Santa’s Village – Aiding A Known Fugitive
Archive - Andrew's JunkAuthor: Andrew Traweek
*The names of the accused have been changed to protect their identities.
Blippo was our maintenance supervisor. He seemed like a nice guy, but could become overbearing at times. I remember, he was the one that trained me on my first three attractions at that park.
He was an older man; I’d say 60-years old. He was big, and had an imposing presence. But no one ever took his overbearing nature as hatred.
But things changed suddenly one day. This took place maybe two-weeks after I had taken the helm of the Monorail. I was still very serious about my job, and didn’t dare do anything to screw up.
I didn’t have a car at the time, so I had to carpool to work with my brother and his Amazonian girlfriend. We were packed into her 1992 Volkswagen Rabbit, and the windows were steaming up. Just my luck; I was trapped in the back seat with a girl that had been trying to get in my pants for the past three years. She wasn’t cute… wasn’t ugly. She just wasn’t my type.
As we entered the parking lot, we noticed four Sheriff vehicles parked near the meadow. Hmm. Wonder what they were there for?
We did the normal routine. Clocked in, got something to eat in the Pantry, and I hit on a couple of cute girls I worked with. Every day was like that.
Well, 9:30am rolled around, and I headed up to the Monorail. I came up the exit stairs when I noticed an old man huddling in the corner of the control area. It was Blippo.
“Get down, boy!” he whispered in an assertive voice, “seen any Smokies?”
What? Was he insane?
“Um, no I haven’t” I replied, somewhat confused.
I had seen cops that day, but it was easier to say no. Before I could press this hardened criminal for details, he told me to start the ride inconspicuously, and keep an eye out for Sheriff’s deputies.
I saw two of them heading up the hill. I told Blippo about this, and I could see fear overtake his face. He must have done something bad.
After the two deputies had passed, he rose out of his corner, and headed in to the kitchen supply store next to the Puppet Show.
“Phew,” I thought. It was over.
Or so I thought.
About five minutes later, I receive an encrypted phone call.
“Rudolph One, you see any Smokies?”
“Um, no I don’t.”
“Do you think it’s clear enough to make a run for it?”
“Um… suuuurrrrre.”
He hung up, and I didn’t see him the rest of the day.
An hour or so later, two Deputies came up to my ride and began asking questions. They typical stuff: Do you know who Blippo is? Have you seen him today? Blah Blah Blah?
I was rather curious at what this guy had done to warrant the use of at least ten deputies for a manhunt. What I was told made me feel horrible.
He and his wife were involved in a domestic dispute the night before, in which Blippo had lost control, and stabbed her.
After hearing this, I told them that he had been hiding on my attraction, and he ran when I saw him.
They left the park that day without detaining their suspect.
Later, I found out that they had arrested him thirty-minutes later about a mile down the road. As far as I know, he served 12-months for aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon, and evading arrest. I have no clue where Blippo is today, nor do I really care.