Autumn Carnival part 2 - Fun and games

The night continued on, the air smelled like fresh apples and pastries. The cool breeze blew through the Autumn Carnival. Wyatt and Felix walked through the east root, the eastern side of the carnival. They left their father to stare at the beautiful autumn tree at the center of the carnival.

Wyatt walked over the smooth cobblestone path that led through the east root. A circle of cobblestone surrounded the autumn tree at the center and then branched off into every direction. Wyatt remembered the feel of the stone beneath his shoes. He listened to the sound of the bells and whistles that would go off every time someone won a prize at a game in the east root. The cold air took him back to a day when he was still small enough to ride the little kid rides. The rides like the autumn leaf ride, where little kids would sit in these leaf shaped carts and they would slowly go up and down, gently moving in a circle like leaves in the wind. He remembered being on that ride when he was very small and he felt like he was flying when the leaves took off. Now at the age of seventeen, Wyatt realized the ride wasn’t fast at all and the leaves barely left the ground, but to a child it was like floating through the air. Wyatt remembered going on all of his favorite rides and then feeling a sense of joy when he got to see his younger brother ride he old favorites but also experienced new rides that Wyatt never got to experience.

The Autumn carnival was a yearly tradition and to keep things feeling fresh would often swap out the least popular rides for new rides that might be more fun. Wyatt’s favorites still stood tall after all of these years. As the two brothers walked by Wyatt smiled when he saw a small boy with the look of wonder in his eyes when the leave ride took off.

If Felix was asked what he remembered he would say that he remembered the ‘bug ride’ a tiny roller coaster where children would ride a bug cart as he whizzed through a wide, oddly shaped, plastic tree with tracks. The bug roller coaster ride was installed years after Wyatt was too big to ride the children’s rides so Felix felt special that he was able to experience it. There was something in this park that was his and not a ‘hand me down’ from his older brother. If you asked Felix what he remembered he would tell you all of this and more, but Felix wasn’t prone to reminiscing or nostalgia because he was too busy by how excited he was by the carnival.

Wyatt walked at a slow pace as he took everything in but Felix kept rushing ahead then running back. “Why are you sooo slooow? Felix asked Wyatt, putting emphesis on his ‘O’s to show his frustration. Wyatt smiled and hurried his step. Soon the two boys reached the games. The boys walked past the ‘Shoot every bell with a pellet and win a prize’ game, the claw machine games and bobbing for apples, which Wyatt didn’t think was sanitary. Finally they reached two games, the cider drinking competition and a game where you have to catch apples as they fall from a large tree. Felix paid a ticket, grabbed a woven basket and went for the apple tree game. Wyatt decided this year he would win the apple cider drinking game.

            Felix and four other children around the ages of 10-15 ran around the large apple tree as bright red apples tumbled from its branches. Wyatt smiled as he watched his little brother run around like a maniac. Wyatt was waiting for the cider drinking competition to begin. The cider drinking started every hour on the hour. The clock soon struck nine and a loud bell rang out nine times. The bell sounded large, like it came from a full sized bell tower. The small hand wound clock by the cider drinking table certainly didn’t make that noise.

Wyatt pulled up a chair at the cider table. Three wooden cups were set in front of him. Everyone that sat down had three cups. Before Wyatt could ask “what are the rules” a man in a red shirt shouted “GO!” And blew a whistle. Wyatt began chugging the cups of cider. After he finished one he placed it to his left and grabbed the next cup. The cups to the left were piling up but Wyatt always had three cups of cider in front of him, no more, no less. He figured someone came by and quickly gave him another cup while he was distracted. He chugged cider till he felt sick but he wanted to win. He had played a different game every year and he never found a game he was good at. He hated to lose and he felt like he let his little brother down. Every year Wyatt would promise to win Felix something and every year Wyatt lost. Felix never got upset at Wyatt for losing but Wyatt wanted to win something at least once.

