PHOTO PROMPT © Mr. Binks
Car Five
Marty saw the “help wanted” sign on the fence on Friday afternoon. By Friday night, he was wearing a red-striped vest worn by employees of Bing’s Carnival and operating the Octopus.
After a week of loading and unloading patrons and watching the arms of the beast dip and dive, Marty noticed something different about car five. It spun counterclockwise; its arm jerked; its squeak more a scream. Patrons from other cars got off laughing; five’s patrons looked scared.
Marty asked Billy, The Scrambler’s operator, “what’s the deal with my ride?”
“Jimmy said it was haunted … just before he disappeared.”
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the steadfast host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Oh hell no!
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lol!
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😁
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You’d never get me up in one of them things :)
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Glyn, I *love* thrill rides (within reason.) There were a couple at Cedar Point I had to decline.
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I did used to ride the bars on the Waltzers a few times back in my teenage showing-off days :)
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I’m not sure what the Waltzers are? Ha ha on showing off :)
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They probably have another name for them in the States? The video shows no bars, so that must be a later version for safety reasons.
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Aha! In the US that’s the Tilt-A-Whirl. I’ve never laughed so much on any ride before. The ones here were painted all red (at least they used to be.)
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I’m not a big “ride” guy to begin with, so when you toss in any potential for actually disappearing I’m disappearing from that area asap.🏃♂️
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LOL Bruce. I used to take my kids to Cedar Point every summer and there weren’t many I wouldn’t go on.
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Oh no, glad I wasn’t on it.. Hell to the know.. great story Li
🙀❣️
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lol! Glad you found the story thrilling/frightening :)
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I sure did💕
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Haunted? Nah. Poor maintenance, sounds like
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I tend to think you’re right. And carney folk are notorious for “disappearing.” But what do we know ;)
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Good one. I’d like to hear more.
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Thanks, James! I hope they don’t find poor Jimmy stuffed under the ride like they have other employees in other cities…
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Uh oh.
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A paranormal ride…the accident in car 5…
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Uh huh! I’ve been in a few of those spinning type rides where it did seem like the car was possessed the way it spun!
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My favorite ride is the Tilt-a-Whirl…it doesn’t go off the ground! I do like The Spider also…that is a lot like the ride you show.
I agree…some of those cars have a mind of their own.
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I loved the Tilt-a-Whirl also.
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I hate heights…I was on the swings at our carival…and one of the chains broke…I held up the left side of me with my left arm when I was a kid…but I love spinning.
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Glad you weren’t hurt! Wow!
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Probably the reason I hate heights
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I feared we were going for a mechanical malfunction, but maybe this is worse?!
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Thanks for reading, Jen. As I studied the image, I couldn’t help notice that one of the cars looked different from the others, and the story sparked from there. Honestly, it could be either one…
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Dear Lisa,
My visit to Coney Island in 1998 cured me of rides. Riding the Tilt-a-Whirl for 20 minutes can get old, if not nauseating. ;)
Car 5 should come with a warning label I think. I’d love to know more of this story. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, that spinning feeling is one that a person usually either loves or hates. I agree on the warning label. I think the traveling carnivals get around many inspections as they are usually interstate so who will do it? Glad you liked the story, thank you :)
Shalom,
Lisa
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This is an ominous mystery. I loved scary rides when I was a kid, but now I like my feet on the ground…(K)
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Thanks, Kerfe. I don’t even remember the last time I’ve been on a carnival ride. I miss them, but gravity probably wouldn’t be kind if I got on one now.
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The famous Rye Playland near me has one of the original Octopus rides; the entire ride spins counter-clockwise but each car spins clockwise at the same time while the arms dip up and down. The faster the ride goes, the faster the arms dip and the cars spin. It is heinous and without doubt the most dizzying, nausea-producing ride I’ve ever been on. There’s very good reason to be afraid of this thing. Great story, Lisa!
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Ha ha! Glad (?) you are intimately acquainted with the beast. I knew I had a winner with this story. Thanks, Nancy!
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It’s truly one of the worst rides I’ve ever been on, designed, no doubt, by a madman!
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Ohhh! It gets curiouser and curiouser. Well-played!
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Joy, thanks!
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Oooh that’s scary. The ride itself is scary enough and on top of it, it’s haunted too
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Yes! And most people wouldn’t notice the anomalies of car 5’s movements unless they were watching it over time. Thanks, Sadje.
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You’re very welcome
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Yes, every ride needs a gimmick. I am surprised they didn’t advertise it as a ‘dare you ride the ghost car, Number Five”
I like how you turned the prompt into a mystery.
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James, that’s a really good idea :) People just think meeting a dark supernatural force will be fun. Thank you for reading and your thoughtful comment.
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I’ll avoid any Car Five I see in future, this might not be a one-off! Great take. Lisa.
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Keith, thanks. Better to be safe just in case.
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Car Five terrified me even before the last line… Yet another reason to leave these rides alone! ;)
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Angela wrote the above comment.
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LOL Angela. Yep, probably best to avoid this car/ride.
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Like there’s not enough that can go wrong with those rides. I think a haunting might be safer than a mechanical malfunction. I guess it depends on the haunter’s intent.
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Now you have me wondering about the haunter’s intent. Scary to think spirits have intent beyond haunting.
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Of course. Look at Slimer. He just wanted to eat.
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Thanks fo the tip… will avoid that car! Clever story.
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Thanks!
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My pleasure!
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Those rides are scary enough without being haunted. Yikes. Good story.
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Thanks much, Margaret!
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Spooky!
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:) Boo!
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Oooooo
Um, no… no I wouldn’t ride that!
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Knowing that back story, neither would I!!!!!
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Time to take care 5 out of service!
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If Car Five will allow it… Thanks for reading :)
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