I have tried to resist writing about my coaster rides lest it become tedious. But I can no longer today. It remains an eternally compelling window on this society. So here we go with my most recent experiences. I thought all of the people who recruit pedestrians onto the coasters were men. No- they are not. Last week, I got a woman. I wonder if there is any significance in the the fact that this coaster was the quietest, most orderly and peaceful ride I have had the entire time I’ve been here. The next day, back to mayhem. I got a seat up front after a bit of flailing about. Then I noticed the young male driver had an extremely long thumb nail. I’ve seen that before here- some fellows seem to like to grow one really long nail. Not sure what that’s about, but I have an idea…in any case, I got a longer glimpse- ALL his nails were about 1.5 inches long. It was slightly creepy and vampirish.

Then, this morning, I was walking to the bus stop and heard someone honking their horn, except it did not stop. At all. When I got onto Halfway Tree Road, I saw that it was a coaster with an apparently overzealous, damaged horn. A wrangler tried to get me to jump on. But that noise on an early Monday morning? No thanks. They ended up stopping and a crowd of men quickly gathered around the front, trying to fix the wiring. I got another coaster, got a seat right away and zoned out. Or tried to as we dodged pedestrians literally by inches. Then I heard someone call “Browning,” and I actually turned around as I thought that it was the wrangler trying to collect my $80.00 fare (you pay whenever they feel like asking you). I was right- he took my $100.00 bill and gave me my change. I’m learning! I say that because browning refers to a lighter skin colour. According to my colleague, it is a term of endearment. Slowly, I am starting to pick things up.