The Diving Bell

She was 8 years old, and not very brave. It was a very hot July Saturday, and her cousin had spent the last week in Atlantic City dancing in a show called Tony Grant's Stars of Tomorrow. She was a dancer, and loved performing.  Her cousin Katherine was a few years older, and maybe a bit more independent. Karen was the baby of the family, but that was about to change. Her mother wasn't on this trip because the new baby was due very soon. Karen wanted a sister, but back then, no one new until the actual day of the birth. For now, she was having a sister. 

She had traveled to Atlantic City to pick up her cousin with her aunt, and her other cousin Michael, who had cerebral palsy. He was very smart, and loved to laugh, but he did not walk very

well. After picking up Katherine, they spent time on the Steel Pier. Back in 1967, this was the place to hang. The Boardwalk had all the smells that we have all become so familiar with over the years, and the entertainment was beyond incredible. Karen was so overstimulated by the entire atmosphere, and she couldn't wait to do everything. "Aunt Lorraine, can we go see the diving horse?" Karen excitedly shouted. Her aunt nodded, and

Karen ran off in the direction of the incredible diving horse. The diving horse was just that. A huge horse jumped off a platform into a pool below. Amazing! "Karen, stop running. I

don't want to lose you. Your mother would not be happy if I didn't bring you home with me."

"Hurry up," Karen answered back. Katherine and Michael were strolling along. They were not moving

fast enough for Karen. They finally took a seat at the show, and they were not disappointed. The horse was the finale, and the rest of the show was more or less a clown/diving show. Clowns dressed in multi-colored, almost roaring twenties bathing suits did flips off the boardwalk into the ocean. Karen was thoroughly enjoying the day. As they walked out of the arena. Katherine saw a sign that said, "Diving Bell." They checked into it, and decided to give it a try. The diving bell was the submarine type apparatus that submerged itself deep into the Atlantic Ocean. The perimeter was

surrounded by port holes that you could use the see the natural habitat of northeastern Atlantic sea-life. Katherine and Karen proceeded to the line and purchased their tickets. Her aunt decided that it might be a little difficult for Michael to get on and off, so he sat this one out.  Later, that proved to be a very good

decision. The next drop was going to be in a few minutes, so the girls sped to the bell. Aunt Lorraine stood on the pier smiling and waving at the girls as they climbed in the open side door. There were only 12 people allowed in at once, and there was a port hole for everyone. The motor started, and the Bell began its decent into the Atlantic Ocean. Karen was looking out her port hole

and asked, "What am I supposed to be seeing?" Katherine answered her, "You're looking for fish." "It's all dark,"

Karen replied back. Apparently, the Atlantic Ocean was very murky that day, and the diving bell port holes weren't revealing any mysteries of the sea. Karen was disappointed, but tried to enjoy the rest of the ride. The guide told everyone to hold on because it was time to return to the pier. The bell started to ascend, and just as the top of the bell popped out of the water, there was a thud that shook everyone inside, and the bell stopped. They didn't hear the

motor anymore. Inside, people started to question what had happened. The guide talked into a radio, and it didn't sound good. Apparently, the electricity on the entire pier went out.

The guide spoke, "Please everyone, calm down. The pier has had a power outage, and we are at a standstill for now. It won't take long to get it running again." The guide continued to say that there was an escape hatch at the top. and they would be opening that for some air. After the top hatch was opened, Karen looked up and realized that the pier was about 20 feet above the bell. They were stuck. She wondered how they were going to get back up there. She started to cry. She was the only one crying, and Katherine was trying to keep her quiet. After about a half an hour

passed, they were still down there. Karen was still crying, and Katherine was still making the best of the situation. She started to hear sirens. "Are we on fire? She yelled hysterically. The guide assured her they were not on fire, but the truck was coming to help them. Within minutes. the firemen had lowered a ladder from the pier to the top of the bell, and lowered a rope. One firefighter was stationed on the top of the bell. His job was to assist

everyone with tying the rope around their wastes and climbing up the ladder. Karen was first. Through her tears, she listened to his directions. He helped her with the rope, and then followed behind her, step by step as she climbed the ladder. She had never been so scared in all her life, and she had never been up close and personal with a firefighter before. When they climbed to the top of the ladder, another fireman pulled Karen off the ladder, and handed her over the divider to her aunt, who was anxiously waiting for them to be saved. Michael would have never been able to make it up the ladder, so she was very grateful at that moment. Katherine climbed up shortly after, and jumped off the ladder, almost like a dance move. They waited for everyone to safely climb the

fire ladder, and then the crowd dispersed. The family started to walk away, when Karen turned around and ran to the fireman and threw her arms around him, hugged him tight, and thanked him

for saving her life. She was very dramatic, even for an eight-year-old. She ran back to her family, and they continued to walk the pier. Within minutes, the power on the pier came back full force. All the familiar sounds were back, and for some reason, Karen thought the smells were more delicious. They stopped for

ice cream, and sat on a bench to rest and eat. The music was nice. It was a fun tune that made them all look behind them. Katherine squealed with delight when she saw that they were sitting directly in front of the Ferris wheel. She started to yell, "Mom, can we go non the Ferris wheel. Michael can go on this one too. Can we go?"

Her mom gave her the answered she wanted.

"Of course, you can," and she handed her the money for tickets. Karen looked at her cousin and said, "Don't buy me one!"