“Thanks—here you go,” said Lisa while handing her stuffed animal to Mrs. Cartwright.
“Let’s get something to eat,” said Cathy.
Mrs. Cartwright bought the girls corn dogs and drinks. After eating their food, the girls and Mrs. Cart-wright walked farther down the midway.
“Look over here,” said Cathy, “a freak show—I want to go inside.”
Large wooden sandwich boards advertised a bearded woman, a two-headed baby, and a two-headed calf.
“Come see the freaks, the animal oddities—view the bearded lady, the two-headed baby, and the two-headed calf,” said the carnival barker over the loudspeaker.
“Let’s go, Lisa, let’s go,” said Cathy.
Lisa had an uneasy feeling. Her palms began to sweat, her heart began to race, and a wave of nausea began to swell inside her.
“Not another nervous stomach,” thought Lisa.
“Are you OK, Lisa?” asked Cathy.
“I’m fine,” said Lisa while pretending to be all right. “Let’s go inside.”
Mrs. Cartwright bought the tickets, and the three went inside.
“I want to see that two-headed baby,” said Cathy.
The attraction opened with jars and jars of velvety animal oddities floating in green formaldehyde. A large jar containing a two-headed calf greeted them. The calf’s two heads sat atop two necks. The calf’s skin was the color of milk and looked to be the consistency of cheese. The calf’s four eyes stared at the girls.
“Freaky,” said Cathy.
Lisa’s face was turning as green as the formaldehyde.
Around the corner from the specimen jars was the “bearded lady.” The “bearded lady” was tall and slender like a woman, with a woman’s black curly hair tied up in ribbons. The “bearded lady” wore a pink ball gown, earrings, makeup, and pink women’s shoes. Yet the “bearded lady” had a dense, curly black beard and curly black arm hair.
“That just looks like a man wearing a pink dress,” said Cathy.
“But this is a woman—she is wearing a bra,” said Lisa.
“Well, I still think it’s a man—besides, the bra could be padded,” said Cathy.
Lisa swallowed hard. She was wearing her new padded bra.
“If only Cathy knew,” thought Lisa.
Around the final corner was a very large specimen jar. Lisa took a deep breath and looked inside to see the fetus of a two-headed baby boy. One of the heads was normal. The other head looked like a monster to Lisa. Instead of a nose and upper lip, it had a gaping hole.
“Oh, my God,” thought Lisa. “Is this how I looked at birth? Am I a freak, too?”
“Mom, what’s wrong with this baby’s face?” asked Cathy. “Is that why this baby died?”
“I’m not sure, Cathy,” said Mrs. Cartwright. “Only God determines the cause of death.”
“I’m not feeling well,” said Lisa. “Could we leave?”
“Come outside and get some air,” said Mrs. Cart-wright.
Mrs. Cartwright and Cathy ushered Lisa outside.
“That’s better,” said Lisa, taking some deep breaths.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of, Lisa,” said Cathy. “That two-headed monster is dead and can’t hurt you.”
“That baby’s not a monster,” said Lisa.
“Well, it’s in the freak show,” said Cathy.”
“Now, girls, how about some candy apples?” said Mrs. Cartwright.
“Sure,” said Cathy.
“OK,” said Lisa, regaining her strength.
After eating candy and caramel apples, Lisa and Cathy rode more rides, played more games, and ate more food. Lisa bought gifts for her brothers and sister—a plastic sword for Harold, a bouncy ball for Mark, and a Kewpie doll for Elizabeth.
It was getting late when they left the midway. The neon lights made the old, dirty rides look like new. But nothing could ever make the freak show look inviting to Lisa. The freak show only showed Lisa how close she was to being a freak herself. Lisa doubted herself even more and hugged her Snoopy dog for comfort, flattened nose to puffy nose. The fair was not really “fair” to Lisa—it became a reminder of just how different from everyone else she really was.
Chapter Twelve
The Carnival
Lisa had many confrontations with Will and David over the month of October. And many stomachaches ensued. Yet instead of checking out of school and being absent, Lisa stayed. The deciding factor was Miss Loomis. Lisa did not want to miss a minute of Miss Loomis’s class. So she endured the teasing and tried to calm her nervous stomach.
