Matryo-ress (Volume 3)

Chapter 3 - Crazy Carnival

My name is Ume. I'm 7 and I like to go on walks with my teddy bear because my daddy isn't home much. My daddy is a really nice friend, he made me real and took me away from the bad people. I don't know why, but it's best to leave daddy alone because he always seems upset about things. Not in a mean way, but in a way to where it's troubling to him and he gets sad about it being in his mind.

I walk in the city a lot. I don't like when people I don't know talk to me. People I don't know talking to me makes me scared that they will hurt me. I know where places are in the city well. Tonight, I stayed near my home and tried to find somewhere new that I haven't been to yet. My coat that daddy made for me was really warm, it was cold tonight. I was taught to put more clothes on when it's cold outside. I saw a carnival that wasn't really far away. Daddy took me to a carnival once, it was fun. I wanted to have fun at the carnival so I went there.

After some walking, I got to the carnival. The lights weren't on and I was confused. I went inside anyways to see if I could turn the lights on. I don't like the dark, so I hugged my teddy bear. I walked around the carnival for a long time, I think that was just what it felt like though. I started not to like it here anymore. I wanted to go home. I started shaking and got really scared, it was cold and I didn't like being in the dark without daddy.

Then I started hearing noises, the noises I heard sounded like someone walking around. I don't like strangers, so I didn't want to meet them. I started walking faster because I wanted to leave as soon as possible, I thought I was being followed. I don't like this at all, I want my daddy. I started to run away and the noises got louder, they sounded like big footsteps. I thought I was being followed by a really big and scary monster. I started to cry because I was scared and I wanted to leave.

I heard the monster say to me, "Wait! Wait up, young one!"

It didn't sound like a monster, but I don't like strangers, so I kept going.

"Please, young one, I do not do harm! I just wish to know why you are here!"

The monster was trying to talk to me again. The monster sounded nice, so I stopped running to see who it was and because I was tired. It was a man. He looked like a funny clown. He was purple and blue, purple is my favorite color. I think purple is a really pretty color, it's the color of my eyes. Purple reminds me of grapes. Grapes are yummy and sweet. I like grapes.

"May I ask you for your name, young one?"

I was scared to talk to him, but I said, "U-um...I-I'm Ume, I'm here to have fun at the carnival."

I wiped the water in my eyes because it was starting to hurt.

'Huh? Huh? Eh? Eh? I'm confused, young one, were you led to believe that this carnival is for people to play games at?"

"Y-yes..."

"No no no no no no! No no no no no no! That is not correct, this is my home! Jeehee."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Clown--"

"Clown?! No no no no! I am not a clown, I am a jester! But it is alright, it has become a common error among the people who I meet."

"Oh..."

"Though, young one, I must ask that you leave my home at this very moment."

"Can we play?"

"Huh? Eh? I'm quite confused."

Even though he was a stranger, I wanted to play a game with him. I think daddy taught me that jesters entertain people and I wanted to have fun with the jester. Jesters seem really good at playing games, so I asked if he wanted to play one together.

"Can we play a game?"

"Oh, oh! A game, yes yes, I know many games! Jeehee...what kind of game do you want to play?"

"Um...umm..."

"How about a simple game of hide and seek, you know how to play, right, right?"

I nodded my head at him. I didn't like hide and seek when I played with the new people in my old house, but I wanted to play again. I liked having someone new to play games with.