Those damn carnies are ruining her business. She doesn't tell the superintendent anything - she doesn't get paid. And she needs to get paid. The pathetic residents of Wilshire Tower would apparently much rather carp on about their problems to a money-wrangling psychic than their blaring TVs and peeling wallpaper. She wandered through the halls and heard nothing but faint tunes humming from the flashing carnival down the street, and decided she'd try again in the morning.
As she exited the front door, the glaring sunlight temporarily blinded her, then permanently hid back behind the onslaught of approaching clouds. She glanced around, and noticed that same damn cop standing on the corner, staring angrily at a bus as it pulled away. There was probably a 90% chance he wouldn't recognize her, she figured. He fell into the 10% that day, and started calling after her. What a goddamn memory.
"Hey, you!"
She took off running. Might as well check out this carnival while she was at it.
But she couldn't go straight down the street. She saw that man with his animal mask standing in front of that old library. He always stared at her with the most uncomfortable intensity. Maybe he knew her secrets. No, it was a detour for Edna.
And hey, she'd give that damn cop a workout for his gut.
Hah, she sighed and turned up the alley as it began to pour.
As she hopped off the trodden path and onto the basketball court, her shoes began to slither on the increasingly wet pavement. Her face smacked flat on the pavement, and everything went black.
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CRACKING DOWN
ReplyDeleteI awake to a shaded room and what sounds like dozens of chickens. I think its all a dream and turn to look at my clock.
It is 5:12pm. Darn. I slept the whole day away. I guess yesterday at the carnival tired me out.
I go to the drawer and pull out my father's letter and read it for the umpteenth time. I take note of every initialed reference and then head out to unveil the mystery and figure out my father's past.
The first thing to do is ask around since I don't know anyone. The best thing is to head to the carnival again. It seems like everyone is always there. So I head out the house.
On the way to the carnival I realize why I heard chickens. There are literally dozens of chicken wandering the street and some are walking straight towards the carnival and some are in the mix of the rally going on...So weird.
I arrive at the carnival and see that everyone is there since its the last day. I can definitely find out who is who today-and I intend to.
I walk around and spot a few people that I've noticed before. So I head in their direction first. I first talk to a woman named Edna. I don't just come right out and tell her what I really came to ask. Instead I just do small talk. She doesn't seem to want to talk so I come right out and ask her about the initials. She looks at them puzzled for a minute and then turns and looks at me with a screwed look.
"What is this for child?".
I swallow hard and then begin to explain my father's letter and the initials.
Halfway in, Edna stops me and asks,"wait...what's your father's name?"
"Will", I answer.
The woman slowly backs up as if I were a stray dog about to attack. She then snaps and sternly says,"Will...he is not missed." Then she turns and walks away.
I dont know what to think of it so I brush it off and continue to search for answers. Thats when I find one initial person...Cain T.
He was standing by the cotton candy machine when i spotted him. It must have been written that we'd speak because as soon as I looked, he did the same and there was the same look on his face as that of Edna.
I walked towards him and his awkwardness intensified. When I reached talking distance, I introduced myself and asked his name. He hesitated to answer, but finally stuttered," C-Ca-Cah-Cain Taygen".
I gasped and realized that I was on the verge of a breakthrough. C.T is Cain Taygen. So I asked,"do you know my father?". He hesitated again.
"Well do you? His name is..."
"I know...Will".
I was stunned at his interruption. But I didnt say anything.He must have noticed that I wouldn't speak because he bagan.
"Come with me". I followed him to an area of the carnival where there were not much people.
"Can you keep a secret".
"Yes", I answered.
"Your father and I were really close".
"Well what's wrong with that?" I asked.
"No like really close", he said.
"I don't understand".
"Did you know your father...Like really know him".
"No, he died when I was 12".
"Well I really knew your father. He were really really close. You see---I am gay."
"Wait that means that my father is..."
"Yes. He was gay. And I was one of his regulars."
"What do you mean one of his regulars."
"Your father was not only gay. He was a gay man whore and frequently came to me."
"You're lying", I shouted and I turned to run away.
"If you don't believe me go visit Renee Factor."
Renee Factor I thought---R.F. This is not the answer I was looking for.