Economy sized dreams of hope.

[kateohara]

Monday, November 16th - late afternoon/early eveningWhat a beautiful day it has been! The sun has been shining brilliantly all day, even though it's decidedly cool. The sun is low in the sky now, but I think there will be a lovely sunset. I have been humming to myself all day, because it is a good thing to be alive and healthy when it's a bright

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[tess_thiess]

I was glad when Kate suggested we go out t'the Carnival. I ain't bin smilin' much since my dreams a couple days ago, where Bill's goddess came and offered me that choice. I kept mostly t'myself, but maybe this'll chase the taste 'a salt out 'a my mouth.

Kate's waitin' fer me at the bridge, wearin' a coat over her dress and carryin' a package. I'm wearin' a skirt and sweater myself, and it feels strange t'be wearin' two halves rather 'n a proper dress. I got t'get my winter clothes in from the farm soon. I wave as I quicken my pace, walkin' u t'her. "Evenin', Kate," I say.

I feel a little better already.

[kateohara]

I smile as Tess comes over to meet me.

"Hello," I say, and I give her a one armed hug, the package in my other hand, and I think I love you and my smile lifts up. "How was your day?" I take her arm in mine, because that's an ordinary enough thing for friends to do and no one will look at us oddly, I shouldn't think. "I have something for you," I say, "though we can wait to sit down before you open it."

[tess_thiess]

She smiles, and that ache in my heart whenever she smiles at me drives some of my brooding away. "Hello," she says, embracin' me, and if I clasp her back a bit more tight than a friend would, well, no one's payin' any real attention. "How was your day?" She takes my arm and we start walkin', arm in arm, off east t'the Carnival.

I ain't ever bin there, and I want t'know what Johnny sees in it that he keeps makin' friends there. "It was alright," I say. "Lord Hughes is bearable if you dunt spend time 'round him, and Jenna 'n I've bin workin' different hours to we hardly even see each other in passin'."

"I have something for you," she says, "though we can wait to sit down before you open it." I smile at her, eyein' the package she's got. "I guess I can hold my curiosity that long," I say. "How's your Monday bin?"

[kateohara]

"Lord Hughes is bearable if you dunt spend time 'round him, and Jenna 'n I've bin workin' different hours to we hardly even see each other in passin'."

I get a little pang thinking about Jenna, but I'm too happy today to really mind it.

"I'm glad you can avoid Lord Hughes," I say with a sniff. "Though where he's a lord of I do not know. The man has the most ridiculous airs and graces."

"How's your Monday bin?""Oh, very nice," I say. "I took Lady out for a longer ride than usual - you know, we should go riding together," I add as an afterthought, and it's a pleasant idea, riding with Tess through fields dappled red-gold with fall. "And I finished this," I say, holding up the parcel. "It's so nice to have two days off a week. I don't know how I managed with only Sundays for so long

[tess_thiess]

"I'm glad you can avoid Lord Hughes," she says a bit haughty. "Though where he's a lord of I do not know. The man has the most ridiculous airs and graces." I shrug some. "He's called himself that so long as he's lived here, and Ma 'n Pa always insist on callin' folks like that proper. Even if Pa then turns right 'round and goes on 'bout the man holdin' himself 'bove others."

I can see the wheel risin' up from the tents as we approach. It's dirty, 'a course, and it's got a half-finished look, like the whole place is just waitin' t'pick up 'n leave. I guess that'd be fine, but after a couple months it's lookin' a lot more run-down that it would otherwise. "I took Lady out for a longer ride than usual - you know, we should go riding together," she adds, and I nod 'cause it'd be nice ridin' off out 'a town a ways, and 'cause Delilah's not bin gettin' much exercise 'a late.

Kate takes the lead a bit as we get t'the gates, lookin' at the posters. They're real nice, or were, and I can see the skill in the faded colour 'n lines.

"

[kateohara]

Tess leans in and kisses me on the cheek, and I smile brightly at that. "Even with the trees near t'bare, it's like summer bein' out with you," Tess says, and that might the prettiest thing I ever heard, and I blush harder and keep smiling.

"You pick somethin' first - I ain't ever bin here, so I dunt know what t'visit."

"There's the ring toss," I say. "I think it was over there - Yes, there it is," I say. "How's your aim?" I smile at her and squeeze her arm as we walk over. There are some awful bears in garish colours - who would want a turquoise teddy bear? - but also some prettier prizes - a jewellery box and a watch and a vase. Those are set furthest back, of course.

[tess_thiess]

She smiles at me again, and blushes. "There's the ring toss," she says, coverin'. "I think it was over there - Yes, there it is. How's your aim?"I look at the booth, a shifty-lookin' man standin' behind the countertop. There're stuffed animals and other prizes set back on shelves, too. A set 'a stakes are on stands goin' t'the back 'a the tent, and there's rings set out on the counter. "I'm not too bad a thrower," I say. Pa and the older boys play plenty 'a horseshoes, and this can't be all that different from me playin' with them from time t'time

[kateohara]

Tess misses the first couple of tosses, and she looks sort of mad about it. She mutters something under her breath, and I don't know whether it's a prayer or a curse but she winds up getting a stake right at the back!

"Oh, the vase!" I say. It's quite a small thing but the china is pretty. "Well done," I say, putting an arm around her waist and giving her a squeeze. "I suppose I should have a try," I say, giving the man my coin. I think I've a reasonable arm, but all the rings bounce off.

"Better luck next time, miss," says the carnie, giving Tess a sour look as we leave.

"Well, he was a sourpuss," I say with a laugh as we move on. "But a prize rightaway, I think that is a good omen for the night."

