The carnival comes to our small town only once a year and it stays around for just one week. So, if you want to go, you plan to clear some time a good ways in advance. And, if you plan to go with someone, you make sure that they cleared some time for it, too, because second chances are a whole year away. I had worked a bit of overtime to be able to really enjoy this year's carnival with Katie, earning enough extra cash to assure us of having a good time. I'd gotten the entire week off from work (which is almost completely unheard of for carnival week) and reconfirmed our time together only a couple days ago. Katie had sounded strangely hesitant even then but I didn't hear any alarm bells going off until now. And, now, it wasn't simple alarm bells; it was the whole damned bell factory!
"What's the problem? You aren't getting sick, are you?" I asked, starting to get worried.
"No, Brent, I'm not getting sick. And, in case you're wondering, no I didn't 'miss it' this month. Something has just come up and I think I need to skip the carnival this time. I'm really sorry; I know you looked forward to it so much," she said, sounding like a liar, though I do trust her.
"But, we can go for just a few hours and I won't keep you out late." I knew when I said it that the discussion was over. Once she's made up her mind, nothing is going to change it. I tried to be as understanding as I could but I gave up on not feeling sorry for myself. Sure, I could go without her; I could even go alone. But, I wanted to be with her and I could feel us drifting further and further apart. For a few weeks, she seemed distant and, last week, she avoided me like I had the plague. I love her and I do not want to leave her, but it looks like we may have hit the end of our relationship.
So, there it was: alone for the only fun time this dinky little town can offer. I sat by the phone, half hoping she'd call me back, half hoping I'd say 'no' if she did. Saved from either decision by the phone's silence, I decided to go and have fun without her. If she didn't want to be with me, I could get along without her.
I walked the mile and a half to the old fair grounds, which were used for the carnival now and little else. Even before I was near the gate, I'd heard enough happy screaming, laughter, and shouting to get me in the mood for some fun, even if I was alone!
Wandering easily through the games, I saw a rather large crowd around one booth and walked closer. The game was a rope ladder climb that required a lot of full-body balance. A few kids almost made it to the top (they were given a big assist) but all fell before reaching the bell. The crowd was mixed but mostly guys making a lot of noise. They kept asking for a demonstration. Peering through them, I saw why: the girl in the booth was skinny and short but really cute. Her medium-short light brown hair was wavy, her breasts were too big for her size, and she had the best 'come on' smile I've ever seen a carny give a mark! I was soon hoping that she'd give a little demonstration, too, and worked my way near the front of the crowd. Two guys tried to stop me from getting any closer and I was about to give up when she yelled at me.
"You, there! Are you ready to try? These guys just want to hang around and take up my space! But, I can see that you think you can do this. It's easy as pie and all you need to do is go slow. Come on! You can't win unless you try!" All the usual hard sell you always hear at any carnival. It was just coming from her! Most of the guys started ragging on me right away; I was not known as the most athletic or the most popular guy in town. But, I was on top of the world right then and walked towards the girl and the ladder.
She smiled as I approached and some of the hoots became cheers of encouragement. The closer I got to the ladder, though, the more I thought I'd never make it. She must have seen the doubt in my eyes because she stopped me just as I was reaching for the ladder.
"The key to it is equal and opposite actions, counterbalancing you on the way," she said loudly. Then she turned directly to me and spoke just loudly enough for people close by to hear, "Would you like a demonstration?" That did it. The crowd would have elected me mayor for my answer and the noise around us made me smile like a champion boxer.
"Sure," I said and she smiled wryly at me, turning to the ladder. She explained each and every step of her way up the ladder, going so slowly that I didn't think it was possible for anyone to have so much balance control. And, if it's possible to make 'climbing a ladder' into a sexual act, she did it. I couldn't take my eyes off her tight little ass, rolling from step to step, stretching to reach for the next. Guys all around me were patting me on the back as if I had already made it to the top!
When she had, though, she rang the bell and started quickly down, to the appreciative applause of the crowd. She nodded to them then looked to me and said, "Two bucks and you're a hero!"
I coughed up the bills and reached for the rope thinking, 'this will be quick; I'll be on my ass in seconds but it was worth it'. She steadied the ladder to help me get situated and said, "Go for it!"
The crowd was pulling for me and I was going as slow and easy as I could. I was almost halfway up when I looked back and fell. There were as many laughs as cheers and everyone was clapping. I'm sure I was grinning from ear-to-ear and that must have given her the o.k. to break the most important of rules for the carny: never tease a mark. She helped me up and, pausing just long enough so that people started to listen, she said,
"Sucker!" and swatted me on the butt. She offered me a private little look and whispered, "Thanks!" And, that stupid little thing turned my day completely around! The crowd went wild and soon there were dozens of people clamoring to try the ladder. I walked away grinning and somebody swatted me! I turned to see two rather cute girls giggling and running into the crowd. I was feeling so good, it never occurred to me to give chase and maybe spend the day with them instead of alone.
It didn't matter, though. All throughout the day, guys were mimicking the carny's voice, "Sucker!" and most of their girlfriends swatted me! Being a small town, soon everybody my age knew about 'The Ladder Climb' and I was never alone! I had more fun that day than I've had in years!