Miss Loomis had many confrontations with Will and David over the month of October. And the silent treatment continued. Many stomachaches ensued. Yet instead of quitting, Miss Loomis stayed. The deciding factors were Lisa and Reverend Reed. Miss Loomis did not want to miss a minute of class with Lisa. Miss Loomis also did not want to disappoint Reverend Reed or the movement. So she endured the teasing and silent treatment and tried to calm her nervous stomach.
Yet the events surrounding the school Halloween carnival would prove to be the scariest confrontation between Will and David, on the one hand, and Lisa and Miss Loomis, on the other. And it all began with the costume contest.
Each October Wyatt hosted a Halloween carnival and open house for the students and their families. The carnival included games (such as go fish, bingo, musical chairs, and beanbag toss) as well as a cakewalk, costume contest, and haunted house. Each teacher also hosted an open house for the students and their families.
On the evening of the carnival, Lisa dressed up as comic-book character Wendy the Good Little Witch. Her little brother Harold dressed up as Wendy’s sidekick, comic-book character Casper the Friendly Ghost. Although Lisa wanted to dress up as a scary witch, Lisa’s mother insisted that she and Harold have matching costumes for the costume contest. Lisa’s baby brother, two-year-old Mark, dressed up as a pint-size version of Casper because he wanted to be just like his brother. Mrs. Parker bought these genuine Hasbro costumes from the variety store. The costumes and masks were identical to the comic-book images of the cartoon characters Casper and Wendy.
As the costumed children piled into Mr. Parker’s car, Mrs. Parker gave instructions to Ozella.
“Take good care of baby Elizabeth,” said Mrs. Parker. “We should be back before seven thirty tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am, Miss Penelope,” said Ozella as she closed the front door.
Mrs. Parker jumped into the front seat of her husband’s car and began asking Harold questions.
“Bubba, do you have your trick-or-treat bag?” asked Mrs. Parker.
“Yes, ma’am,” answered Harold, “but I’m not Bubba, I’m Casper the Friendly Ghost.”
“No, I’m Cappuh,” said Mark.
“All right,” said Mrs. Parker, “I want both of my Caspers to hold hands at the carnival so you won’t get lost.”
“But I can’t play the games if I’m holding Brother’s hand,” said Harold.
“All right,” said Mrs. Parker, “but I want both of my Caspers to stay close to me at the carnival.”
“But I can’t use the boys’ bathroom if I’m next to you,” said Harold.
“Oh, you know what I mean,” said an exasperated Mrs. Parker. “And little Casper, you have to tell me when you need to go to the bathroom.”
“I’m big Cappuh,” said Mark, “and I go to the baffwoom wif Bubba.”
“All right, my Caspers,” said Lisa, “this is Wendy the Good Little Witch, who says to stay close to Mama and have a great time at the carnival.”
“OK, Sissy,” said Harold, “you have fun, too.”
“OK, Sissy,” said Mark, “I stay kwose to Mama.”
“Very good, boys,” said Mr. Parker, “and please mind your mother.”
“Yes, sir,” said Harold.
“Yes, suh,” said Mark.
Mr. Parker parked his car in the school parking lot and gave his family further instructions.
“It is now five o’clock. The first order of business is the costume contest in the school auditorium. Once the contest is over, you will have plenty of time to visit your teachers, play games, and see the haunted house. Harold and Mark, you will be with your mother at all times, and Lisa will be with me. We will meet back at the front entrance to the school at seven o’clock,” said Mr. Parker.
“OK, dear,” said Mrs. Parker. “Here are carnival tickets for you and Lisa.”
“Thanks, dear,” said Mr. Parker, “and remember, if anyone gets lost, go to the nearest parent or teacher and ask for help. Your mother or I will be right there to get you.”
The family got out of the car and walked to the school’s front doors, which were decorated with ghosts, jack-o’-lanterns, and witches. They went inside to see a witches’ cauldron smoldering with dry ice and two mothers dressed up like witches. The mothers were dressed in black dresses with black boots and witches’ hats. The first witch had a green face and a wart on her nose. The second witch had a purple face with a spider on her cheek. Each witch had a silver wand.
“Bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble,” said the first witch.
“I think I see the Parkers’ double,” said the second witch.
“I see two Caspers with my eye,” said the first witch.
“And Wendy too, I spy, I spy,” said the second witch.
“Very clever, Imogene and Lynn,” said Mr. Parker. “And a happy Halloween to both of you.”
The Parker family headed straight for the auditorium and the costume contest. Mrs. Parker made it a point to enter her children in the costume contest each year. And each year they won—in large part due to Mrs. Parker. Mrs. Parker would provide props for each child’s costume. And these props would turn an ordinary costume into an extraordinary one. Lisa, for example, carried a wicker basket with a stuffed dog that looked just like Toto when Lisa was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz last year, and she won best girls’ costume for the fifth grade.
This year Mrs. Parker added white gloves, a black top hat, and a white stuffed dog to Harold’s Casper costume and a red witch’s hat, a red broom, and a white stuffed cat to Lisa’s Wendy costume. Mrs. Parker felt that with these props her children were poised to win yet again.
While the prizes for this year’s boys’ and girls’ costumes were being awarded, Mrs. Parker scoured the auditorium looking for this year’s group competition. The Jones’s children were dressed like Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man—the Cowardly Lion was missing.
“A fatal mistake,” thought Mrs. Parker.
The Boswell twins were dressed as cartoon characters Underdog and his girlfriend Sweet Polly Purebred. Timmy Boswell was tugging at his Sweet Polly Purebred costume.
“They don’t have props,” thought Mrs. Parker.
Mrs. Parker then saw two boys dressed as ghosts enter the auditorium and sit in the back row.
“Their costumes look too homemade,” thought Mrs. Parker.
The contestants for best group costume were called to the stage. Lisa and Harold as Wendy and Casper walked up the steps to the stage and stood next to the judge, who was none other than the principal, Mr. Breen. Then Margaret, Gretchen, and Danny Jones, as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man, took the stage. Finally twins Bobby and Timmy Boswell, as Underdog and Sweet Polly Purebred, walked onto the stage.
Mr. Breen, who was wearing a gray flannel suit, gathered the contestants together.
“Attention, please,” said Mr. Breen. “Do I have all contestants for the group contest on the stage now?”
There was no response from the audience. Mr. Breen noticed the two boys dressed as ghosts sitting together in the auditorium.
“Would the two ghosts in the last row please identify yourselves?” asked Mr. Breen.
The ghost wearing black tennis shoes said, “I am Will Harris, sir.”
The ghost wearing white tennis shoes said, “I am David Sullins, sir.”
“Will and David,” said Mr. Breen, “do you boys want to be contestants in the group costume contest?”
“Please, God, no,” prayed Lisa.
“No, sir,” said Will, “we’re just here to watch.”
“Thank you, God,” prayed Lisa, “thank you.”
The mere thought that Will and David would be watching her gave Lisa a nervous stomach, and she grabbed Harold’s hand to steady herself.
“All right,” said Mr. Breen, “we have three groups onstage competing for the group costume prize—the Jones group, the Parker group, and the Boswell group.”
With the mention of his last name, Timmy Boswell began to jump up and down. His brother Bobby looked in the audience for help.
“Contestants, are you ready to promenade?” Mr. Breen asked.
“I want to go home,” yelled Timmy Boswell.
Will and David began to laugh at Timmy’s costume.
“What a sissy,” said Will. “I wouldn’t be caught dead in a girls’ costume.”
“What’s wrong, Timmy?” Mr. Breen asked.
“It’s not fair,” said Timmy. “Bobby gets to be Underdog, but I have to be Sweet Polly Purebred. I don’t want to wear a dress,” said Timmy while pulling at his costume.
“So, are you going to stay or leave?” asked Mr. Breen.
“Leave,” said Timmy.
“Good riddance,” said David.
Timmy promptly left the stage, followed by his brother. Mrs. Boswell threw up her hands in dismay.
“Would the remaining two groups promenade around the stage three times?” said Mr. Breen.
The Jones children and the Parker children walked around the stage three times. With each turn the Parker children doffed their hats and held their white cat and dog in the air. With each turn Will and David laughed at Lisa.
