"Hey, Pauline, want to come to the fun-fair with me this afternoon?"
Pauline had run into Josie while doing some shopping on a Saturday morning. It was a fine Spring day and a travelling fun-fair had arrive during the week and set up. They'd opened for business the previous day and were scheduled to stay for a week.
"Oh, I don't know, Josie," grumbled Pauline. "I'd kind of like to go but I'm rather broke and I won't get paid until the day before they leave. I think I'll have to give it a miss."
"Pauline," chided Josie, "you're overlooking several pertinent facts."
"Really? And what would they be?"
"We're female and eighteen. The weather is warm and so we can dress accordingly. Wear a short top that emphasises your attributes and a short flirty skirt. Dressed like that we can flirt with a couple of the ride operators and get ourselves some free rides."
"What? We just ask them for a free ride and they say sure, hop on? You have to be joking."
"Why would I kid you about that sort of thing? I've done it before and it works a treat. It's just that it will be more fun if I've got someone with me. How about it?"
"Easy enough for you. You're always flirting and carrying on. I'd be too embarrassed to ask for free rides."
"You won't have to. I'll ask. All you have to do is smile and look friendly and the operators will fall all over themselves to give you a freebie. We just have to make sure we pick fairly young ones. The older ones tend to laugh and offer two tickets for the price of two. Tight wads, the older guys."
Pauline giggled. "Perhaps they've worked out how much they lost giving away free rides when they were younger," she pointed out. "Now they charge for everything to make up for lost revenue."
"Anyway, I'm sure you must have a few dollars put away that you can use for snacks and a few games. It's only the rides that cost the money and we'll get those for free. Do say you'll come along."
Pauline considered it. She had to admit that Josie was right. She did have some mad-money put aside. It wouldn't really hurt to use some of that. Even if they didn't get any free rides they could still have some fun.
"OK. Why not? Swing past my place after lunch and pick me up."
"Fine. See you then. Don't forget to wear a flirty skirt."
"Ah, I was thinking jeans, actually. Why the skirt?"
"To encourage the operators. If, say, we're going on the Ferris Wheel then the flirty skirt raises their hopes that they may find themselves in a position where they can look up our skirts. They're more likely to give free rides if they think they'll be able to sneak a peek."
"You're evil," Pauline reprimanded her, trying not to laugh.
"I know. Ain't it fun?" retorted Josie, not even trying to hide her laugh.
- - -
Josie picked Pauline up later that day and they went on down to the fair. The first order of the day, the girls decided, was to try their hands at a few of the games. Eating could wait until they'd tried having a few rides. That way they wouldn't lose what they ate.
"You do know the games are rigged, don't you?" Pauline observed.
"Of course, but they have to let a few suckers win. Seeing people carrying round prizes brings more suckers in."
Pauline had a few doubts, so she was somewhat bemused to find herself carrying around a rather large teddy, courtesy of some dart throwing.
"You don't fool me," giggled Josie. "You weren't even aiming at the target you hit. A pure fluke is what it was."
