Adults held children while running and screaming in all directions.
Horror on their faces signaled an unmistakable accident.
Uniformed fair staff and guards gathered everyone to safe zones.
A day of carnival treats and rides; now, the scene of a devastating tragedy.
Shock and terror paralyzed me.
I’d declined my friends request that morning to chaperone her son, my daughter’s friend, to the fair. With six kids to monitor, I couldn’t manage more.
A round-a-bout chair ride suddenly stopped causing the chain to sever her sons’ leg.
Amusement parks were off our activities list from that day forward.
2019©Isadora DeLaVega
Genre: Short Story
Word Count: 100
Photo Prompt: Dale Rogerson
To join Rochelle and her Friday Fictioneers
in this challenge click here
Inside the Mind of Isadora 
April 1, 2019 at 8:32 pm
It would be definitely be off mine as well. Good story, hoope it wasn’t true.
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April 2, 2019 at 6:45 pm
Sadly, it was true. It was traumatic for all who witnessed it. School counseling helped since he was a well-liked football player. Eventually, the incident was placed in the right corner of our minds. Thanks …
Isadora 😎
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March 25, 2019 at 9:05 pm
Yea…that would do it.
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March 26, 2019 at 11:05 pm
Thanks, Dawn 😊 For sure 👍😎
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March 25, 2019 at 8:44 pm
What a chilling event… and true as well. There are those fairs who are less than safe I’m afraid
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March 26, 2019 at 11:09 pm
It was a permanent amusement park not a traveling one. It was a freak event. A few years later it closed due to litigations. Glad you stopped by, Björn. Thank you
Isadora 😎
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March 24, 2019 at 8:59 pm
How horrifying, especially as your story is based on a real event. No wonder you don’t visit amusement parks anymore.
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March 25, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Eventually, the trauma was placed in its proper place. It happened in 1986. Years later, I did take my teens to amusement parks but the more well-known ones such as Disney which I thought might be safer. Glad you enjoyed my story, Magarisa, by leaving a comment.
Isadora 😎
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March 25, 2019 at 8:43 pm
Glad to hear that you put the past behind you. Un saludo, Mags
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March 24, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Wow, Izzy, this reminds me of all the tragedies that have happened from amusement park rides. Great story! Very scary!
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March 25, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Eventually, the trauma was placed in its proper place. It happened in 1986. Years later, I did take my teens to amusement parks but the more well-known ones such as Disney which I thought might be safer. Glad you enjoyed my story, PJ. Have a wonderful week …
Isadora 😎
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March 25, 2019 at 2:47 pm
Oh yes, Disney would be much safer! You have a wonderful week too!
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March 24, 2019 at 12:56 pm
How absolutely sad that this is based on true events. I can understand why Amusement Parks are off the list.
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March 25, 2019 at 1:33 pm
Eventually, the trauma was placed in its proper place. It happened in 1986. Years later, I did take my teens to amusement parks but the more well-known ones such as Disney which I thought might be safer. Glad you enjoyed my story by leaving a comment.
Isadora 😎
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March 24, 2019 at 7:14 am
This fair ground is accident prone it seems. Is it right to decide never to go to any amusement park?
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March 25, 2019 at 1:29 pm
This was the first time an accident had occurred at this carnival. It wasn’t a traveling one. We moved a few years later. The trauma was put in its proper place. Eventually, I took my teens to big amusement parks such as Disney. I felt they would be safer. Abhijit, thank you for visiting and commenting.
Isadora 😎
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March 23, 2019 at 11:13 pm
That’s horrific, Issy. I’m no fan of amusement parks and fairgrounds. Too many accidents have happened in these so-called fun places.
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March 25, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Thanks, Sylvia. This happened in 1986. Although it’s a long time ago I can still remember the screams. I did eventually take my teens to big amusement parks such as Disney since I felt they would be maintained better.
The small traveling carnivals weren’t included. I think safety begins with the parents. Anyway, the trauma eventually was put in it’s proper place. Have a wonderful week 👍😊😎
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March 23, 2019 at 10:44 pm
Oboy! Sad but true, I see from comments! I hope this has been somewhat cathartic! Take care! ❤
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March 25, 2019 at 1:20 pm
No worries, Resa. This happened in 1986. It was a long long time ago. Eventually, we moved. The trauma was put in its proper place. I did take my teens to big amusement places like Disney where it seemed a lot safer. Thanks for reading 👍😊😎
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March 23, 2019 at 9:45 pm
Querida Isadora,
No hay palabras. How horrible….doubly horrible to know it’s a true story. Buen escrito.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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March 25, 2019 at 1:04 pm
Querida Rochelle,
So es un cuento de verdad el cuento.
It happened in 1986. The trauma was sad. Eventually, we moved at it was put in its proper
place.
Gracious y Shalom
Isadora 😎
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March 23, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Now I know what you mean about having no fondness for amusement parks!
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March 25, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Eventually, the trauma was placed in its proper place. It happened in 1986, Dale. Years later, I did take my teens to amusement parks but the more well-known ones such as Disney which I thought might be safer. Glad you enjoyed my story by leaving a comment.
Isadora 😎
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March 25, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Still…
🙂
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March 25, 2019 at 8:08 pm
True 😊
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March 23, 2019 at 4:16 pm
Well done. This has the ring of truth to it.
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March 23, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Sadly, this was a true event. The school had a counselor come in to talk to the kids. He was on the football team. Tragic!!!
Thank you, Linda, for visiting and commenting.
Isadora 😎
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March 23, 2019 at 6:45 pm
I thought so. Incredibly sad.
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