“Look at Lisa,” said Will. “She’s too scared to be a real witch.”
“Yeah, she’s wearing a baby costume,” said David.
“At least her mask covers up her scary face,” said Will.
“You said it,” replied David.
“Stop, boys,” said Mr. Breen. “I’ve had enough of your tomfoolery.”
Heeding the principal’s warning, Will and David got up from their seats and left the auditorium. The contestants finished their promenade, and Mr. Breen turned to Margaret Jones.
“Margaret, where is your Cowardly Lion?” Mr. Breen asked.
“Howard was supposed to be the Cowardly Lion, but he was too afraid to come,” said Margaret.
“Thank you, Margaret,” said Mr. Breen. “I have made my decision. I hereby award this year’s group costume prize to Lisa and Harold Parker. Wendy the Good Little Witch and Casper the Friendly Ghost never looked better! Here is your blue ribbon,” said Mr. Breen.
Lisa graciously took the blue ribbon and nervously escorted her brother off the stage and to their seats in the auditorium.
“Let me have that ribbon,” said Mrs. Parker. “Congratulations to both of you.”
“Yes, congratulations,” said Mr. Parker. “Are you all right, Lisa?”
“Yes, sir,” said Lisa, “I’m fine.”
“Good,” said Mr. Parker. “Well, Mr. Breen certainly put those boys in their place—I’m sure they won’t bother you again.”
“Yes, sir,” said Lisa, who was too scared to tell her father the truth about Will and David.
“Children, this is where we go our separate ways,” said Mr. Parker. “Boys, behave yourselves and have fun. Come on, Lisa.”
Mrs. Parker escorted Harold and Mark to the beanbag toss while Mr. Parker and Lisa headed the other direction.
“Daddy, this way to the cakewalk,” said Lisa. “I want to try to win Miss Loomis’s cake.”
The cakewalk was located in the lunchroom. The tables and chairs had been pushed to one side, and two large concentric circles had been drawn on the floor with colored chalk. Between the circles, numbers were drawn with the chalk.
To play the game, a player stands on a number between the circles and th
en walks around the circles while the music plays. When the music stops, the player stops walking, and a piece of paper with a number on it is drawn from a bowl. The player who stands on the number that matches the number drawn wins and selects a cake as his or her prize.
Each teacher baked a cake for this carnival game. The cakes were displayed on three lunchroom tables adjacent to the chalk circles.
“May I have a ticket for the cakewalk, please,” Lisa asked her father.
“Here you go,” said Mr. Parker, handing his daughter a carnival ticket.
“Thanks, Daddy,” said Lisa.
Mrs. Stewart was in charge of the cakewalk. Lisa gave Mrs. Stewart her ticket and proceeded to the chalk circles. She stood on number 10, her lucky number. Once the circles were filled with players, Mrs. Stewart started the music playing. The players began to walk in a clockwise direction around the circles. When Mrs. Stewart stopped the music, Lisa was standing on number 7. Mrs. Stewart drew number 5—Roxanne Phillips was the winner, and she chose Mrs. Darren’s pound cake.
Lisa walked back to her father.
“May I try one more time, Daddy?” Lisa asked. “Please?”
“Of course you can,” said Mr. Parker. “Here’s another ticket.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” said Lisa as she took the ticket and handed it to Mrs. Stewart.
Lisa walked to the chalk circles and again stood on lucky number 10. Will and David walked into the lunch-room and stood in the background, watching Lisa. Lisa immediately became ill at ease. Mrs. Stewart started the music, and Lisa cautiously marched around the circles. When the music stopped, Lisa was on lucky number 10. Mrs. Stewart then drew number 10, and Lisa was the winner.
“I won, Daddy, I won!” exclaimed Lisa.
“Which cake would you like, Lisa?” asked Mrs. Stewart.
“I choose Miss Loomis’s cake, ma’am,” said Lisa happily.
“Yucky,” said Will.
“Double yucky,” said David.
“I’m sorry, Lisa,” said Mrs. Stewart. “You will have to choose a different cake.”
“Has Miss Loomis’s cake already been chosen?” asked Lisa.
“No, honey,” said Mrs. Stewart, “Miss Loomis’s cake has been disqualified.”
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