We’re standing in line for the Pittsburgh Plunge. My mom’s favorite. I’ve never been on it because I’m just a kid. It’s the hottest day all summer and this is the only water ride at Kennywood so the line is super duper long. I feel like I’m going to poop my pants. What happens is this coaster goes straight up a steep hill and then goes around a bend and then you drop down REALLY fast into green water and there’s a huge splash. Everybody in line is bigger than me. Earlier a teenager in a bright yellow shirt walked past and said I looked too small to ride. Ever since then my mom has been saying, “We’re getting you on this fucking ride.” She’s smoking a cigarette and brushing her hair. Every once in a while she hugs me really hard and says she’s so excited. But then she gets mad again and says, “We’re getting you on this fucking ride.” I’m in some red shorts that dig into my hips. My belly hangs over. I just ate cheese fries. Today is a weird day actually because before this we were at the casino. Usually we just watch TV and play in the garden hose. I hid under a slot machine table until we were caught and kicked out. She was really mad and drove us to Kennywood to spend her casino money. I asked why we would go to Kennywood if the plan was to double my Girl Scout troop’s earnings and get everyone a bounce house. Last night she heard from her friend that another troop earned a bounce house. So then she woke me up early this morning. We had pancakes and then she took the shiny money box and we hit the casino. Anyway my mom said, “Fuck the bounce house. We’re going to Kennywood.” I didn’t complain. I like Kennywood more than a stupid bounce house anyway. I like this day. Even the part when I was under the table at the casino and got chewed-up gum on my knees. When we get to the front of the line the guy says, “Nope!” and points to the height sign thing. “You’re about five inches too short.” My mom just says, “Okay” and we step aside. I watch everybody get on. The train moves slowly away. Then all the sudden my mom scoops me up and jumps in! We slide up next to an old lady. We pull down the seat belt. My mom is laughing really hard and the line guy is screaming mad. “Suckers!!!” my mom yells. We go up the big steep hill and it’s making creaky noises. My mom squeezes my leg. We round the bend. “Five inches my ass!” she says. We get to the edge of the big downhill part. My mom looks at me. She looks happier than ever. And then we plunge into the giant green wave.