The children, previously reveling in their joy, came bounding down the slide that extends off the bouncy house, screaming. That’s what usually happened. I assisted their safe and timely exit as I had been instructed many times to do.

_Is that all of them, I thought, someone’s gotta go in and check. Shit. _

__

When the flow of children ceased, I was soon inside the beautiful castle, adorned with every color in the ranibow. The vinyl was warm against my skin, that kind of warmth that only comes from sitting beneath the sun all day, radiant and warming to the soul.

_And as that castle came crumbling down, burning under the heat akin to Rome’s demise, that__ warmth began to overwhelm me from every direction. The rainbow was closing in, starting to consume me. ___

__

The was air magnificent, as it flowed through my lungs, _deeply and rapidly._

__

_ I don’t see anyone and I don’t hear anyone so it must be just me, I thought. Shit. Which way is the exit?_

_“HELPPP!!!”_

High in the sky, as if calling to me, that sun was bright. As the light engulfed me, _ I rejoiced in my head and the final horns sounded around me,_ a ferris wheel car crossed its path waking me from a trance.

_A hand reached in, angelic, and removed me from my hellish impending demise. And as I was dragged out and away by my savior…_

__

a clown on a unicycle rode along honking away. A gaggle of children, undeterred, chased after him to his next show. He gave me a balloon flower for my troubles as I was carted off to the medical tent.

The smell of frying dough and sugar stuck in the air and called my attentions elsewhere. I was eager to return to the fairgrounds a free man for the day. I think I’ve earned myself a funnel cake for lunch.