Walking towards the fairground feels so thrilling with every step we take. The blazing afternoon sun is bathing the buildings around in it's warm light. Tiny specks of dust seems to be dancing in it's shaft and the roads are shimmering in it's heat. The trees around the fairground are creating mysterious shadows being made by the dappled sun which is shining brightly.
"Bally have you ever been to the fair?" I ask him as we turn the final corner and my expectations and sheer suspense of this fair starts building to a peak.
"Yeah when I was a kid but I last attended them when I was eight years old. " He answers moving his eyes around. Sounds are pouring through the air and laser lights are lighting up the clouds making them seem somehow unearthly and weird because it's daytime. They look fantastic at night.
"Why? do you not fancy them?" I ask turning to look at him.
"No, I had nobody to bring me here because I was guarded most of the time. Bruce's father used to sneak me here but he died when I was eight. " I feel the ache in his voice and I unconsciously reach for his left arm, wrapping my hands around it as I lean my head against it and we saunter towards the huge wheel ahead of us.
We are following closely behind our team which consists of Dad, Cassandra, Na'zila, Bruce and Lodzin. Adding us into it we make a strong team of seven ahem! The wheel is shining like a circle of diamonds in the sky spangling bright and vivid even with the afternoon blazing sun.
"I'm so sorry Bally." I splutter still leaning my head on his arm. Ugh, I hate my pathetic height. The ballet flats I'm wearing are making me much shorter. Bally doesn't say anything and I notice that we're not moving. I move my eyes up to his face and I find him grinning widely down at me. "What? " I wheeze out astonished.
"You know you can hug me instead of suffocating my dear arm." He pulls his face into his common smug as his eyes dance amusedly.
"Stupid, like it breaths, I'm done huh." I let go of it as I swat it away and I start moving. He shakes his head chuckling and starts moving along with me.
Surely, the Brewster eye can't be bigger than this. How can they transport something this huge on the back of the lorry?
The next thing that hits me is the glorious warm smell unique to funfairs, that is the smell of a mingling of frying hotdogs, burgers, fried onions, candyfloss, coffee and diesel full. Imagine the combination of all those smells. Add the smell of sweat and different colognes and perfumes around. But it's a delight of senses that is, the lights, the smells and the thought of tastes I can get from those foods.
Even the very air feels electric as if it is alive and urging us to take part of it. We have already paid for the tickets at the main gate. We amble to the carousel ring and once we're there I'm asked to ride it with Lodzin and Ballice is asked to ride with Bruce. He refuses at first but after I give him a wink nodding my head, he gives in and we strap into our seats lodzin's weight weighing me down.
Yes, this is it, the already electrified air becomes much more alive and this time with more feelings. As the safety restraint descends over our shoulders, I feel more safe if that's the right word I can use in this about to start ride.
With a jolt, our necks are tossed backwards and off goes, twisting, turning, lights flashing like the vast strobes of concert. As the carousel's speed increases, we start moving higher and higher spinning round fast. I let every part of my body, soul and mind feel this moment.
Honestly, riding the carousel is for kids but I never grew up I bet, every year I do ride it with Lodzin even before he was born I used to ride it alone still. I'm not going to stop any soon, I guess so.
"Princess!" I hear Ballice shout beside me. Both Bruce and Lodzin are shouting their lungs off enjoying the moment.
"What my jerk." I blurt looking at his spinning figure but I doesn't miss the smirk that is growing on his face.
"Hmmm... your Jerk, I like the sound of that." Oh I said my Jerk, anyway I don't care he can as well be my jerk cause his jerkiness is only towards me.
"Yeah, damn, my head is spinning like shit!" I complain and the kids shout in chorus.
" Me too"
"Mine is not." He announces as the carousel speeds down and now I concentrate on the rock music gushing out of the giant speakers. "Woaahhh that was living to the fullest." I beam as the carousel lower us and I undo the straps disembarking. We join the others on the benches under the acacia tree at the corner of the fairground.
"I bet you enjoyed it with those looks ." Dad says and the kids starts chanting loudly how the ride was amazing. Dad has already bought lunch consisting of hotdogs, burgers, fries and different can sodas. I pick a hot dog and a fanta then move to seat next to Cassandra who has fries and her Sprite.
"You're now a big girl my dear, I can't believe you're the kid we left in Hudson thirteen years ago." She beams at me and I smile taking a bite of my hotdog.
"I can't remember a thing, it's been long really." I politely converse after swallowing the hotdog.
" Yeah sure you can't, Ballice can't too I bet, you used to call him chubby Bally."
" I did?" I puff looking at her.
" Yeah my dear, it was the nickname you gave him when you were three years old and you're the only one who used it." I don't know if that information is sweeter or bitter but my eyes have turned glassy.
"I wish I remember." I whisper wiping off a tear that has leaked.
" I do remember." Ballice's voice startles me as he takes a seat beside me.
" You do?" Cassandra asks excitement clear in her voice.
"Partly." He answers taking a bite of a burger.
I move my hand behind his back and squeeze it tightly making his back muscles tense.
"Eat, shortly we'll be dragged to the women's skillet throw contest at the horse ring." He groans mouth pointing Cassandra and Zila who're almost done eating.
Dad, Bruce and Lodzin are seated on a bench next to ours and Zila is seated next to Cassandra on the same bench we are on .
After our snacked lunch, true to Ballice's words, we are dragged to the horse show ring to watch women's skillet throw contest while Dad and the kids goes to the sheep and swine Barn to watch the open swine show.
***
It's five in the evening now, the evening sun is casting shadows on the ground and its slanting rays are giving a warm orange tinge to the sky which is ablaze with fire of it setting down behind the hills.
After watching the contest, we went horse riding and each one of us was forced to ride including dad. Next the kids participated in bike riding competition and to my surprise Bruce got the first position while Lodzin got the fourth position out of over sixty kids who took part in it.
"We should get going, it's six thirty." Dad's voice comes out and I open my eyes widely looking at him unbelievably.
"No way dad, the fair gets heated at night, you know very well its closing time is eleven." I say looking at him pleadingly, pulling in my best puppy look.
" No Tleigh, we're not teenagers like you." Zila chimes in standing up from her seat.
" The kids are exhausted, if you still want to live it, enjoy it with Bally, count us out." Cassandra adds as she stands up too.
" Dad can I? I don't want to go home yet. I want to watch over the hill, it's some youth contest at the main stage at 7:30." I look at him and he turns his gaze to Ballice.
"You too?"
Bally chuckles shaking his head. "I don't know it, but I think I can watch it ." He says and Dad let's out a heave.
" Okay take care you two, you'll drive her home, she'll show you our place, we are all leaving in my car." He says patting the kids' heads, they are now looking out of place.
"Cassandra and Bruce Will be spending the night at our place, you can join us for old times sake."Na'zila winks at Bally who smiles widely nodding instantly.
" I'll love to." He responds looking at me still leering. Imbecile!
"Okay, Tleigh you know your curfew is at ten, don't forget that." Dad reminds me and I nod my head as he throws Lodzin over his shoulder and they all start moving to the main gate, Cassandra carrying Bruce on his back too.
Night, you better be fabulous!
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