Storybook Love: A Storybook Park Romance

by Carol E. Ayer

  * * * *

  Rebecca arrived a bit early on the big day and so was among the first dozen patrons to step through the Frog Prince Entrance into the center of the park. She followed the crowd down to the shoe, where Ben doled out small wicker baskets to each team.

  “Here you go, Boss. You’re number five.”

  “Thanks, Ben. Any hints?”

  “Sorry. Sara swore me to secrecy.” He grinned and turned to the mother and daughter pair behind her.

  Rebecca stepped away from the others to the Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary garden. She tilted her face to the sky to soak up the warmth of the sun and sighed happily. If they were going to have any problems today, it wouldn’t be with the weather.

  She looked into her basket and found an orange-colored storybook key, a disposable instant camera she recognized as left over from their Halloween party a few years earlier, and a piece of paper shaped like a star.

  She took the star-shaped paper out of the basket and read:

  Twinkle, twinkle, Little Bat! How I wonder what you’re at!

  Her first clue. A nonsense lyric. Hmm. Wasn’t that one of the songs the Mad Hatter recited in the tea party scene in Alice in Wonderland?

  She walked over to the Alice tunnel and stepped inside. The tunnel was empty. Good. Sara must have arranged the hunt so that pairs wouldn’t be working on the same clue simultaneously.

  A cup filled with more star-shaped clues rested on the tea table. She drew out the clue for team number five and read it to herself.

  Looking-glass upon the wall,

  Who is fairest of us all?

  For a second, she was stumped. She really should brush up on her fairy tales. Was it Cinderella or Snow White who had the conceited stepmother? She was pretty sure it was Snow White.

  On her way to Snow White’s Castle, she passed several teams. They seemed to be having a great time, laughing with each other and discussing clues in hushed tones.

  She’d forgotten there was a full-length mirror on the second level of the castle. Taped to the mirror were several more clues.

  But just as she reached for the clue marked with a large number five, a hand came around from behind her back and snatched it away from her. She whipped around to see Jonathan Eastman smiling at her.

  She rolled her eyes at him and said, “What are you doing here? Don’t you ever work? Don’t you have a job?”

  “Now, now, that’s not a very welcoming greeting. I have a perfect right to be here. I’m a legitimate ticket-holding customer. And, yes, as a matter of fact, I have been working. I’ve been flying all over the country lately, visiting the various ThemeWorld parks. But I always seem to end up back here, don’t I?

  “Yes, you certainly do. But why today? Why the treasure hunt?”

  “It sounded like fun.”

  She gave him a disbelieving look. “So that’s why you’re here? To have fun?”

  “Absolutely…and to see firsthand if your little event is a success. Do you have any objections?”

  “Yes, several. But I really don’t have time to discuss them with you now. I need to keep going.”

  “Well, along those lines, I have a proposition for you.”

  Oh, boy. “Yes? And that would be?”

  “We join forces. Sara told me you’re in this alone, just like I am.”

  “The two of us working together? I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

  “Look, you’re trying to see if the event runs smoothly, right? But everyone else is in pairs. It only makes sense that you have a partner so you can experience the hunt authentically. And, despite your vast expertise, I might actually be able to help you once or twice.”

  She sighed. He was, for once, making sense. “Well, all right. But no sabotage allowed, agreed?”

  “Agreed.”

  He offered her his hand, and they shook on the deal. He held out the clue. They read it together.

  Take a picture of one of you underwater. When you’re done, show the photograph to a guide to receive your next clue.

  He returned her blank look, apparently as clueless as she was.

  “I thought they were all going to be quotes,” Rebecca said. “I was wondering where the camera fit in.”

  “Tell me we don’t have to actually go underwater. I didn’t bring my swimsuit.”

  Rebecca giggled. “I have an idea.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  She led him across the park to The Little Mermaid set to a mural of one of the story’s underwater scenes.

