The Ride of My Life - A childhood story

I stood in the line quietly. The pressure was building up as the roar from inside the room grew louder. I was waiting for this moment the whole summer and now it was only a few minutes away. People in line ahead of me were smoking cigarettes. Was there something they knew that I did not? I started to study the looks on the faces of those around me. I don't think anyone knew what to expect. There were some smiles, some frowns, and every so often people with the most petrified looks on their faces would get off the line and walk passed us. I wasn't going to let anything discourage me.
My fri…