Sideshow Alley

The two girls wandered down Sideshow Alley, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the carnival. Lights flashed, music jangled, popcorn popped, carnival barkers rattled off their patter. Rides whirled and clattered, the riders shrieking in what was probably pleasure. Though Susie wasn't quite sure. It has to be pleasure, right? She wasn't familiar with all the different kinds of shrieks.

Lanterns attached to poles, high overhead, cast a cozy warm glow over the scene. It seemed almost the whole population of Pinkwhistle had turned out to enjoy the show. Gosh, thought Susie, looking around at all the people she knew, we sure are an unusually attractive small town.

There was the Mayor, Peggy Jackson, a stunning blonde in a knockout green dress, shaking hands with everyone she met and clapping them on the back. There was Doc Topper, who ran the malt shop, a charming blond fellow who always wore a straw hat. He was chatting to Miss Kitty Davis, town librarian, whose normally staid demeanour was somewhat relaxed for the occasion. Her hair wasn't even in its trademark tight brown bun! And there was Rod, Frank and Petra, of the Pinkwhistle Observer - Rod fussing with his camera as always, Petra reapplying her lipstick as if she was a nationwide news anchor instead of just a small-town reporter.

And Anne-Marie, chatting to some big lunkhead from the football team. Susie made a mental note to avoid her. Messing with Anne-Marie was the one thing that could spoil an otherwise perfect evening.

"So," she said, looking around. "What do you want to see?"