also responded with a sweet smile.

"Mama, when I have a job and I have a lot of money, I will buy you a house far away from this place. And then we will buy a car so that you will not have difficulty in riding and playing with the tricycle fare."

Rebecca laughed but she was touched by Erin's little dream for her.

"Oh, come on, let's go and we need to buy more vegetables and fish." She took Erin's hands and at the same time, they walked toward the vegetable and fish store.

When they arrived at the vegetable shop, Erin was quietly observing the various vegetables he saw while his mother was shopping and paying the vendor. Then, they went straight to the fish shop and Erin was happy when he noticed that some Tilapia were still fresh and alive moving in the basin, he was able to show his mother the jumping tilapia but he was immediately scolded by the rude vendor. His mother only bought a pound of tilapia and then they walked out of the market.

After leaving the vegetable and fish shops, they came to the exit of the market where they saw someone selling ice cream and cotton candy. Erin's eyes lit up when he saw the pink sweet cotton candy as well as the colorful balloons being sold on the sidewalk. His mother went there and bought him ice cream, he was very happy to eat ice cream and it looks like his excitement did not end there, he looked around and he noticed that there were carnivals right in front of where they were standing.

Erin was overwhelmed with admiration when he carefully observed the rotating upright wheel with multiple passenger-carrying components and it has cars mounted on the outside of the rim, with electric motors to independently rotate each car to keep it upright.

Rebecca stared at Erin intently and saw her son’s curiosity and desire to ride the Ferris wheel so she asked.

"Oh, do you want us to ride the Ferris wheel?" his mother asked.

Erin looked up and suddenly his energy and excitement returned because his mother would allow him to ride in the strange vehicle he had only just seen.

"Yes Mama, I want to ride the Ferris wheel." He got intense fun and excitement that he will finally also experience for the rest of his life how to ride in a car that is on high ground.

Together with his mother who went to the booth to pay the fee and for the amount of ten pesos they were able to enter the carnival and put inside the Ferris wheel.

When they sat in the seat, they noticed behind them that there were also a lot of passengers there, including family, mothers, and friends. The operator then started talking and explained to them what to do before operating the Ferris wheel, that's when they learned that all rides will be surrounded by an aluminum safety fence to prevent guests from getting too close to the ride. They also maintain an attendant at the entrance and exit area to ensure guests can gain access to the loading area. All loading areas are kept clear before the wheel begins motion. In addition, the owner, operator, and employees are pledged to always be on the lookout for safety concerns, from basic slip and fall prevention to equipment maintenance. Everyone works as a team and is always focusing on "Safety First" before opening the ride for the day. They discuss any safety concerns that are unique to the setup location and everyone works together to access the situation to prevent accidents.

After a bit of orientation, their seats were adjusted and the engine was slowly turned on until an adrenaline rush appeared in Erin and his mother's will as they ascended the position.

Erin looking at that looming monstrosity spinning the life out of its sardine-caged occupants was morbidly frightened and tentatively excited. It was a huge, colorful, noisy average carnival Ferris wheel. These rides have reminded him of great big mythical beasts, much like dinosaurs carrying off their screaming passengers like sacrificial virgins which he used to watch on their TV when their family was still happy and complete. Even the droning sound of the Ferris wheel’s engines brings to mind the great roar of a fire-breathing dragon with smoke spewing from its exhaust-pipe nostrils. The first ride on one of these fantastic beasts gave me an instant rush of adrenaline through his blood. As the death-defying ride turned, a lump in his throat started to form but he controlled himself to vomit. He felt like he was going to walk the plank as his nervousness came rushing toward him. Again and again, as the ride gained momentum, the resistance built up until he was unable to move his skinny frail body.