Charlie the Great White Horse and the Story of the Magic Jingle Bells
Page 7
~Chapter 6~
The County Fair
Summer had turned to fall and the days were now, getting noticeable shorter, and the nights more brisk and cooler, as autumn fell upon Centerville. The bright blue morning sky above was brimming full of white fluffy clouds, which floated by overhead in a sluggish but determined manner as if fresh spring water might piddle over a sleepy rock bed below. The clouds in the skies this day were large white billows that held secrets and strange otherworldly figures in them, to anyone who would take the time to unravel their mysteries.
Laying on your back in a field of Zinnias', Peony's' or wild green grasses this day would surely bring all the ghostly figures, into their full mysterious form, with a little imagination.
Flocks of migratory birds were spotted taking flight toward the south, high above the barren birch and pine trees, in their yearly dance with the earth's changing of the seasons.
Nevertheless, something stirred in the air this day that had not been felt around these parts for many years. All manner of townsfolk were excited because the county fair was soon coming to town.
In years past, the county fair was; mostly held in Delaware, Muncy, Evansville, Hendricks, or Marion Counties. What a delight to have the county fair this year in Centerville.
There would be performing clowns dressed in elaborate costumes handing out multi-colored balloons, elephants displayed in all their grandeur, parading up and down Main Street, dangerous tigers, and lions to be seen, and every type of game and ride imaginable for the young children. There would be pie-eating contests, hotdogs on a stick, family barbecues, three-legged races, kissing-booths, and colorful fair-barkers.
A row of large cloth tents would soon be assembled in the heart of town that would, appear to reach to the clouds in the sky above. There would be a hustle and bustle from the fair's workers running back and forth, as they prepared the grand stages for the fair's world famous performers. There would be dancers, singers, and all types of elaborate shows.
Louis and the rest of his friends could not hide their excitement for the county fair, and had looked forward to it coming to town all year long. School was out now for the fall break, and everyone was waiting to see the great Ferris wheel that they had all read about earlier, in the "Centerville Gazette".
The Ferris wheel was supposed to be larger and even more dangerous than ever. This year it was going to be over three stories high, and faster than a roller coaster.
Molly would most likely try to get Louis on the Ferris wheel ride alone with her so she could spend a more time with him. She always thought that Ferris rides were very romantic, as did most country folk who were in love.
She tried at the last county fair to kiss Louis on the cheek but she never got a chance. Louis had stayed away from her as much as he could that year. Louis knew she was after him this year with those big ruby red lips of hers, so he had sought out the help from his friends on the baseball team to run interference for him.
Not one kiss on the cheek did Louis get that year from Molly and hopefully none this year, and man was he ever so happy.
Molly came up with a different plan this year. She was going to be setting up a kissing-booth right next door to where the, hotdog eating contest was to be held. She thought Louis would most likely visit that booth at sometime during the fair and he would be sure to see her booth, and drop by for a big kiss on the cheek.
Molly had bought extra lipstick down at the Five and Dime owned by, Tessie Whitman's' father, and spent the entire night after she bought it, just standing their admiring herself in front of the mirror in her bedroom.
"I have never looked so grown up. Louis will think I'm so...ooo?mature, he's just bound to fall for me", she said repeatedly to herself.
This year she bought the most desirable new shade of red "Crimson Passion".
Finally, one clear and beautiful day, the caravan of the Fair's wagons and trucks rolled into town, right down main-street. It was in the middle of the day when the grand pageant started. Everyone in town stopped working for the day. All townsfolk came out of their farms and offices, to see the striking spectacle as it passed by.
There were wild elephants trumpeting loudly in the air, with their trunks held high over their heads. The courageous lions rolled by on flatbed wagons being held captive inside huge cages, so as not to scare anyone, more than they already were, at the site of such dangerous animals. Joyous and frantic clowns were all running all about the streets, passing out colored balloons to the children, performing fantastic cartwheels and fine magic tricks.
The Fair Barker held a huge wooden megaphone up to his mouth yelling out, loud and clear for everyone in the streets to hear, announcing that the fair had finally arrived, and that everyone should be sure not to miss it this year.
"Ladies and gentlemen, behold the ferocious lions! Do not stand too close to the cages because the animals have not been fed today! Look at those elephants! Wild beast I tell you?deep from the heart of Africa?!" bellowed out The Barker in his deep and very rich voice.
Charlie was out plowing one of Mr. Beamer's cornfields when he had heard from Mrs. Beamer (who was hanging laundry out to dry nearby) that the county fair had arrived in the late morning, downtown. Charlie quickly finished his chores that morning and galloped straight over to main-street, where all the tents were being set up.
Charlie just had to volunteer.
He helped anywhere he could that day. He lent a hand with the set up of the fairs' main-tent by doing, all the heavy lifting of the poles that steadied it. Charlie then volunteered again to help haul supplies, to all the other locations around town, where each wooden booth, was being built.
Each year the county fair came to town, Charlie had a lot of work to do and he just loved it.
Only during the summertime, did Charlie have any other real work to do, delivering the ice from Mr. Beamers ice-house and maybe plowing a field or two, so this extra work made him proud to be a part of things and to feel needed again.
During the late fall and winter Charlie always got so bored and lonely staying in Mr. Beamer's barn, day and night trying to keep warm. He always felt that when the fair came to town it was just there for him alone, so he could help everyone out; and be needed again.
Some of Louis's friends all showed up early to watch, the unloading of the animals, eat a few hotdogs and try to get a few free rides on the Ferris wheel before the rest of crowd showed up, in a day or so, for the grand opening.
Louis was in Mr. Beamer's barn and had been there all morning. Louis wanted to finish reading a few books that Mr. Beamer had given him over the fall vacation. Mr. Beamer gave him books about the North Pole and Santa Claus. He gave Louis books about the cycles of the moon and stars, and about old ancient cave bears, Indian chiefs/ Medicine-Men, and books about great pirate ships and books even about ancient Egypt.
However, Louis knew the fair was in town now and that he would now have no more time for reading. He would absolutely be there when the opening shot of the Fair's grand cannon was fired, to signal that the fair had officially begun but he especially wanted to meet, "Jupiter the Show Horse".