DeSanctis 1

Grace DeSanctis
Professor McLaughlin
Writing and Rhetoric
11 September 2015
SuperPoncho!
Arriving at the main entrance of the park, there were no other cars in sight. And when
Disney World has no lines, you have to know somethings up. However, we were already 12
hours into our jam packed day and all in exceptionally drowsy states that this peculiarity wasnt
questioned. My glazed over eyes began to slowly shut out the world around me, which is why
the first few drops went unnoticed. But the deafening sound of hundreds of gallons of water
being deflected in all directions by the metal body of the car abruptly awoke everyone from our
trances. The windows blurred our view of the outside world as if we were in a car wash as we
were then forced to make a decision. Should we stay or should we go?
Arguments broke out, which in my family, can mean the start of World War III.
Lets just go back to the hotel and get some pizza, suggested my brilliant and complex
brother, Robert.
Not a chance! We already paid for these tickets and are darn well gonna get our money's
worth, my mom snapped back.
You know, I could go for a slice right now. My dad chimed in, yet instantaneously
received one of my moms infamous looks.
Uhh on second thought, I think your moms right. These tickets cost your mother and I a
lot of money.
Wow nice save, dad, sarcastically cried Robert.

DeSanctis 2
Um hello, I just bought this shirt in epcot yesterday. I dont want to ruin it! my sister,
Julia, pronounced as she gave a horrified glance out the window.
Water wont ruin a shirt, reciprocated my mom.
I was caught in the middle of this rapid spitfire with no opinion of my own because,
frankly, 15 year olds dont enjoy doing anything with their family. So I really couldnt say how
or when the decision was made in the midst of this screaming match but before I knew it, my
family and I were sprinting to the shelter of the tram. Taking our seats, you could cut the tension
between us with a knife.
Pulling up to the drop off, the floridian monsoon slowed to your average rainfall, giving
us all some glimmer of hope. The first thing we did was head straight to the gift shop where we
purchased the glorious family pack of Mickey Mouse ponchos. Yes, we instantly became one of
those tourist families you know and love. My mom distributed our identical outfits on the
sidewalk outside the store and we all reluctantly dressed. To this day, Im convinced tinkerbell
sprinkled some of her magic fairy dust on these ponchos because the overall mood changed so
drastically from that point forward.
I look like a trash bag. Robert said as he viewed his reflection in the glass window
pane. We all burst out laughing.
Do you ever feeeeeeel like a plastic bagggg drifting through the winddddd wanting to
start againnn. I belted out, pretending my water bottle was a microphone and the sidewalk my
stage.
This must be documented, exclaimed Julia. And it was just like that. A family so
divided only moments prior were arm in arm in front of cinderellas castle, identical in
appearance and proud.

DeSanctis 3
Cheeeeeeeese!
It was finally time to hit the rides. And guess what? The rain had pretty much stopped
approximately 30 seconds after removing the tags of our ponchos. However, as if it were some
unspoken rule, we all never even mentioned the possibility of taking them off. And besides, we
felt indebted towards these inanimate objects that truly saved the night from ultimate disaster. So
the ponchos made the trip onto Splash Mountain, flapping in the wind as we descended the
largest drop, shielding us from any wave of water created by the car. Later, the ponchos
accompanied us onto Its a Small World. But if it was one thing those ponchos couldnt do, it was
protecting us from getting that repetitive song stuck in our heads.
Our epic excursion from ride to ride was only interrupted when we passed an ice cream
stand. Biting into one of the protruding ears of my Mickey Mouse ice cream bar, I was no longer
upset that it wasnt seventy-five degrees and sunny. Instead, I was utterly grateful towards my
Mickey Mouse poncho that was shielding me from a mixture of residual raindrops dripping off
the roofs and any melted vanilla ice cream flowing off of the Popsicle stick in my hand. It is
difficult to recall a time where I felt as close to my family as I did that damp Floridian night.
Although I will never be caught dead in this horrendous piece of plastic, Ill be able to
keep the memory of my family, arm in arm on Main Street, Disney World in the wooden drawer
of my new modular furniture 700 miles from home.