  “Very clever. I’ve been over here several times, but I’d completely forgotten the mural. Okay, say cheese.” He removed the disposable camera from his basket.

  “Why does it have to be me?”

  “Surely, we’re not going to argue over who’s more photogenic. Come on, stand over there.”

  Rebecca did as she was told, but she aligned herself against one of the mermaids so it looked like she was the one with the fish tail.

  “Very nice.” He snapped the picture. When the photo came out of the camera, he shook it a few times, and together they watched it develop.

  “You make a great mermaid,” he said, his dimples dancing.

  “It would have been funnier if it were you.”

  “You’re right. Next time.” He smiled at her again, and she realized with a start that she was enjoying herself. Who would have guessed?

  They walked companionably to the center of Storytown, where they found Jim giving out clues. Dressed as Captain Hook, he seemed to be having trouble keeping the hooked glove from falling off his wrist.

  Eastman showed him their photograph, and Rebecca said, “Team number five.”

  Jim rearranged the hook on his right hand and consulted the clipboard he was holding. He said, “Oil the joints in my arms.”

  Rebecca nodded. “Thanks, Jim.”

  “Wizard of Oz?” Eastman asked Rebecca.

  “Yep. Let’s go.”

  On their way to The Wizard of Oz area, Eastman said, “It’s the Tinman, right?”

  She didn’t answer. She had caught sight of a young girl on the top floor of Rapunzel’s Castle, leaning a little too far from the window. The child had bunched up her long hair and thrown it outside, and appeared to be on the verge of climbing out. Before Rebecca could even think of how to deal with the situation and wonder why they didn’t have anything blocking the window, Eastman sprinted away from her. She hurried after him.

  Rebecca watched in horror as the child leaned further out the window. Meanwhile, Eastman took the castle steps two at a time. He grabbed the girl away from the window and carried her downstairs. Back down on the ground, he transferred her into her father’s arms and murmured a few words to him. The man shook Eastman’s hand and thanked him profusely.

  “Don’t mention it. I’m just glad I could help.” Eastman rejoined Rebecca, and they continued their journey toward The Wizard of Oz area.

  “That was incredible. I’ve never seen anyone move that fast,” Rebecca said.

  “It’s from playing softball. I never seem to hit the ball over the fence, but I do hit a lot of triples. I’m used to running the bases.”

  “Well, thank you. Needless to say, that could have had a bad ending. Not that she was too high up, but she could have gotten hurt. I thought we had something blocking the window. I need to look into that as soon as possible.”

  “You should. But adults have a responsibility of keeping an eye on their children as well. I used to be the director at a Boys and Girls Club in Connecticut, and the kids were always getting hurt if we didn’t watch them every second.”

  She looked at him, surprised. “You used to work at the Boys and Girls Club?”

  “Sure did. Okay, here we are.” They’d reached the statues of Dorothy and her traveling companions. He dipped into the Tinman’s oil can and drew out their next clue.

  Dumbstruck, Rebecca pondered his statement. He’d worked at the Boys and Girls Club? She’d just assumed he’d never worke
d anywhere but ThemeWorld. How extraordinary that he’d worked for a non-profit. She thought he was all about making money.

  “Okay, I think I’ve got this one,” Eastman was saying. “‘Once upon a time, when our grandfathers were little children, there was a doctor.’ That’s Doctor Dolittle for sure.”

  They walked down the Yellow Brick Road, passed through the Alice area, and made their way to the Doctor Dolittle set. Several clues peeked out of the mouth of the Pushmi-Pullyu statue.

  Rebecca read the next clue. “Take the face value of the first playing card nearest the Queen of Hearts and add the number of stepsisters Cinderella had. If the answer is ten or more, report to the shoe. If the answer is less than ten, seek out a guide.”

  “Hard one,” Eastman said.

  “Yeah, I just hope it isn’t too hard for the customers. Anyway, the playing cards are at the Alice in Wonderland maze. Let’s go.”