Time passed and Wyatt could see Felix staring with wide eyes of amazement at how much cider the table of people was drinking. Wyatt finished another glass, slammed it down and fell off of his bar stool. He laid on the cold, soft grass as he fought the urge to throw up. The cool grass felt nice on his skin. After a moment he stood up and turned to Felix. “Come on ya Butt, lets go find dad” Wyatt said to Felix with a smile. “wait kid!” Said the man in the red shirt. “You won! Everyone else had stopped by the time you fell over. Even after everyone left you kept drinking. You won by five cups! That’s either sheer determination or a hearty love for cider! Either way you are a champ in my book” Said the Ref in the red shirt. “Whoa! Wyatt you did it!” Felix said. Wyatt turned to accept his prize. “What did I win, Sir?” Asked Wyatt. “You won our biggest jug of homemade, fresh apple cider!” Said the man in the red shirt. Wyatt smiled and promptly threw up.

Back in the center of the carnival also known as “The Tree”, Nathan was sitting under the tree smiling. His smile widened when he saw his boys return with a blue ribbon and a jug of cider. “Heh, You won the cider drinking game! Just like yer old man. I won that game too when I was young, couldn’t drink cider for a week after that” Nathan said as he reminisced the good times. “uhhrg” Wyatt groaned. “Hey, how about I just buy you a souvenir instead? Felix and I can get a snack and I will get you anything you want from the gift shop” Nathan said. Wyatt smiled “Thanks dad”

Nathan, Felix and a still woozy Wyatt had met up. The next step in their adventure was the West Root.

Autumn Carnival part 1 - Grand Opening

            Deep in the autumn forest was a sleepy little place called Maple town. Maple town was famous for two things, Maple syrup and originality.

            In Maple town there was a man named Nathan. Nathan was an old drunk who had two sons who he loved even more than he loved his Maple flavored scotch, which was a lot. Nathan’s children were named Wyatt and Felix. The two boys were seventeen and fourteen. Wyatt had shaggy black hair, was tall and lanky and had olive toned skin. Felix had light brown hair, short but athletic and had similar skin tone. The two boys had different hobbies and interests and while Felix preferred to be active, Wyatt likes to take things slow and easy. One of the things the boys always agreed on was their love of autumn and the Autumn Carnival.

            The Autumn Carnival was unusual because many carnivals took place in spring or summer. Autumn usually only had harvest festivals but once a year the magical and rare Autumn Carnival was open for a week and only a week. The owner of the carnival didn’t advertise or try to build hype, he just set everything up and people came. The carnival became popular through word of mouth but was kept a secret from the other lands.

            It was the day of the grand opening of the Autumn Carnival and there was already a crowd at the entrance. Nathan and his two sons walked up over a large hill to get a better view of the carnival before they went in. Pale green grass stretched out for miles, the Autumn Carnival sat in the open field with a forest of colorful trees behind it. Red, orange and yellow trees swayed in the pleasant breeze. The carnival sign stood tall over the grounds. “Autumn Carnival” was written in bright lights. The sign itself was orange and brown with tints of yellow. Orange, red, yellow, brown, black and purple decorated the various rides and signs. From the view on top of the grassy hill the Father and his sons could see a giant Ferris wheel along with many strange and exciting looking rides poking out from behind the Carnival gates and went up past the main entrance sign.

            Nathan had a sparkle in his eye as he approached the Carnival. He remembered when he used to visit when he was a kid and now he was overjoyed to be able to take his kids to the same place he enjoyed so much. Nathan had been to the Autumn Carnival almost thirty times in his life and his children had been more than ten times, but every year they were just as excited, as they were the first time they visited.

             Wyatt and Felix ran ahead when they saw the carnival gates, which had large metal gates with a pumpkin symbol on each gate door. Outside of the carnival walls was a variety of snack stands and local businesses selling their homemade and home grown goods. Homemade pie, fresh apples and of course more maple syrup than any one man could drink. Wyatt and Nathan always got fresh Maple lollipops before they went into the carnival but Felix insisted that he get an apple cider donut instead.

