The Height Of Unreason

(I’m running a ride that has a four-foot height limit, due to the speeds at which it spins and the types of harnesses used for the seats. A guest is waiting at the front of the line with his daughter, who is clearly too small to ride. I am resetting all of the safety locks for the next ride, and I hear my coworker talking to the guest.)

Coworker: “All right, sir, I’m going to have to double-check her height. I’m pretty certain she’s too small to ride.”

Customer: “Oh, she’ll be fine. I’ll be sitting with her.”

Coworker: “No, sir, you can’t do that. I have to check her height.”

(With a bit of a cross look on his face, he tells his daughter to stand next to the measuring pole. She’s a good six inches too short.)

Coworker: “I’m sorry, sir; I can’t let her ride. She’s simply too small.”

Customer: “Dude, seriously? I’m right here. I’ll be holding her the whole time.”

Coworker: “I can’t let her ride.”

(At this point, he’s holding up the line, and the customers behind him are getting impatient.)

Customer: “Dude, it’s her birthday and we just waited for an hour to get on this ride. Just let her go this time.”

Coworker: “My hands are tied. She can’t ride.”

Customer: “I’m not moving. She’s going to ride.”

(He pretty much has the attention of everyone in line by now. I come over.)

Me: “Listen, sir, I need to get this line moving. Just let me get this straight: you’re telling me that you’re going to willingly endanger your daughter’s life for the low, low price of a ride pass? Fine, by all means.”

(The man goes red in the face before wordlessly picking up his daughter and walking out of the line.)