FUN FROGS

Today the carnival came. Yesterday I was grounded by Sister Joan till next week. I don't care though. Tonight I can just climb out my window, and down the thick ivy that lines Madeline's House. Once it's dark I proceed with my plan. I can feel little legs scuttling over my fingers as they clench into the ivy. In there it must be a whole other world. The last couple of feet I just jump off the wall and land on the grass with a soft thump. My feet slap down the street, headed towards the pale glow coming around the corner. A wave of sound and smells hits me and joy wells up inside my chest. I only have around ten dollars which won't buy many tickets but the mannish lady behind the both croaks at me that I remind her of herself at my age and throws in five free tickets. I'm just going to assume she looked like a little boy. Inside the carnival is more like a mad house. Men are running about swallowing swords and fire, and a troop clowns keep bumping about in the crowd jostling everyone. The constant swaying and sickeningly oily smells coming from the food cart make me feel slightly queazy. I get out of the crowd as soon as I can and find myself by a small dark shack. a Skittish looking man is selling small bottles marked XXX. I can only assume it's some sort of alcohol. A woman approaches the booth so i quickly slip behind the side and peak around the corner. I'm not all that surprised to see it's Sister Joan slipping him a 20 dollar bill in an obviously sneaky way. After making sure she's well out of sight I decide to hve a few rounds of bumper cars and then head out. The bumper cars are my favorite part of carnivals. Most people complain about how they randomly come to a shuddering jolt but I seem to have some luck and never end up in those. Keezy Le'Breezy gets a crappy car three times in a row which throws him into a rage. He ends up tripping out of the ring while trying to show up some of his dance moves. My time in the carnival is euphoric if not queer, but it's time for me to go. As I leave the bright lights behind me I see that the whole block has lost power. The thought that this is odd doesn't occur to me until the next day, but luckly I know my way around here so well I don't need the light. The ivy is waiting on the side of Madeline's House for me to climb up. At the window I topple in and just lay there still thinking about what it's like between the ivy and the wall.