“Is this place really ‘The Most Fun On Planet Earth?'” asked a chunky tourist wearing a Seattle Sonics sweater.

The guide laughed. “That is actually the trademarked logo of our sister park, Gisnep Wonderland in California,” she said. “But I think you’ll find that even though we are number two, the difference in fun is statistically insignificant.” The look on her face spoke volumes about getting this question all the time and her satisfaction in composing an appropriately peppy but still cheeky response.

A flabby hand went up in the back, from a passenger uncomfortably separated from their Rascal scooter for the duration of the tour. “Why is the symbol for Gisnep Resort a tree?”

“Oh, you mean the Tree Ring?” the guide said, with a little snicker about her clever response.

“Yeah,” said the guest, who took up a row of seats designed to hold three adults. “I would’ve expected the logo to have something to do with cartoons or movies.”

“Walpert Gisnep was actually an environmentalist, and he believed strongly in making sure arboretums and trees were a part of the Gisnep Resort,” said the guide. “That’s why we have more green space than the next three of our competitors combined! Mr. Gisnep often used the tree as a metaphor for his company, with everyone from the trunk to the leaves participating in making it strong.”

A third hand went up, this one belonging to a stubby kid who looked like he was destined for a Rascal of his own in a few short years, but the guide was never able to call on him.

The motorized tour carriage ground to a halt and the doors automatically snapped open. as power from the overhead lines went dead.

“Carl?” the guide whispered to the driver with her hand over the mic. “What’s going on?”

Carl could only shrug, but the question was answered moments later over the loudspeakers:

“There has been a power failure. Please locate the nearest exit and proceed to it calmly and quickly.”

Pandemonium ensued.

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