Stranded in the bath

Fifteen minutes later, the bath water was still nice and warm, but Susie was beginning to suspect that she was in trouble.

Fatima hadn't returned. Neither had Bonnie. Susie had to wonder where they were. Maybe the negotiations with Mr. Trapp were taking longer than expected. Maybe they'd gone to get an ice cream. Or maybe, thought Susie, with mounting dread, they'd just gone off and left there. All alone. In the bathtub.

With no clothes on.

What if they didn't come back?

Well, they had to. The alternative didn't bear thinking about. Anyway, Bonnie was Susie's best friend. She wouldn't just go off on her own and leave Susie behind in the bathtub with no clothes on. Not unless she'd been tricked or trapped in some way.

And who would trick or trap her, at this perfectly normal carnival? With, admittedly, a few slightly odd sideshow attractions.

Susie thought about it for a while, lying on her back, still looking up at the roof of the tent. At least the water was still nice and warm.

What if they never came back?

Then she'd have two options. She could try to escape, which meant getting out of the bathtub and running out into the carnival, completely naked. Hopefully, she could sneak around behind the tents and find some clothes before anyone saw her.

Or, she could stay in the bathtub and wait for someone to walk in. Maybe they'd be helpful!