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My old Levi's scrunch up tightly by my thighs. They are way too small, but I haven't been able to afford a new pair this summer. Working at the ?Buck's Burger and Fries? hasn't helped me much at all.
At least I have this moment to enjoy myself.
?Hey, Justin, do you want to go on the Ferris wheel with me?? I ask, too desperately.
I grab his arm and yank on it. Hard.
?Sure, babe.? He says, laughing.
My jacket makes a crunchy sound as it hits his bare arm. I don't understand how he isn't freezing, but I'm not going to ask.
?So, uh, how long have you been doing this?? Third date in my mind is where all the bad things come out. I just hope he doesn't have any.
?Oh, just a couple of weeks. It's really just to get money for college. My parents won't pay for mine, how ?bout you?? Phew. Not a total weirdo.
?Aw yeah, they won't do that for me either. But I think I can manage. At least hopefully,? I laugh loudly. ?You never know these days.? I laugh again.
Okay, I get it. Dating a part time clown is weird. Really weird to some. But, I mean, it's not that weird.
He's nice, smart, and funny. He also gets free passes to all of the carnivals he participates in, so that's a bonus.
I breathe in, and out. ?I haven't been to one of these in ages.? I say.
?I know right? When I first thought of the job I thought it was totally the weirdest thing ever, but no other jobs were open.? Good, he agrees with me.
I look around at my surroundings again This whole carnival is set like the 1960's, with all the rides looking old and rusted. I mean, there are even clowns. Who has clowns at a carnival in the year 1986? Not me.
They're creepy too. I've seen Justin with his mask on, and it looks like something you would see in a cheap haunted house you go to with your friends.
The classic carnival music stirs around every corner, and you can hear people winning, and losing, games. Lights shine everywhere, so bright they nearly blind you. There's even a fun house in the corner, 1$ per person. Cheapskates.
I look around more and see a food stand. It makes my stomach growl when I see it.
?Hey look! Corn Dogs! Let's go get some!? I yell, pulling at his arm once again.
?Yeah, and don't forget the funnel cake!? He says, coming along with me.
?Yes!? I say, giggling my best giggle.
We both laugh after that. Quietly though, so he doesn't hear.
The ride starts, and once it does we both jerk back and laugh harder.
The ride is fast at first, then soon slows down.
?Holy crap, was he for real?? He says, after we are far enough from the ground.
We sit in silence for a minute.
?So, when did your mom say to bring you home?? He asks, brushing back his hair.
?From now to eleven PM.? I say, breathing in the cool and refreshing air.
?Well, the carnival ends at nine, so we could do something afterwards if you wanted.? He says.
We reach the top, and start to go back down. No kiss then.
Once the ride is over, we talk for a moment. His life, my life. The usual.
I was hoping to avoid the fun house, but he's done a lot for me, so I might as well.
?That sounds fun!? I say, faking a smile.
We head there, give the girl at the front our ticket, and go in.
There was a part where we had to go through a devil's mouth, and the paint of it was chipped up and really needed a new paint job.
And that was it.
A freaking dollar wasted on that.
We then found the ?secret door,? and there was a sign on it that said ?employees only? on it.
There really was the woods out there. With lots, and lots of trees. I'm talking lots.
?Hey, Justin, I'm kinda scared. I think we should go back.? I say, goosebumps all over my arms, even with my jacket. The wind whistling, the leaves falling all around us.
It was far from romantic. It was horrifying.
?But, babe. The fun is just starting.?
I turn around to see Justin, but instead I see that awful clown mask. And a knife in his hand.
My blood boils and I shiver from head to toe. I stay there, frozen.
I manage to get what feels like a scream out, but I'm sure no one could hear it.
He comes closer, and so does his hand, which just brings the knife closer to me.
I finally realize what is happening and run. Not into the forest, but through the fun house.
And he chases after me.
The music and obstacles in my way only make it harder. I don't dare turn around, too scared to see what is there.
My breath slows and I start to sweat. I was never one for exercise and it isn't helping me know.
Once I finally get out, I scream. Louder than I ever have.
I look back, but Justin doesn't come out of the fun house.
I run over to the woman before she can reach me.
?He's-he's a clown.? I stutter.
The woman looks at me.
?What? We don't have any clowns at this carnival.?
I was breathing heavily.
Heard the guests talking like they had never ever met before. Mumbling, whispering, screeching, screaming and other witchcraft I didn't know.
I waited outside before the large rusted wooden door. It had a gorgeous professional looking doorknob which was endorsed with a golden pattern. I was mesmerised. ( Weird, huh? Thought so, too.) I mean it was pretty after all, right? Of course, how stupid of me. You weren't there. So, I stepped a little farther and hid behind a humungous tree filled with juicy, ripe, fresh green apples. They were my favourite fruit! What a coincidence.
The couple glanced at me, and I was so embarrassed. My clothes would make someone to barf. Yeah, it's that horrible. I wore a short dress with ruffles at the end. It had a pretty lace belt, and I liked it. It was quite old, because I couldn't afford to buy a new dress. It meant extra $$$. And, it was bad enough that I had to buy a big, elegant gift as well. I wore studs, pretty boring, but the most attractive thing about my outfit was my bracelet. It belongs to my mom, and before she passed away, she passed it on to me. I still remember the exact words she told me. She said, ? Honey, listen to me carefully. DON'T EVER LOSE THIS BRACELET. It has been passed on for many generations now, and if you do lose it, I hope you keep in mind the disappointment you have brought upon yourself from your dearest mother, grandma, and great grandma. So, I hope that you take my advice and wear it to adorn yourself.? She smiled until she reached her cheekbones and said afterwards, ? Wanna go get some takeaways, sweetie pie?? Wow, mom, what a nice way to end the night after you scared me to death with your speech. P.S. I love you so much.
I took a few breaths and took a quick peak at the hall. Ahhh! They were soo many people inside, dressed as if they were going to attend a business meeting. I was sweating all over profusely and my brain got all mushed up, for sure. Yeah... welcome to my world good people. I got up, dusted off my gut to make sure I didn't look filthy and I took a step forward Then I took one backwards. Then my head went through a flashback.
Back to 2004. It was a night just like this, and as my usual self I was panting, biting my nails, moving my legs in all directions, and looked left, right, left, right... You get the idea. I was a nervous freak, and my eyes got blurry. Vision is going under attack, mayday mayday!! Yikes, my makeup was even ruined. Oof. It did not look good for me AT ALL. See, this is how my body and brains works. Anxious, cray cray, cray cray, oh wait.. did I repeat? My bad. I saw someone approaching me, oh no! This was WAY worse!
He looked at me quietly. He held out his hand, without muttering a word. I glanced at him, wiping my almost- running tears, and stared at him like he was crazy too. He smiled, and kept holding his hand out. I doubted him, but I doubted myself even more. I slowly, very slowly held my hand out too, and he put his hand on top of mine. He held it tightly and helped me to get up. ( What a stubborn girl, huh?) I smiled too, but big this time, ( corny alert!) He led me bit by bit onto the red carpet ( yeah, how fancy, am I right?), and then into the halls.
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