[tess_thiess]

"Oh, the vase!" I blink fer a sec, and then almost blush 'cause I wasn't even watchin' at the prize fer the stake I was throwin' at. It was just 'bout the same distance as the one at the pit near the house. Still, I'm glad that it's a nice thing. I think I'll give it t'Kate - she's brought me a present after all, and that's what you do at things like this if you're out with your girl, right?

She dunt have much luck with her tosses, and I ain't surprised. "Well, he was a sourpuss," she says laughin', and I shoot him a look over my shoulder. "But a prize rightaway, I think that is a good omen for the night."

I smile at her. "It is. Come on," I say, lookin' 'round at all the tents and the few rides, "let's take a walk down the main way."

[will_moreton]

Business has slowed with the cold weather comin' on. Not a surprise, rides aren't as much fun for some in the cold. Been keepin' my eyes peeled for any work in town. Not leavin' the show or nuthin', but not much to do around the lot with winter comin' on. But enough to keep me from goin' back to see Ri again, wonder how it worked out with that young fella, John

[kateohara]

"let's take a walk down the main way."

"Let's," I agree, and we start walking down the midway. "There are candy apples there, and cotton candy," I note. "Oh look, and funnel cake."

Then a familiar face comes over.

"Its good to see you again, Ms. Kate, How've you been?"

"Oh Mr Moreton," I say, "it's nice to see you again. I've been quite well. Tess, this is Will Moreton, who is head of the - rousties?" I say, glancing at Will to check it's the right word. "I was just suggesting to Tess that we might buy a snack, if you would like to join us. How have you been?"

[tess_thiess]

"Let's," she says, and we start walkin' over there, each 'v us holdin' a package now. "There are candy apples there, and cotton candy. Oh look, and funnel cake." I wouldn't mind a sweet, even if I ain't quite got Johnny's taste fer 'em, so I nod as we angle off t'the sweets stands.

A man comes up t'us as we're walkin'. "Nice throw, Miss," he says t'me grinnin'. "Not many win that game." He seems pleasant 'nough but I'm wonderin' if he saw how I did it. But then he turns t'Kate 'n says "Its good to see you again, Ms. Kate, How've you been?"

"Oh Mr Moreton," she replies, "it's nice to see you again. I've been quite well. Tess, this is Will Moreton, who is head of the - rousties?" I guess they know each other then, and I relax some 'cause Kate seems t'have a good sense 'a folks. "I was just suggesting to Tess that we might buy a snack," she continues, "if you would like to join us. How have you been?"

"Pleased t'meet you, Mr. Moreton," I say, not wantin' t'interrupt him 'n Kate.

[will_moreton]

"Oh Mr Moreton, it's nice to see you again. I've been quite well. Tess, this is Will Moreton, who is head of the - rousties?" Smilin' I nod, happy she remembers, its been awhile. "I was just suggesting to Tess that we might buy a snack, if you would like to join us. How have you been?"

"Pleased t'meet you, Mr. Moreton," "Good to meet you, Ms. Tess, an please, call me, Will," I smile and turn back to Ms. Kate, "I've been well, Ms. Kate, thanks for askin', and sure," I say runnin' a hand through my hair, hopin' I'm not interruptin girl time. Been around the twins, Genny, and Zann enough to know better, "I could do with a snack. You two have a hankerin' for anything in particular?" I ask, smilin' at them both. "Also have a seat on Colossus with your name on it," I grin. If they have even half as much fun as little Neko did, it'll be a good night.

[kateohara]

"I'll call you Will if you call me Kate without the miss," I smile at Will. "I was thinking about a candy apple," I say. "I like the sweet outside with a sharp green taste inside," I add. I think it's sort of the opposite of what Tess is - she can come across as quite sharp, but I've realised how sweet she is. This is probably a silly thought to have, and I smile to myself

[tess_thiess]

"Good to meet you, Ms. Tess, an please, call me, Will," he says cheerful, and I can't help but smile at him. He really does seem friendly 'nough. "I've been well, Ms. Kate, thanks for askin', and sure, I could do with a snack. You two have a hankerin' for anything in particular?" He runs his hand back through his hair, makin' it stick up some and remindin' me 'a Johnny.

"I was thinking about a candy apple," Kate tells him. "I like the sweet outside with a sharp green taste inside," and I nod. "Maybe I'll have a bit 'a the spun sugar. It's not somethin' we get t'have really."

Mr. Moreton, who I ain't sure I'd be comfortable callin' 'Will' grins at us. "Also have a seat on Colossus with your name on it." I furrow my brows at that but Kate knows what he's talkin' 'bout. "Colossus, is that the wheel? I definitely want to go on it - I haven't had a chance yet. And I'd like to go on the carousel again."

I follow Kate over t'the stalls, catchin' her arm in my as we walk, just 'till we get there. "I do like fall foods," she says

[will_moreton]

"I'll call you Will if you call me Kate without the miss," she smiles, and I nod smiling back, feelin' my face heat some. Not used to such friendly townsfolk or being so informal with them, was raised better. "Its a deal," I grin, toeing the dirt a little as she mentions candy apples and Tess mentions getting some spun sugar.

"Colossus, is that the wheel? I definitely want to go on it - I haven't had a chance yet. And I'd like to go on the carousel again,"

"Yep, she's the tallest one of her kind," I grin, glancing over at the wheel with some pride. "Won't see another like her, either." Think she's the only one of her kind left, actually. Thank fuck for Zann or we'd have lost her years back. "Of all the rides, she's my favorite," I grin, nodding to the vendor, lettin' him know I got the cost, as he hands the girls their selections and I ask for some funnel cake. We'll take the tab off my pay for the week, makes it easier."How's business, Will?" I shrug, "With the colder weather comin' on, its slowed some," I say looking around,