“And,” Bob said, “imagine what could happen if we negotiated as a union.”
Thomas’s eyes flew open. “No matter what upper management does, it’s just more proof that our union is powerful enough to make them react. And the more they react, the more they prove the point. People will start connecting the dots.”
“It’s still gonna get ugly,” said Bob.
“No doubt,” said Thomas. “But we can tell people that it’s going to be ugly because management is running scared. It won’t be a surprise. It might even bring a few fence-sitters over to our side.”
“We need to write this up,” said Paulina.
“I got this one,” Thomas said. “Can you check on Maribel?”
Paulina nodded.
“You all working the fireworks shift tomorrow?” said Bob.
“Not me,” said Paulina. “I’m off.”
“I’ll be there,” said Thomas.
They went their separate ways.
Instead of heading straight for the crew member parking lot, Thomas detoured to Galaxy’s thrill ride, Escape Velocity, hoping it would shake the nerves out of him.
The attraction queue twisted and turned through dark inner hallways until it reached the loading platform lit with spotlights and neon.
He climbed into the two-person vehicle, pulled down the lap bar, and had just enough time to think I wish Vanessa were here before blasting off into the darkness.
Chapter 13
Vanessa
Vanessa crumpled up the second sheet of paper and dropped it in the trash can beside her desk. “Let’s try this again,” she said. “Please accept this letter—no.”
She scratched it out.
“I would like to inform you—nope.”
Another strike-through.
“I regret to inform you that I am officially resigning from my position as Legacy Area Manager.” She sat back, cast a critical eye over the sentence, and decided that it would do.
She’d had enough.
Between Mr. Destiny, Dirk, and the union-busting consultant, she knew that sooner or later she would be asked to do something that didn’t square with her sense of right and wrong. If that meant giving up her dream job at Destiny Park, so be it. She refused to be a party to underhanded dealings against people who were barely getting by despite working harder than Mr. Destiny ever had.
A wave of relief rolled over her as she finished writing the letter, followed by an ebb of regret when she slid the letter into a desk drawer.
Thomas
The night sky stole over the Mirror Castle until every panel reflected the light of the moon.
Thomas, stationed at the border between Legacy and the Hub, waved a lit traffic control wand to keep visitors on the proper pathway away from the viewing area.
The lights in the trees twinkled through a range of color schemes, bright enough to be noticed, but too dim to make anything else visible in the darkness. Crew members around the Hub, sunk into darkness, were invisible but for their apparently disembodied wands.
The Hub filled with visitors. Most gravitated to the viewing area around the castle, but others planted themselves in the walkway and refused to budge.
Thomas, an old hand at crowd control, kept them moving with a mixture of cajoling and shouting, depending on the need of the moment and the politeness of the visitor in question.
He saw Vanessa’s wand before he saw her. It floated all the way across the Legacy border at hip height until he recognized the person carrying it.
Vanessa looked lost.
“Vanessa!” he called.
She looked to him and smiled, changing direction to meet him.
“I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” he said. “Is this the first time you’ve seen the fireworks?”
“I didn’t want to miss it,” she said, standing beside him and attempting to wave her traffic wand in time with his.
“It’s great!” His enthusiasm bubbled up from a sense of pride. Despite the stress of the job, he never forgot that he worked at the most beautiful theme park in the world. “You’re going to love it.” The night looked better than ever, with Vanessa’s company and a spectacular show to enjoy.
He noticed her smile slip. She must be tired from working later than usual. He redoubled his efforts to bring a smile to her face, clowning with the traffic wand and dancing to the ambient music much to the delight of the nearby visitors.
Her smile, though it came more frequently, turned more melancholy by the minute.
The fanfare rippled over the sound system, announcing the beginning of the show. Points of light shot into the sky.
Thomas cheered along with the rest of the crowd. He turned to catch Vanessa’s expression.
She patted her sleeve against each eye and continued watching the fireworks.
“Are you okay?” he shouted over the explosions and the roar of the music.
“I’m fine,” she shouted back.
He looked closer.
Her lip trembled.
“No, you’re not. What’s wrong?” It really was awkward to shout.
She motioned him closer. “I can’t stay,” she said.
“It’s only a couple minutes longer; are you sure?” he asked, assuming she meant the fireworks show.
“No! Not the show. Here. I have to go. I’m resigning.”
A huge firework exploded overhead and the sound reverberated in Thomas’s chest. His lips parted in shock. “Why?”
“I can’t do this. I can’t do the things they’re going to ask me to do. For God’s sake, Thomas, they’re probably going to make me fire some innocent crew member.”
“You don’t know that,” he pleaded.
She shook her head. “I can’t do it.”
A white star exploded, followed by a ringed planet.
He ran one hand through his hair and gripped it as if he would pull it out by the roots. Think, Thomas, think!
“Vanessa, listen, I know this is impossible. I know you are in a terrible position and I don’t fault you for wanting out. But, please, I know we are so much better off with you here than with anyone else.”
The fireworks flashed in their eyes as his gaze met hers.
“I—” Vanessa began, then whirled away into the crowd, which closed behind her as she made her way through. She was lost to sight within seconds.