Stuck on the ferris whee.., p.8
Stuck on the Ferris Wheel, page 8
Camping came next. Phil convinced his parents to take him and Joey to a nearby state park, where they pitched a tent and cooked marshmallows over a crackling fire. The woods were dark and unfamiliar, and the sounds of rustling leaves and distant owls made Phil’s heart race. But as he lay in his sleeping bag, staring up at the stars through the tent’s mesh roof, he felt a deep sense of peace.
Even at school, Phil found himself stepping out of his comfort zone. When Mrs. Gibbons announced a class project on community service, Phil volunteered to lead a group presentation about helping local charities. Standing in front of his classmates still made his palms sweat, but he channeled the confidence he had gained from the Ferris wheel. By the end of the presentation, he was grinning from ear to ear.
Each goal on his list became a story, and each story reminded Phil of the power of dreaming big. The Ferris wheel had been the start of something much larger—a journey of self-discovery and growth. And while not every challenge went perfectly (he fell off the rock wall more than once!), each one taught him something valuable.
One evening, as Phil added a new goal to his list—“Write a book about the Ferris wheel”—his mom peeked into his room.
“Still dreaming big?” she asked, smiling.
Phil nodded. “Always. I think I want my next dream to be about helping other people. Like the workers on the Ferris wheel. They were the real heroes.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” his mom said. “You’ve got the heart for it, Phil.”
He grinned, his pen hovering over the page. “Maybe I’ll start with something small, like organizing a fundraiser at school. And then... who knows?”
As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Phil’s list grew longer, each dream leading to new adventures and discoveries. The Ferris wheel had taught him that life’s greatest moments often come from unexpected challenges, and he was ready to face them all.
Gary David, Stuck on the Ferris Wheel
