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The Carnival ...

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Just coming out of my first divorce in 1987,  I was struggling to make ends meet with my four-year-old son. I worked a full-time job, but still living day by day.  This is when I learned to become a “make a way, find a way“ kind of girl.

A carnival had come to town and he was so excited. I honestly could not afford to take him after I paid my monthly bills, but he was such a good kid… very well mannered and obedient and he deserved to go.

I worked at Winn-Dixie but I sold Tupperware on the side. I made about 25 telephone calls that week and managed to pick up enough cash to take him. 

I had $20 to take my son to the carnival. That was just enough for an armband for the rides for him, a game or maybe two, and a corndog and a drink for his supper.

I never told him where we were going the night I took him but as we pulled into the parking lot his entire face lit up with the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. He giggled and danced a little silly dance that four-year-olds do when they are excited.

I purchased his armband for $10 then we walked from booth to booth for him to get a good idea of what games to play. A carnie at the basketball booth motioned us over for a “free play”.  My son wanted to do it so we did. The carnie showed us how “easy” it was and that we “couldn’t miss”. He encouraged us further by saying that “everyone is a winner“.

I stood my son up on the counter, he took the basketball and made two out of three shots. He was thrilled. The carnie told us that he could take a small prize or throw again in hopes to trade up., so my son took three more shots, again making two out of three.

This went on for several minutes until my son became tired and was missing every throw. I had the carnie give my son his prize so he could ride some rides. Before he would give my son his prize he told me I owed him $12 for all the games we played to trade up. I was furious. I thought he was giving us “free play“, but he was tallying up every single thing.

I wasn’t going to let my son be brokenhearted so I gave the carnie all I had left. I watched him pocket that money while my son and I walked away with a dime store trinket. 

I was so disappointed that I allowed myself to be tricked into something like that, but my son was still grinning from ear to ear. He did not know that was all I had and there was nothing left. Nothing for anything to eat ... not even cotton candy. 

Fortunately, he was not even concerned about anything to eat… he just wanted to ride.  He rode those carnival rides for two solid hours and didn’t even complain when it was time for us to leave.

As I put my son in the backseat of my car and closed his door, there lay a crumpled $20 bill on the ground beside my foot. 

Things were simple back then even though times were tough. I never thought twice about putting in the overtime to do what I needed to do to put a smile on my sons face.  He certainly always put a smile on mine. And, somehow …  things have always worked out just fine. 

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