            The three nibbled their treats as they waited for the Carnival to open. The rolling field and fall colored forest looked beautiful during the day, but the carnival wasn’t open till night. Waiting for the grand opening was half of the fun. While people waited they sampled various foods and listened to musicians play soft melodies and festive tunes.

            Wyatt and Felix walked around the outside of the carvival. As they walked the talked about the rides they wanted to go on and tried to guess what new attractions the carnival would have. Every year the carnival added new rides and shows. The least popular attractions would be taken away or temporarily retired and the fan favorites would stick around. In the fifty years that the Autumn Carnival in business the only attraction to stay every year was the ferris wheel. It was a central attraction and the shape of the ferris wheel towering up above everything else was iconic. When people thought of the Autumn Carnival they always remembered how it looked from the outside, big bright sign, colorful banners, big walls and a towering ferris wheel.

            Night crept in and as the light from the sun dimmed and flickered out, lights from the carnival began to glow brighter and brighter. The chattering and music quieted to a hush. Everyone sat in silence as they waited for what happened next.

            A man in a black suit and black top hat stepped up onto the sign about the Carnival entrance. “Hello good people of the autumn forest!” Called the man. Just as he spoke a spotlight was turned on him. “For those who are new, I am Charles Orchard the owner of the Autumn Carnival. And to those who have been here before, Welcome back my friends I think this year will be the most exciting one yet” Said Mr. Orchard. The crowd cheered. Then fireworks lit up the sky. Booming explosions in the night sky, sending out colors of every kind. When the fireworks stopped a band began to play and the doors to the carnival opened.

            People rushed in, excitement was on the face of every adult and child. Wyatt and Felix had been off walking to pass the time so when the gates opened they were just barely getting back to their father. Nathan smiled “Ready boys?” He asked. The two boys nodded and they all walked toward the carnival. Already a long line was forming. People in the front bought tickets and then were let into the carnival. There were many ticket sellers but there were so many people that some people had to wait.

            Wyatt looked at the towering ferris wheel as it stood motionless. It was covered in white lights that twinkled like the stars. The ferris wheel wasn’t moving yet but the lights rotated in such a way that it first glance it looked like the ride was already in motion. Wyatt loved how the darkness of night contrasted with the bright lights and colorful rides in the carnival. Felix just liked looking at pretty colors.

            Soon the lines moved along and the family of three got their tickets and entered the carnival. Immediately they saw autumn tree in the center of the carnival. On just that one tree there were shades of green, yellow, orange and red. The green started at the bottom and changed gradually as it went up. Wyatt doubted it was a real tree because it was so big, it was almost taller than the large walls around the carnival and also he had never seen one tree with so many colors so evenly spaced. Yet the tree did look real and leaves occasionally fell off when a strong wind blew.

            The tree was in the center of the carnival, the carnival was broken up into sections and called ‘Roots’ because they all led back to the tree. The carnival entrance was in the south root, the ferris wheel and the adult rides were in the north root, the west root had the food and souvenirs, and the east root was children rides and games that give out prizes.

            Nathan stood under the tree and marveled at the beautiful sight. A large autumn tree so full of color surrounded by bright lights and soft music. “We are going to go on some rides” Said Wyatt to his father. “Oh ok boys, have fun” Said Nathan as he stared up at the tree.

            Felix and Wyatt shrugged and walked off to the east root. Nathan was always a weird guy so his fascination with the tree didn’t phase his two boys. “What do you wanna do first?” Felix asked excitedly. “Well first we need to win some prizes. Its been a whole year since last time, and this time I am going to win something! I just know it!” Said Wyatt sounding very determined.

            Wyatt and Felix always used the excuse of trying to win prizes to go to the east root and while Felix might honestly want to win a prize, Wyatt always went because he missed the days when he got to ride the child rides. Wyatt never won any prized but he always tried his best and always got Felix excited in the process but while he took his time ‘deciding on a game’ he was actually feeling nostalgic when he saw old familiar rides and felt a little jealous when he saw cool new rides that he would never be able to experience.

