Life's Golden Ticket by Brendon Burchard Page A

if I were a little thick. “That maybe it’s time you stopped feeling small and weak.” He looked at Henry and then back at me. “Well, it’s time I got going too. You keep learning—and stay with Henry. So long,” he said and walked away.
    I turned to Henry to apologize for leaving, but he spoke first.
    â€œListen,” he said softly, “I’m sorry about Harsh. That was my fault. I pushed him to challenge you. Sounds like he went too far.”
    â€œYeah . . . but don’t worry about it.” I paused awkwardly for a moment, not knowing what to say. “Harsh said something my father once said to me. How did he know those words?”
    â€œThe park works in mysterious ways,” Henry said. “You hear what you need to hear sometimes. I know what happened with you and your father, what you told the wizard, and I think I have something you need to hear. Are you willing to listen?”
    I was shocked that he knew about what I told the wizard. But that feeling passed quickly. Nothing surprised me too much about this place anymore. “I’m listening.”
    Henry nodded toward the elephants. “I think that you need to forgive your father and yourself and everyone else who has hurt you.” He turned to me and spoke passionately. “You need to break free from the fear and suffering and anger that you have chained to the past. Because those emotions are holding you back from living freely. They’re holding you back from venturing into new territories. They’re holding youback from being who you were meant to be. It’s time you used your smarts and your strength.”
    I shook my head. “I know, Henry. I know. It’s just . . . that’s easier said than done.”
    â€œThat’s why it’s time for us to go see your father,” he said.

10
THE PIRATE SHIP
    I rushed after Henry as he walked away. “What? Did you just say we’re going to see my father?”
    â€œI did,” he said. “Now, no more questions. Just come with me. And think about what you want to say to him.”
    We walked north, beyond the animal keep and back onto the main walkway that went around the park. The crowds were back. We kept walking, past a bumper boat ride teaming with screaming children, past a merry-go-round playing calliope music. Stopping on a sea-blue, crescent moon–shaped platform, we gazed up at a big wooden pirate ship. Two towers rose above the ship, one on either side; the ship’s mast ran up to the height of the towers. Stairs rose up into a square entrance cut into the side of the hull.
    Throngs of people passed behind us, and a knot of teenagers complained and cursed when they saw a sign hanging by a chain across the entrance: RIDE CLOSED .
    Henry pointed up to the ship. “Think of it as a pendulum. Below the platform is a big wheel with a tire that spins against the bottom of the ship, giving it momentum, making it swing. Kids really like this ride. They sit in seats, and the ship swings higher and higher. Weused to give them shields and swords and eye patches, but we quit because too many kids would throw the stuff overboard. Anyway, the ride is closed because they’ve taken all the seats out to sand the floor.”
    Henry called loudly up toward the entrance, “Willy! You in there, Willy?”
    A man in a red bandanna and white-and-black-striped shirt leaned over the side of the ship. He wore an eye patch. “Ahoy, down there! Who be callin’ me name?” Staring down at us, he opened his mouth in surprise, then pulled off his eye patch and squinted. “ Henry? ”
    Willy unhooked the chain at the entranceway, bounded down the stairs, and gave Henry a great bear hug, spinning him in circles. “Henry, you old landlubber! You’ve returned!” He let Henry loose and looked him in the eyes. “Then it’s time?”
    Henry nodded. “We’ll talk later. For now,