The Carnival

Chapter 1
Chapter 1

Setting: A small town somewhere in America. A carnival has came to town and setup, most unexpectedly. Usually, nothing ever happens in this sleepy little town called Leonsburg.

THE CARNIVAL

Janie had finally managed to get permission to go to the mysterious carnival. The carnival had came in the wee hours of the morning and quickly set up its compliment of rides and attractions. Many of the rides appeared to be antiques, intricately decorated.

Janie was 14 and had hopes of finding a boyfriend. In fact, she was obsessed with the idea! It wasn’t that she was unattractive. She was quite pretty for her age. Her problem was her older sister. Susan was 17 and quite the ’looker’. Most people figured that she would find a career as a model or an actress now that she had graduated from school. Her whole life was a succession of Beauty Pageants and Queen Contests. ...And she always won! To make matters worse she never seemed uppity at all. She remained down to the earth even though everyone thought she was the most beautiful girl they had ever seen. And THAT was Janie’s problem! As soon as any boy that showed interest in her found out that she was Susan’s ’little’ sister, that was all they could focus on. Janie, possibly more from jealousy than reality, would end up breaking off any budding relationships because she would accuse her ’beau’ of being ’stuck’ on Susan.

On this day, Janie wanted to go to the carnival. It was a chance to maybe to meet a new boy. At first her mother had declined but later gave in figuring that Janie ’might’ get over her jealousy if she could find herself a boyfriend. Carla, the girls’ mother was 39 and had been a ’looker’ in her day. She was still a very attractive lady but no longe possessed the ’innocence’ that she had when she was younger. She had married Sam, her high school sweetheart, right out of high school. Most people thought they were a cute couple....although some thought them a bit ’too cute’! They had their first child, Susan, four years later.

’Janie, I’ll let you go to the carnival, BUT you’ll have to go with Susan!’

’Mommmmm’ both girls whined in unison.

’I’m sorry, but Janie you’re too young to be going somewhere like that place full of strangers, all by yourself. And Susan... Janie is your little sister after all. You wouldn’t want any thing to happen to her would you?’

Susan shook her head ’no’.

Both girls got ready to leave.

Janie dressed in a denim skirt with a bright tank top and then grabbed a matching denim coat. Susan took extra time, as always, making sure her nails and hair were perfect. Then she tried to decide on casual shorts and a top or a short dress. She finally decided the dress would be nicer. A final check of her makeup and she was ready.

’FINALLY!’ Janie said when Susan emerged from the bathroom.

Susan drove the two of them to the carnival and parked in the grassy field where most others were parking. They could hear the sounds and see the flashing lights of the midway as they drove through the grass. They parked and exited the vehicle and then headed toward the midway.

Janie was amazed at the variety of rides! New ones and very old ones were scattered around. There were many booths and exhibits, along with clowns and barkers everywhere.

Janie noticed some boys checking her out! She smiled at one of them. He was maybe a year older than her and maybe a foot taller. She really thought he was cute and she was loving the attention. After a bit he made his way over. Janie couldn’t hardly contain her excitement! And then he passed her! He walked up to Susan!

’Want that bear?’ he asked pointing to stuffed Teddy Bear hanging from one of the tents that housed a game of skill.

Susan smiled ’It’s kinda cute.... but you don’t have to...’

Janie kicked at the ground. ’What a flirt!’ she thought.

Soon, the boy had spent ten dollars and still hadn’t won the bear. His friends slowly joined him. Susan watched politely and told them ’Don’t spend all your money on me! You’re all so sweet....’

Janie fumed! Even the little runt of a boy that was tagging along with the older boys was staring at Susan’s legs like he had never seen a pair of legs before!

’Pssssst.....Psssssst...:’

Janie turned to see a Gypsy woman trying to get her attention.

’Me?’ Janie asked pointing at herself.

The Gypsy woman shook her head ’yes’ and motioned for Janie to come closer.

’You seem to be a wee bit down, deary.....’

’Yeah... a little....’

’It’s your sister...She’s getting all the attention! Am I right?’

’Kinda, I guess’

’Well maybe I can help you!’

’I doubt it..... she’s such a flirt!’

’I saw you flirting yourself!’

’Yeah....wellll... It didn’t do much good......’ Janie hung her head.

’Maybe you should get her to ride that Merry Go Round over there’ the Gypsy woman said pointing toward one of the older looking rides.

’What good would that do?’

’Weeeeelllllll, Some say there is magic there. If the attendant wants he can release that magic!’

’Magic? I don’t believe in that stuff much! .....What kind of magic?’

’A special magic.....’

’Well it doesn’t matter anyway. She won’t ride anything at all! It might mess up her hair! She hasn’t rode anything in years! So I guess your magic can’t help me.....’

