Chapter 26

           ITWASTHEUSUALSORTOFCARNIVALintheusualsortoftown.Therideswerethesame,thecottoncandytastedthesame,theflatjointspracticedadegreeofmoderationacceptabletothelocallawinseparatingthemarksfromtheirhalfdollars,whetherwithbaseballsthrownattargets,withwheelsoffortune,orwhat–buttheseparationtookplacejustthesame.ThesexlecturewastrimmedtosuitlocalopinionsconcerningCharlesDarwin’sopinions,thegirlsintheposingshowworethatamountofgauzethatlocalmoresrequired,andtheFearlessFentonsdidtheirDeath-Defying(insobertruth)DoubleDivejustbeforethelastballyeachnight.

           Theten-in-oneshowwasequallystandard.Itdidnothaveamentalist,itdidhaveamagician;itdidnothaveabeardedlady,itdidhaveahalf-manhalf-woman;itdidnothaveaswordswallower,itdidhaveafireeater.Inplaceofatattooedmantheshowhadatattooedladywhowasalsoasnakecharmer–andfortheblow-off(atanotherhalfdollarpermark)sheappeared"absolutelynude!?clothedonlyinbarelivingfleshinexoticdesigns!"-andanymarkwhocouldfindonesquareinchbelowhernecklineuntattooedwouldbeawardedatwentydollarbill.

           Thattwentydollarshadgoneunclaimedallseason,becausetheblowoffwashonestlyballyhooed.Mrs.Paiwonskistoodperfectlystillandcompletelyunclothed–otherthanin"bare,livingflesh"?inthiscaseafourteen-footboaconstrictorknownas"HoneyBun."HoneyBunwasloopedaroundMrs.P.