Page 44 of Tasty Cherry

“Awwww,” Brooklyn whines.

“In due time.”

The doors slide open, and Brooklyn and I both gape at the interior. A thousand tiny mirrors are mounted to the walls, almost as if you’re stepping inside a disco ball.

A happy voice says, “Please scan your room card. The elevator will magically take you to the correct floor!” Then in a slightly more serious tone, “If anyone in your party is affected by blinking lights, press any button for a silent, easy ride.” And back to the bright tone. “Let’s party like a princess!”

“Yes, let’s!” Brooklyn begins dancing as the music fills the space and a cascade of stars flash from a projector near the ceiling.

The whole room becomes a disco in colored lights and mirrors.

Sebastian grins at Brooklyn and scans his card.

The lights shut off.

“Awwww,” Brooklyn says.

The voice says, “Welcome, staff member. Please choose a floor.”

Sebastian presses the 12.

“We can’t get the music back?” Brooklyn asks.

He laughs. “Only on a guest ID.”

“Bummer.”

We zip up three floors, where we’re stopped.

When the doors open, a little girl dressed like Jasmine holds the hand of an older, almost-teen brother. “This is it,” he tells her. “The last time I’m going to do this.”

The girl looks up at us. “I like the dance party.”

“We’re going up,” Sebastian says.

“We have a friend on the tenth floor,” the boy says. “We shared cards so Tiffany could go up and down all she wanted.”

Sebastian nods.

“Where’s the dance party?” Tiffany asks.

“Scan your card and it will start,” Sebastian says, his voice kind.

Something in me uncurls.

When the boy scans the key card, the voice says, “If anyone in your party is affected by blinking lights, press any button for a silent, easy ride.”

“Don’t press any buttons!” Tiffany yells. She turns to Sebastian. “He killed the party yesterday.”

“I wanted to test it!”

Then the lights and music begin. Tiffany starts to dance.

Brooklyn apparently can’t help herself, and starts swinging her arms with her.

“That’s right!” Tiffany yells. “I got a princess friend!”

“You bet you do!” Brooklyn shouts.

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