Janie was interrupted as a young mother walked by, obviously very happy. She had a baby in her arms wrapped in what looked like a large shirt! The young woman, little more than a girl herself was wearing baggy clothing that looked like something she must’ve gotten from her mother!

’Thank you! Thank you! Look at him.... he’s so darling. No more drugs and trouble for you....’ the girl said as she caressed the baby’s face.

The Gypsy woman smiled as the mother with her infant son passed on by.

’Hey.... What did she mean ’no more drugs and trouble’? That was just a little baby. What kinda trouble could he get in?’

’He’s a baby NOW.... but he was older only a few moments ago! I told you that there is magic here!’

Janie watched the young mother tugging on her pants as she walked off in the distance. ’Could it be true?’ she wondered. Her mind started whirling. If Susan was the little sister than JANIE would get the attention that she felt she deserved.

’Even if I believed you, Susan would still never get on ANY ride. I know how she is!’ Janie answered dejectedly.

’Maybe we could do it differently. Here..’ the gypsy said, handing Janie a vial containing a clear liquid. ’ A few drops of this in her drink or a splash in her bath and she will start to grow younger. If you put it in her drink, only a drop or two is needed to make her younger than you. If you put it in her bath you’ll need a bit more and you’ll need to see that she gets out before she becomes too little! The water will make her younger and younger as she bathes!’

’But she’ll get mad! I’ll be in all sorts of trouble!’

’I put a little spell on it. She really won’t notice anything strange. She’ll feel normal. And she’ll act like whatever age she becomes. Just be careful, dear. No one will suspect that you had anything to do with her rejuvenation. They won’t know why it happened!’

Janie thanked her and took off toward the game. She wondered if it would really work!

When she reached the group of teens she saw the one of the boys handing Susan the large Teddy Bear. ’If this stuff works, she’ll need one of them to carry it for her!’ Janie thought!

She spent the rest of the evening waiting on Susan to buy a drink. Unfortunately, Susan never did!

’Damn, I’ll have to wait until tomorrow!’ Janie fumed. --

THE NEXT MORNING ---

Janie was up bright an early. Susan soon joined her and their mother. Sam had already left for work. Janie kept waiting for a chance to put a drop of the mysterious liquid in Susan’s

orange juice. Everytime she got close someone would spook her!

’Mom, I’m going to draw a bath before I get dressed and then we can leave for the mall. I feel icky with all that ’carnival’ dust all over me!’ Susan said and excused herself.

’YES!’ thought Janie.

Jaine told her mother that she was going to her room to pick out some clothes for their shopping trip. As she rounded the corner she could see Susan in her bedroom picking out an outfit. Janie could hear the tub filling in the bathroom. She checked on Susan again. Susan was wearing only a robe and Janie took pleasure in the hope that soon that robe would be like a tent on her!

Janie tip-toed into the bathroom and quickly splashed a bit of the liquid into the filling bathtub. Wondering if it was enough, she put a couple more drops in ’for good measure!’ She had now used almost half of the liquid in the vial.

’What are you doing?’

Janie turned around, startled by Susan’s voice.

’Ummmmm I just uhhh wanted to get my.... hairbrush’ she answered and grabbed a brush from the sink.

’Well get it and go, squirt!’ Susan answered and closed the door behind her as she ran out.

’Whew....she didn’t see me do anything’ Janie sighed.

Janie listened as she heard the water stop running. She heard Susan fumbling with the clothes hanger on the door as she hung up her robe. Then she heard a light splash as Susan put her foot in the water. The another. Then a larger splash as her whole body entered the water. At first Janie didn’t hear anything unusual. Then she heard Susan humming. ’Did her voice sound higher’ she wondered. After a while she was sure it sounded higher! Then she heard water splashing followed by laughing.The laughing of a child! More splashing!

’Susan? Are you Ok?’

’Uh huh’ came a high pitched reply from behind the door followed by more splashing and giggling.

’I better see that she gets out of there before she needs diapers’ she decided ’Uhhhhh Mom. Mom? Maybe you oughta come up here....hurry!....’

Carla came running down the hall ’What is it?’

’Listen...In the bathroom’

Carla heard the sounds of a child playing in the tub. Giggling and laughing and splashing water! She quickly grabbed the door handle and swung the door open.

’Oh My God! Susan? Susan...is that you?’

’Hi Mommy’ answered the little girl in the tub

Janie’s lips curled into a sly grin as she tried to act surprised.

’Weeeeeeee’ the little girl of not more than 6 shrieked in joy!

Carla ran toward her now much younger daughter. She feared that maybe the water was causing this...somehow! ’Get out of the tub honey!...’

’Spwish, Spwash Mommy’ Little Susan said as she began splashing water onto the floor and onto her mother as she tried to lift her out of the tub.

Janie tried dodging the potent water fully aware of what it could do!

’I not weady to get out!’ the child argued as she fought her now soaking wet mother’s attempts to lift her out of the tub.....

 

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