Le Cirque du Souhait.

Le Cirque du Souhait. The Circus of Wish.

Nadia and Xiao Mei had gotten tickets.

After sunset the fun was to be had. A big tent of crushed velvet fabric of maroon and black – pulsing slightly as if breathing. There were thousands of souls inside.

Bats, blood, and the impossible – underneath the tent of dreams.

There were many performers dressed in bat and spiderweb themed garbs. Extra legs spinning around – sharp. Eight gem-like eyes, twinkling. Claws. Fangs. And masks. Nadia felt uneasy... No warthog.

It was lit by blood red lanterns. An eerie dark glow. Bone candles. The smell of incense and cinnamon.

“This is so fucking cool!” Xiao Mei said. She was rather small and soon to be consumed by the crowd.

“Xiao Mei,” Nadia reached out to grab her as she was taken by the current.

“Thanks,” Xiao Mei said, “Snacks?”

They followed the stream, holding hands, to get some grub before the show started. Everything was overpriced of course.

Xiao Mei got “Hearts on a stick” – skewered sugary mochi hearts filled with pomegranate jelly and dusted with chili powder. Six of them on a stick.

Nadia wasn’t so hungry but got some “Bat Wings” – salty soy chips shaped like bat wings.

Xiao Mei was eating those too. Nadia liked feeding her.

“Shall we go find our seats?” Nadia asked, and Xiao Mei nodded with jelly on the corner of her mouth. Nadia dabbed it with a tissue.