Jack didn’t anticipate the trip to the mall would have an emotional impact on him. I’m going in, gonna get some nice shiny brown shoes for the divorce proceedings, and them I’m outta here before the place becomes packed. The pipe organ music first attracted his attention. Glancing at the source, he saw the carousel with a yellow background dotted with red, blue, and green spots. The top reminded him of a circus tent with a silver pole at the top, its sharp point aiming at the mall’s green metal roof. Wooden horses painted white attached to spiraling golden posts went up and down. A few small children occupied several horses, sitting on them with a parent or two at each side holding them. The feature of this carousel that really hit Jack hard was the large red wooden seat.
The carousel and the wooden seat reminded him of the Martha’s Vineyard carousel he saw during a joint-family vacation with the Peterson’s, a trip to the popular Massachusetts island he wished never happened. The large red wooden set reminded him of the red upholstered ornate seats at The Flying Horses Carousel, the longest operating carousel in America. Jack got teary-eyed while two primary school girls ran in front to him to get to the merry-go-round. Oh God! Why is this happening now!
Jack Randolph just turned twelve before the Martha’s Vineyard trip as did Cindy Peterson. Cindy was a quiet girl, birdlike in appearance, Jack had known for a few years. Her parents, Michael and Rosie Peterson, became close friends with Jack’s parents. Jack and Cindy acted pleasant to each other whenever they were forced together for barbecues, dinners, and birthday parties. They even had fun playing badminton together a month before the Vineyard trip, until Cindy beat Jack, taking two of the last three games. Beaten by a girl. You’re a wuss. Good thing Ben and the others didn’t see that.
Jack couldn’t get over the fact that he, who was considered by his peers and coaches as an excellent athlete, let a girl beat him at a sport. Beaten by a girl. You’re a wuss. After the defeat, Jack pictured his best friend Ben saying that, getting in his face. Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone,
Cindy promised him. Jack knew Cindy well enough to know she wasn’t a tattle-tale. However, the badminton loss ate away at Jack. Beaten by a girl. You’re a wuss.
A half hour after the badminton defeat, the Randolphs and the Petersons announced to their kids that they were all going to the Vineyard together. Jack dreaded the trip, begging his parents to let him stay with Ben. They denied his request. Jack hardly looked at Cindy during the ride from Newfields, Connecticut to Woods Hole, where his parent’s minivan boarded the ferry to Oaks Bluff. He stayed in the car during the ferry ride to the island, while the others headed up to the top deck to enjoy the Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard scenery. Beaten by a girl. You’re a wuss. When they arrived at the large Victorian overlooking Vineyard Sound, he stayed in his designated room while the others poked around the house and beach. When they called out for him to join them on a walk into town, Jack reluctantly agreed, but stayed alone behind the group. Beaten by a girl. You’re a wuss.
It was the upbeat carnival-like music that aroused him out of his sulking. He loved carnivals. Jack walked away from the others towards the source of the sound.
It was a carousel, hidden from the street in a building that looked a bit run down, like a large stable. Young Jack had a sense of joy discovering this unexpected surprise. Jack exited the cover of the warm sun into the shadows leading to an entrance. He stood in the cool shade, looking at the carousel, noticing that the colors of the horses were dark and worn, some were brown, others were yellow. Jack did enjoy seeing the kids and the adults on the horses smiling and laughing. Their enjoyment made him smile. The combination of a sea breeze odor, and a musty odor filled his nose. Then a flowery perfume began to overpower his senses as Cindy Peterson walked slightly in front of him.
It’s a merry-go-round!
she exclaimed! I loved these rides as a kid. Is that real hair on the horses?
She turned to Jack, looking at him with her wide dark eyes that smiled at him, in addition to her white, perfect teeth grinning at him. Jack had never noticed how eyes could smile until that moment. Jack didn’t realize her braces had been removed. Cindy’s auburn hair blew in the breeze. Jack suddenly found himself attracted to Cindy. He felt overwhelmed, looked down from her gaze, but was more overwhelmed when he noticed the rest of her body. Her once flat chest had developed, arousing Jack, which made him look down further. Her once bone-skinny legs had also developed into tan, slightly muscular, but very feminine legs. Jack was floored. She’s gorgeous! She’s hot! Why haven’t I noticed this?
“I… I don’t know if that’s fake … or r-real,” Jack stuttered.
I think it’s free so why don’t you kids go on,
said Mike Peterson, Cindy’s father. The rest of the entourage had gathered around the entrance. Hell, I’m going on,
he said in his gruff voice. The others laughed as Mike, a large bulky man, got on a brown horse.
Do you want to ride with me?
Thanks but no thanks.
©2023 Tim Sheehan