“It’s… smaller than the map,” he whispered. His fingers started fluttering near his ears—his telltale sign of rising anxiety. The shrieks from the big slides echoed off the concrete, a cacophony that was starting to overwhelm him.

For the next four hours, Maya and Leo had the best day of their summer. They floated the lazy river five times. Leo braved the “small but mighty” slide—a junior slide DeMarcus recommended. Maya even got to dash up to the “Twister Serpent” by herself while Leo watched the waterfall, happy and safe.

The day arrived, hot and hazy, the air thick with humidity and the smell of sunscreen and fried dough. They bolted through the gates, past the towering “Twister Serpent” and the “Huntsville Hurricane.” But Leo stopped at the edge of the “Lil’ Sippy Creek,” a small play area for toddlers. His shoulders slumped.

Leo shook his head, staring at the ground.