Chapter 10: The Carnival (part 4)

The Carnival (part 4)

Teresa tried to brighten the mood by joking, "It's ok don't look so dejected. I'm sure we can find someone else to get Karen turned into a toad."

This brought her out of her though as she laughed, "You bet we will. I just felt like going there, is all." Sia shrugged with a smile and stepped up to walk beside her.

Seeing her bestfriend wanting something but ignoring her own wishes just because Teresa didn't want it made her feel bad and thus, she changed her mind.

"You know what, who cares if the show is over, we can still go in and ask her some crazy things about our future. What if she tells us if you get to kiss Brad the fit trainer tonight." Teresa teased winking at Sia before turning around on her heels.

It was now Teresa who tugged Sia along with her as they made their way to the Tent once more.

"Okay, and not to forget about the Karen part." Sia happily added.

The gypsy's tent stood out amidst the vibrant chaos of the carnival grounds. However not in a particularly lively fashion. It's colorful backdrop was being washed away by the state of the weathered exterior standing in stark contrast to the colorful vibrancy surrounding it. Faded and worn, the fabric sagged at some places under the weight of years gone by, its once-bright hues muted to dusty shades of each color.

Now up close the tent had a height looming over those who stood near the opening, causing a shadow to form with the sun now being behind it as it neared setting.

As the girls and quite a few people who still hanged around there probably for the same purposes as the two girls looked at the entrance way the must lead inside the tent. 

The entrance was shrouded in tattered curtains, their frayed edges whispering secrets of forgotten times. The fabric hung limply, devoid of the lively dance of vibrant colors, instead swaying with the mournful sigh of a forgotten past.

Teresa and Sia both gave each other a look even though both the girls didn't know reason why. Perhaps it was the air that seemed to hum with a palpable energy, a sense of mystique that drew them closer with each step.

Now closer, the air wafting away from the entrance was heavy with the scent of incense, its heady aroma mingling with the sweet perfume of dried flowers and herbs that no doubted hung from the rafters above the cloth ceiling of the tent inside. 

"At least the air smells nice around here in this otherwise eerie place." Teresa whispered near Sia's ear and earned herself a nod of affirmation from her.

Another person from among the small crowd began to speak out as they had no idea what to do standing out here. Should they go in uninvited or wait for someone to come out first. 

Usually it was her assistant or as he called himself 'apprentice' came out to let others know if the madam wanted to entertain the patrons individually or if she was going to perform a show for the crowd.

Although most of them believed these gypsy people to be tricksters, a faint fear still lingered in the recesses of their subconscious that intruding in a private place of a woman like her uninvited and unannounced could lead them to be- well, to be turned into a toad.