00
of ten
Carnival
Paint your piece of the show. Ten attractions hang along the midway, and every one is a wall painted by a small troupe, one piece each, while the bulbs hum and the wheel keeps turning.
The Ticket Booth
on the poster the carnival gate at blue dusk, a great arch of glowing bulbs over the entrance, the midway shining beyond it, the big wheel turning far back.
in the ring a tiny ticket booth with a striped roof and a long patient line, the seller accepting strange fares, one guest paying with a seashell, one with a joke whispered through the window, one offering a somersault, a monkey stamping the back of every hand.
in your hand one paper ticket in close view held up in two fingers, blank and glowing faintly gold at its edges, confetti drifting past it.
The Carousel Break
on the poster the carousel pavilion at night, its crown of lights slowed to a lazy spin, brass poles catching the glow, the midway soft behind.
in the ring the painted horses off duty between rides, one grazing a small patch of grass beside the platform, one being brushed down by the operator, one strolling with its brass pole like a walking stick, a real pony waiting in line for a turn at being wooden.
in your hand one carved horse head in close view with a fresh daisy tucked into its painted bridle, a moth resting on its ear.
The Strongest Man
on the poster a striped strongman stage under two warm floodlights, the crowd a ring of lit faces against the dark, pennants stirring overhead.
in the ring the strongman mid act lifting a barbell stacked with everything the crowd handed him, a bicycle, a birthday cake, a grandmother waving from her chair, his mustache perfectly calm, an assistant chalking his other hand.
in your hand one enormous hand in close view balancing a single teacup on one finger, pinky raised, steam curling up into the lights.
The Hall of Mirrors
on the poster a mirror maze pavilion glowing from inside, its entrance an arch of soft silver light, velvet ropes holding a wobbly queue.
in the ring guests laughing between the tall mirrors while their reflections misbehave, one reflection taking a bow while its owner stands still, one stretched tall as a ladder to fetch a lost balloon, two reflections quietly swapping hats.
in your hand one mirror edge in close view where a reflected hand reaches out of the glass to return a dropped cone of candy floss.
The Fortune Teller
on the poster a small violet tent stitched with silver stars, lantern light leaking through its seams, the wheel lights blurred far behind.
in the ring the fortune teller at her round table finding tomorrow in a fresh scoop of popcorn, pointing at one kernel with great ceremony, a customer leaning in close, the crystal ball wearing a tiny knitted cap, a cat assistant watching the kernels with professional doubt.
in your hand one popped kernel in close view held up in ringed fingers like a jewel, glowing warm in the lantern light.
The Ring Toss
on the poster a prize wall glowing under a row of bulbs, shelves of enormous plush animals watching the game like a seated audience.
in the ring the ring toss in a friendly dispute, one ring balanced impossibly across two bottles at once, the stall keeper scratching his head, a goldfish refereeing sternly from its bag, a kid already celebrating with both fists up.
in your hand one red ring in close view frozen mid flight above the bottle necks, every bottle leaning slightly to watch it pass.
The Ghost Train
on the poster the ghost train facade painted with cheerful cardboard horrors, its little tunnel mouth glowing green, empty cars rattling along the rail.
in the ring the ghosts on their break between trains, one gently checking a rider's safety bar, one practicing a boo into a hand mirror, one pouring tea for the skeleton prop, the next carload of riders grinning in delighted fake terror.
in your hand one small white sheet ghost in close view politely lifting its hem to show fuzzy slippers underneath.
The Candy Weather
on the poster the candy floss stall under a striped awning, its copper drum spinning up a pink cloud far bigger than the stall itself.
in the ring cotton candy escaping as weather, small pink clouds drifting down the midway and raining soft sprinkles, children catching them on paper cones like snowfall, the vendor hooking one cloud back with a long cane.
in your hand one paper cone in close view catching a little pink cloud, a single sprinkle landing on an outstretched thumb.
The Great Wheel
on the poster the whole midway small and glowing below, tents like lit candies along the paths, the night wide and salted with stars.
in the ring the great wheel mid turn with every gondola full of small stories, one couple sharing popcorn, one kid fast asleep on a shoulder, one gondola riding alone full of balloons, the top car high enough to make the nearest stars flicker.
in your hand one gondola door latch in close view, warm brass, a ticket stub tucked under it fluttering in the height wind.
The Fireworks Finale
on the poster the midway at closing time, the crowd turned upward in silhouette, every bulb dimmed low to let the sky perform.
in the ring fireworks blooming over the big wheel in carnival colors, their reflections riding across every gondola window, the ride operator watching with his cap held over his heart, one dog barking at the biggest bloom.
in your hand one lit sparkler in close view held in a mittened hand, tracing a bright circle that hangs in the air a moment too long.
Wet paint over the midway. Seats open under the lights.
The tent is quiet. Raise the first banner.
the goldfish has never lost
Last call.
The bulbs go down one string at a time, and the wheel never quite stops.