            While some would say the east root was filled with kids rides and cheap games, Wyatt would say the east root was filled with memories.

Watch for part 2 as the boys explore the East and West roots.

Joseph Stephens and Springs farewell

            Joseph Stephens sneezed hard for the seven hundred and fiftieth time that day. Springtail the spring rabbit hopped up to Joseph’s front door and pattered his tiny paws on the door in attempt to knock. Joseph opened his door to go outside and noticed the small timid rabbit had been pawing at his door. “Oh Springtail, I’m sorry I didn’t hear you knock. Were you waiting long?” Asked Joseph as he crouched down to talk with the small bunny. “N-no, not long, maybe an hour at most. It’s fine though. I should have been louder. I just don’t really like loud noises” Said Springtail in a bashful voice. Just as Springtail finished speaking Joseph let out a loud sneeze combined with a cough. Springtail jumped in the air and then ran into Joseph’s house. “I’m sorry!” Joseph called after Springtail. Joseph went inside to find the bunny hiding under Joseph’s couch.

            “Its ok, I just have allergies” Joseph said. “oh…ok. I am sorry I didn’t know. I made all these flowers without even thinking about people with allergies. I j-just wanted people to be happy” Said the rabbit. “No, its fine” Joseph said as he tried to hold back another sneeze.

            A loud laughing interrupted Joseph and Springtail’s conversation. “Bohohohoh” Cackled the voice. Joseph looked outside and saw a large laughing balloon slowly descending. After a few moments of staring Joseph realized it was not a balloon but the daughter of the sun, July. July was a large twenty foot tall woman who could fly and brought summer wherever she went. “Happy summertime everyone!” She called out across the town. A heat wave instantly blew past Joseph’s house. As July floated by she saw storm clouds rolling in. “Shoo! Shoo! No more spring rain. It is summer fun time!” She said as she waved her arm through the air. The rain clouds dissipated and the sun shone brighter than ever. “Bahohoho” She bellowed as she slowly landed on the soft green grass that Springtail has grown.

            “Oh No! Its her!” Springtail said as loud as he could, which was still very quiet. Joseph turned “Ok, you should probably get out of here” Joseph told Springtail. “You are right Mr.Stephens. I should. I will tell the others and we will have to leave this land for now” Replied Springtail. “Others?” Asked Joseph. “oh yes, there are hundreds of Spring rabbits around. I couldn’t do all of the work myself. I am just a small rabbit. I will tell my sisters April and Bloom, my brothers Clover, Oak, Peanut and Jeff. Then they will tell other rabbits they know and by the end of the week we will be gone until next year” Explained Springtail.

            Joseph knew every season had a spirit who brought the season with them but he didn’t realize Spring came in on the backs of hundreds of tiny bunnies. This fact made him smile.  Joseph’s smile quickly faded as he realized Springtail had run off and July was now banging on his door. He already missed the quiet patter of Springtail’s fluffy paws. “Joseph dear! I am back! We can start the celebration honoring my return” July shouted into his house. Joseph answered the door. “Hello July” Joseph said trying to hide a sneer. Heat blew into Joseph’s house and wilted his houseplants.

            “Joseph you rascal I have been gone for a whole year and all you have to say to me is ‘hello’?” Asked July. “Yes” Joseph said then slammed the door in July’s face.

            Summer was here and spring was gone. Happy people flocked to the beaches and parks. They played in the sun. Kids rejoiced as they went on summer break and adults made plans for their vacations. Everyone saw Summer differently. The thing about the seasons is, they look different to different people. Joseph could recount the tales of his time with each season when they visited his house but someone else who experienced the same seasons might have a totally different kind of story to tell about them. Joseph didn’t know what July looked like to other people, he just knew that to him, summer was loud, obnoxious, chased away adorable rabbit friends and stayed around way too long.

            The heat of summer started to set in and while some might be soaking in the rays, Joseph was indoors reading and listening to the hum of his air conditioner.