  They arrived, and Eastman said, “I can see the Queen of Hearts at the exit, but not the card next to it. Guess we’ll have to negotiate the maze.”

  “I haven’t gone through here since I was a child,” Rebecca said.

  “You have one up on me. I’ve never gone through it at all.”

  “I think it’s this way,” Rebecca said, pointing to their left.

  “No, I think it’s probably that way.” He pointed to their right. His eyes glinted, challenging her.

  “Okay, we’ll see who gets there first. Ready, set, go!”

  They went their own ways. Rebecca thought for sure she would lose after she took several wrong turns and ended up at dead ends. But she picked up her pace and arrived at the giant Queen of Hearts card first. Eastman showed up a couple of seconds later.

  “Well done,” he said.

  “That’s it? You’re not going to claim I cheated?”

  “No. But just for winning, you have to figure out the clue all by yourself.”

  “The card is a seven. But I forget how many stepsisters there were in Cinderella.” She appealed to him for help, but he just smiled and shook his head.

  “Do you know?” she asked.

  “I’m fairly sure.”

  “I really should spend more time in the park. I’m always tied up with paperwork and customer service. But I think it’s three. Everything in fairy tales comes in threes.”

  “So we go to the shoe. Come on.”

  They found Sara at the customer window.

  “Hi, guys,” she greeted them. “Having fun?”

  Sara’s self-satisfied look convinced Rebecca that her assistant had purposely thrown Eastman together with her. She frowned, but Sara just kept smiling.

  “We’re ready for our next clue. The answer is ten,” Eastman said.

  “Sorry. You’re wrong. The correct answer is nine.”

  Rebecca glanced at Eastman, and he smiled knowingly. “It was your call,” he reminded her.

  “Remember you can always use your key to listen to the storyboxes,” Sara said in what sounded like a rehearsed speech. “The one at the Cinderella set would have told you there are only two stepsisters.”

  Rebecca looked at Sara with admiration. Her assistant had done a commendable job on the hunt, seemingly anticipating every stumbling block.

  “Okay, let’s find Ben or Jim,” Rebecca said, and she and Eastman set off again.

  They found Ben first.

  “The answer is nine,” Eastman told him.

  “Team five,” Rebecca added, and Ben consulted his clipboard.

  “Now run along, and don’t get into mischief,” Ben said.

  Rebecca arched her brow. “Is that a clue or some kind of warning?”

  “A clue.”

  “Ben! That’s too hard!” Rebecca objected.

  “Talk to Sara if you run into problems.”

  Rebecca turned to go back to Sara, but Eastman stopped her. “Don’t give up so easily. We can figure this out.”

  He led her over to the bench at the Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary garden, and they sat down.

  “This is where it would be helpful to have a child with us,” Rebecca said. “It’s just been so long since I’ve read most of this stuff. I just reread The Wizard of Oz, but otherwise, I’m lost.”

  “The clue sounds vaguely familiar, though. I think I may have seen it written on one of the sets.”

  “Really? Can you remember where?”

  Eastman put his chin in his hands, and Rebecca admired his profile. Why did he have to be so handsome?

  He snapped his fingers. “I remember. Peter Rabbit.”

  “Of course! It’s what the mother told the rabbits at the beginning of the story. And you’re right. There are quotes from the story printed all over that set.”

  They headed over to the Peter Rabbit area. Tucked into the wire fence surrounding the vegetable garden were more clues. Eastman found theirs.

  He read, “Take the number of years Sleeping Beauty was asleep and subtract the number of munchkins along the Yellow Brick Road. If the result is 75 or less, report to the shoe. If the answer is greater than 75, find a guide.”

  “Okay. I know Sleeping Beauty slept for a hundred years,” Rebecca said.

  “Do you know how many munchkin statues there are?”

  “Not exactly. It’s a lot, though. It could be anywhere from twenty to thirty.”

  “Looks like we’re off to the Emerald City again.”

  They returned to The Wizard of Oz area and counted munchkins from the beginning of the Yellow Brick Road.

