Episode 3

“Pick your prize. There’s the stuffed… pink dolphin, or the blow-up, uh, Sriracha bottle, and a giant banana with sunglasses…”

Gerald handed the teenagers one banana, while his coworker glanced at him, trying to hide an amused grin.

“I don’t think you could sound any less excited,” Blake chuckled.

Gerald rolled his eyes, “Dream job, right here.” 

Gerald ran the ping-pong toss booth on weekends, while Blake had the basketball hoops. Children spent their parent’s pretty pennies only to receive a toy worth less than their efforts. To Gerald's right, the new guy, Spencer, had the obnoxious test-your-strength game, making loud bell noises each time someone dropped the hammer. Fury built in Gerald's chest as he watched people swinging away and adding more noises with their cheers.

“Why are we doing this again?” Gerald glowered at his uniform next, the striking primary colors in stripes reminded him of hot dog stand girls.

“It’s just between semesters,” Blake explained, as if routine, “We get extra money before classes start again. We also get into Wonder World for free, which means we can take girls here. Oh, and the food is free.”

Gerald sighed, reassured, “Right. Girls and food… girls and food. And money. Did you ask that usher out yet? Blondie?”

Blake shrugged, before giving him a knowing glance.

“You did?”

Blake shrugged, “We might be going out later tonight.”

“Right on. Ugh… three months. Three long fuc-”

“Language!” 

Gerald looked up and spotted Jen, one of the newer employees at the park, strolling by their booths and pointing a finger at the two of them, “This is a kid-friendly zone, doncha know.”

“Ooo, the Wonder World police,” Gerald said, “Where are you off to newbie? You can chill with us cool kids.”

“Oh, I’ll pass. You guys are a little too cool for me,” Jen snorted, “I’ve gotta get ready for tonight, anyway.”

“What’s tonight?” Blake asked.

“Why, the great Matholemew’s show of course! I’m helping backstage.”

Gerald resisted rolling his eyes for the hundredth time today. This would be Blake and Gerald’s second time working at Wonder World, usually only in three month periods, but the three months felt like years. Every night they’d return to their apartment smelling like popcorn or some kid’s vomit. Now they had a slew of new performers bringing more and more people to the park.

“Are you helping out at the clown shows also?” he asked.

Jen paused, her smile suddenly looked forced, “Um. What clowns?”

“Oh,” Gerald suddenly felt like he said something off-putting, “Uh - that’s the new thing now. Every hour on the hour the clowns have a show. There’s even a new clock tower in every area of the park letting you know when the next show is. It’s super annoying… but I thought the clowns came with you guys?”

Jen already had light skin, but her face became ghostly pale, “Um… no. Not with us. Cool though, I’ll… have to check it out sometime.”

With that, she continued walking, her peppiness returning. Blake started snickering again.

“What!” Gerald demanded. Someone had just hit the bell at Spencer’s station, adding to his aggravation.

“You have a way with ladies,” Blake replied.

“Shut up. I didn’t think they’d still…”

“Be freaked? I would be. I mean, they never found who did it.”

A presence arrived just behind Gerald, making him flinch.

“Who did what?”

“Geez!” Gerald jumped, “Spencer. Don’t sneak up all creepy.”

Spencer frowned, adjusting his glasses, “My bad. Just curious. No one’s standing in my line so… Was that one of the circus kids?” 

The three Wonderworkers huddled together on break, feasting on churros and frozen lemonades. In the beginning, Gerald loved the warmth and sugary scent of churros, but this being his unknown numbered churro, the magic had worn off. 

“Basically,” Blake started, “The circus was on lock down. Everyone was questioned. But they didn’t find anything. No weapon, no signs of a struggle or even bloodshed. Crazy.”

“It must’ve happened earlier that day, and whoever did it brought the body later,” Spencer mulled, “I can’t even imagine… a jar full of…”

“A barrel,” Blake sucked half his lemonade down in one gulp, “Brain-freeze…”

Spencer looked like he was about to gag, “Disgusting…”

“That was ten years ago,” Gerald said, “Whoever did it got away with it and hasn’t shown up again. Hopefully, it was someone with a vendetta against the poor clown and now he’s done.”

“Must’ve been a pretty crazy vendetta…” Spencer noted.

The mood turned solemn, and they returned to their fried treats in silence. 

*****

Jen opened the tent to Tina’s bedroom to find Natalie asleep on the floor, curled up like a kitten in a blanket. Curiously enough, no Tina.

“Hey,” Jen nudged Natalie with the tip of her shoe.

Natalie stirred, brown hair plastered on one side of her face.

“Where’s your grandma?” Jen asked.

“Hm?”

“Tina. I thought I’d find her sleeping in here, not you. Especially not you, because you’re helping tonight too.”

“Oh yeah,” Natalie mumbled, she hadn’t registered the first question yet. Jen poked her head out of the tent and scanned the area.

“What?” Natalie inquired.

“I’m just surprised Tina left without you,” Jen said.

Natalie glared, focusing on waking up still and rolled over. Her hands grabbed at the bedding above her until she rose from the ground. Her eyes widened.

“I don’t know…” Natalie’s pulse quickened.

They exchanged a knowing severely of the situation. Jen bolted from the tent with Natalie hot on her heels.