I Pulled My Hands Apart
I pulled my hands apart, stringing green glowing strands of taffy between them. The children queued up before me, mesmerized. The music from the carnival’s midway played from tiny speakers overhead. The lights of the House of Mirrors sign flashed in succession to my right. When the strands of radioactive taffy grew taut, I laid them across the table and cut them into bite-sized pieces. The wide-eyed children grabbed with grubby hands, unable to wait for me to wrap the candies.
I swatted the hands back and reminded them, “A half dollar a piece.”
They eagerly dug into pockets. Each plunked a shiny silver coin on the table before snatching a piece of candy and shoving it into their mouths. In front of the House of Mirrors, the carnival barker gave me a curt nod, and I waved a hand in response.
“Chew them up good,” I said, “then visit the amazing House of Mirrors and watch your teeth glow a ghostly green in the dark.”
The mob of urchins mumbled “Thank yous” in response, unable to fully open mouths glued shut with taffy, and ran to queue up in front of my fellow carnie. As the kids disappeared inside, a fairy fluttered out of thin air with a string of glowing teeth around her neck. She gave a sly smile and plunked a small pouch of coins on the table.
“Your share of last night’s take,” said the Tooth Fairy.
“Much obliged.” I nodded. “See you again tomorrow night.”
Imaged adapted from photo by Amanda Sofia Pellenz
This week’s post was a collaborative effort.
”Radioactive Taffy” brought to you by Madeleine & Zoë
Fun House Mirrors, Glowing Teeth, & the Tooth Fairy by Rob
