Carnival

Kali and Jo eased through the crowded street with applied effort as they held on firmly to each

other’s shirt sleeves, and whilst Jo pushed Kali, Kali pulled Jo in return. Giggling with childish intent

they neared the town statue.

    ‘They will spot us immediately’ Kali laughed.

    ‘And? That’s part of the thrill, and if they don’t, we have the best view in town’ Jo replied.

   ‘I’m scared I’ll fall or someone from work will see me!’

   ‘You silly cow, stop fretting’.

   The carnival was due to arrive at 7:50 in the centre of town but watching it was difficult due to the

influx of visitors and the local turn out. This made Jo realise that an old childhood viewing point

was their only option; Sir Robert Blake’s statue. The fact they were both in their thirties did not seem

to dampen her ardour for such an adventure; she was even immune to Kali’s persistent worrying.

   ‘It’s about to rain’ Kali looked skywards, ‘We’ll slip’.

   ‘STOP!’ Jo barked with frustration as a large drop of rain hit her forehead.

   ‘Ha! See, I told you so, and…’ the sound of her sentence became muted as the downpour began.

   Within seconds moaning and shouting erupted from the sea of mouths around them and

spectators tried to shelter in the doorways of shops only to be battered by the wind that carried the

rain like a blanket to all retreats. Jo and Kali flung their arms around one another and ran with their

heads down towards the blue awning of a coffee shop that periodically flapped and  slapped water

down on its refugees. No matter where they sought sanctuary the rain stalked them. But as quickly

as the precipitation started, it stopped.

   ‘They’ll cancel now’ a faceless voice mused.

   ‘Nah, they won’t, you’ll see’ another voice interjected.

   ‘I want to go home’ Kali grumbled to Jo.

  ‘Ok moaning Mertyl let’s go’.

   The throng of expectant viewers had increased and their progress became treacle-like. The sound

of music, dulled only by the surrounding voices, carried on the damp tepid air and the sky seemed to

hint of coloured brightness.

   ‘It’s coming, I can hear it, look you can see the lights in the sky’ Kali pointed with child-like glee

back towards the statue that now was a multi coloured shimmer.’ Rock Around the Clock’ boomed

out crudely from a loud speaker that had been attached  with thin cord to the tractor that pulled a

brightly lit carnival cart. Semi-clad males dressed in cave-man garb whooped and whirled with other

costumed people from throughout the ages.

   ‘Look at those men!’

   ‘What you fancy men now’ Jo teased.

   ‘No silly’ Kali kissed the end of Jo’s nose and the response was an affectionate head bump.

   Jo realised that Kali had stopped to watch the first cart go by. The music blocked their

ears with its volume and shook their teeth. Jo stood behind the smaller frame of her companion and

wrapped her arms around her. Their brown and blonde locks intertwined on Kali’s shoulder and she

began to unknowingly stroke and then plait their hair together. People looked.

   ‘They’re watching us’

   ‘I know’

   ‘Are we more interesting than the carnival?’

   ‘Looks like it’

   As they mused over their situation one of the carnival entertainers began leaning towards them

from the cart. His fixed, grinning mask loomed in and for a moment everyone thought he would fall

into the spectators.

   ‘Ahhhh’, screamed Kali before realising he was wearing a harness.

  The crowd began to laugh at her mistake and she sunk her embarrassment into Jo’s embrace.

Ignorant eyes flicked in their direction accompanied by unknowing smirks that split judgemental

faces. Overwhelmed Kali turned to Jo for reassurance.

  ‘Let’s go home now sweet, they haven’t come here to see us’.

   Kali nodded her approval and with a sense of unwillingness they left.