The inspiration for this prompt was the lovely TheRabidFangirl! :)
Presently rewatching Channel Zero "No End House”
Original Thread
"Explain to me why I have to wear this insufferable costume again?" I groaned to my friend.
Chris who stood next to me, also in a ridiculous costume laughed. "Oh come on Nicole. It's not that bad."
"But why do I have to be a giant caterpillar? Why couldn't I have been something else?"
"Sorry Nicole, but you're new. You don't get to choose," Chris answered. "You'll get use to it and no else is complaining besides you."
"Hey. They have limbs! I'm stuck in this stupidly elaborate caterpillar costume which has no armholes. I'm already sweating like a fountain and - Ugh. I can't wait to get out of this shit."
"Careful Nicole. There are kids around," Chris warned.
I looked around me. There were dozens of other employees also wearing a mascot and we were scattered across the amusement park like sprinkles on a donut. Yeah. Everyone had to wear a ridiculous costume. It's what this amusement park was known for.
"Uh huh. There are kids alright. A shit ton of 'em too. But they all seem to be swarming that ugly fucker over there," I said as I lifted my arm to point, then remembered that it was simply not possible to do such a thing while in a caterpillar suit.
But Chris was already looking in the right direction. Not too far away was a giant chocolate-colored rectangular prism with black round eyes and a gaping mouth of perfect triangular teeth.
"Yeah... That's Domo-kun," Chris said slowly. "He's really popular with the kids."
I frowned as I looked at Chris. He sounded... envious.
"I don't get it," I said. "If that domo-kun is so popular... why doesn't everyone just be Domo-kun? Why do I have to be this stupid caterpillar huh?"
Chris turned to look at me with round black eyes that belonged to his mascot. "Nicole. Didn't you read the Three Laws of the Great Mascot Amusement Park?"
"Um. Actually I did. But it didn't make any sense..."
"There's only ever one of each mascot inside the park," Chris recited. "And remember to-"
Suddenly, kids began screaming and it wasn't the excited kind of screaming, it was the run-for-your-fucking-life kind of screaming. Kids were running everywhere. Some of them ran towards me and Chris.
Then I realized it. The kids were running away from Domo-kun. I managed a glimpse through the crowd and saw Domo-kun. Then I saw the feet dangling out of his obnoxious maw. Domo-kun w
... keep reading on reddit ➡
It was an emotional roller coaster
I'm still in absolute awe over this. For years, I was in the upper 300s. I went on a trip to San Diego my junior year of college and was mortified when I had to ask for a seatbelt extender on every leg of the flight. I had gotten used to not even trying to ride rides at amusement parks and disguising it as fear.
After college, I started my weight-loss journey. I got VSG in 2016 and am down about 110-120 overall, depending on the month.
Last week, I went to the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado. I hopped on every single ride without issue and had room to spare. I was soaring out over the canyon, secure in my seat. No one gave me the side-eye "will she fit, wont she fit?" stare I had become accustomed to. No one pointed me towards a "larger seat." And no one crushed my internal organs trying to get the restraints to fasten. My heart is still so full.
I just had to share.
As a lot of fuss has been made about this quote from Martin Scorsese: “I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema. Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.” -- Mike Stoklasa and Rich Evans of RedLetterMedia also conved a similar sentiment, citing the recent Marvel and Star Wars films among others. I consider myself to be insanely cynical, but the quote from Mr. Wilder has now made me reconsider. While it certainly isn't a black and white issue, I feel like film has the room to be both serious/engaging and also stupid/fun. Feel free to discuss or spew hatred - whatever youre feeling.