  At the Emerald City, they compared notes.

  “I counted twenty-five,” Rebecca said.

  “Me, too. Quick, let’s get back to Sara. Maybe we can actually win this thing.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up. I would have to disqualify myself if we came in first.”

  “Yes, but at least we would know we’d won.” He grinned at her to show he was kidding.

  Back at the shoe, Sara confirmed they had the right answer, and she handed them their next star-shaped clue.

  Take a photograph of one of you in a bed that is too small. Show the photograph to a guide to receive your next clue.

  Eastman gave Rebecca a questioning look.

  “This time I’m taking the picture,” she said.

  “You would really do that to me?”

  “You bet.”

  “Beneath that sweet exterior, you have quite a mean streak, don’t you?”

  “You’ve seen nothing yet. Let’s get going.” She led him over to the Goldilocks and the Three Bears set and into the house. She pushed him up the stairs and pointed to the smallest bed.

  “Get in,” she directed.

  He approached the bed and lay down on top of it, folding his long legs beneath him.

  Rebecca burst out laughing. “Oh, this is great. All you need is a stocking cap.”

  “Okay, okay. Just take the picture, will you, before this thing breaks?”

  Rebecca pulled out her camera and positioned her shot. She snapped the picture.

  Back in the center of the park, they showed Ben their photograph, and he handed them a chocolate bar.

  “This is my kind of clue,” Rebecca said and broke the bar in two. She handed one half to Eastman and bit into the other.

  “Look,” he said. “There’s a clue pasted into the wrapper.”

  Rebecca removed the clue, finished chewing, and read:

  At what holiday would you likely get chocolate? What other object is associated with that holiday? What fairy tale features this object as a mode of transportation?

  “My guess is Cinderella,” Eastman said. “Chocolate—Halloween. Halloween—pumpkins. Pumpkins—pumpkin coach.”

  “I think you’re right. Cinderella Courtyard it is.”

  Before they even reached their destination, Rebecca heard voices and laughter streaming from the general area. Inside the courtyard, a dozen adults and children clustered around a long table covered with food.

  “Guess we didn’t win,” Eastman whis
pered to her. He led her to the food table, and they each chose a hamburger and French fries.

  While they ate, the rest of the participants straggled in, and then Ben, Jim, and Sara arrived. Sara announced the winners and presented them with a hardcover edition of a collection of fairy tales.

  “Why so quiet?” Eastman asked Rebecca after a few minutes of them not speaking. “The event went well. Much better than I would have liked, as a matter of fact.” He gave her a dimpled smile.

  “I keep coming back to that girl at Rapunzel’s Castle. I can’t believe we don’t have something covering that window. How could I have missed that? What else around here is potentially dangerous?”

  “Relax, Rebecca. From what I’ve seen, the park is very safe. Just put some kind of grating over that window and you’ll be fine. And like I said before, the parents have to take some responsibility as well.”

  His tone was so gentle that Rebecca gave him a second look. He seemed completely sincere. What more surprises could she expect from Jonathan Eastman the Third?

  A half hour later, Rebecca did her best to focus on what Sara was saying, but she kept glancing at Eastman across the courtyard. Engaged in an animated discussion with an attractive woman with light blonde hair, he seemed completely in his element. A blue-eyed girl stood beside them, waving around one of the wands they sold at the shoe. Eastman threw back his head and laughed, and Rebecca’s throat closed up.

  She forced herself to stop looking at him. She was acting just like a jealous wife! What a ridiculous notion. He had a perfect right to talk—and even flirt—with another woman. It was none of her business.

  “Don’t you think?” Sara was saying.

  “What?”

  “Bec! Weren’t you listening?”

  “I’m sorry, Sara. What did you say?”

  “I said that I think the math questions were the best. The quotes were probably too easy.”

  “No. I think the mixture of clues was great. They were all just right.” Rebecca turned to her assistant. “Seriously, you did a great job. I’m very proud of you.”