Somewhere else in the big top, Ben was at the arcade area.
"This feels boring," he thought to himself.
Suddenly, he heard some footsteps. "Would you like to buy some balloons?"
He turned around and saw a tall man, probably in his 30s. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Oh, me? I'm the balloon man. I sell balloons for a living. I'm John," the man answered. "Would you like a balloon?"
"Oh, yes, please," said Ben. "Could I have that green one?"
"Good choice," said John, as he handed the balloon to Ben.
"How much for the balloon?" Ben asked.
"Oh, it's free, as long as you agree to join me," he said, smiling towards Ben.
"Join you?" Ben asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes. You see, I sometimes feel that this balloon stand needs a mascot. And I got the perfect idea for one. I even created a suit of the mascot. However, i just can't find a person suitable enough to wear the suit."
"What do you mean?" asked Ben.
"Well, first of all, I can't really find anybody who is so enthusiastic about balloons like me," John said. "And what's more, the suit is only suitable for someone who is about your size."
"Hey, I could be the mascot!" Ben said excitedly.
"Hmmm... I don't know..." said John. "Are you really sure?"
"Of course I'm sure," Ben replied. "I've never been any surer before."
"Okay, if you say so," said John. "Put on this suit, please," John said, giving him the suit.
"This is quite a thick suit," Ben remarked.
"Just to make sure that nobody will ever know that it's you under that suit."
"Okay. I'm done."
"You look magnificent in that suit!" exclaimed John. "Now to make it permanent."
"Permanent?"
"Yes. You will be the balloon stand mascot until the end of time."
"Zzzzz..." Suddenly, a green beam shot Ben.
"Aaah! What was that?"
"Never mind that. Just enjoy your transformation."
Ben looked at the suit and noticed that it was shrinking.
"What's going on!?"
"Oh, the suit is just adjusting its own size to make you look more natural," John explained.
"More natural?" asked Ben.
Suddenly, Ben felt that it had become harder to breathe as his chest was pressed down on by the suit.
"It's getting hard to breathe," said Ben. "Is this the work of the green beam?" he asked.
Ben stared at John but John didn't reply. Instead, he pointed at Ben's arms. Ben got shocked as he noticed that his arms were gaining a shiny luster.
"What's happening to my arms?"
"Well, I could tell you, but where's the fun in that?" asked John.
Ben glared at John angrily when he started to feel that his limbs were getting numb.
"My arms! I feel like I'm losing control of them!"
"Never mind, you will eventually get used to it."
Soon, he felt that his limbs were stiff as sticks. Not only that, he also felt that his body had changed too. He felt that he couldn't turn around anymore, and his neck was starting to feel stiff too.
"What are you doing to me!? Can you reverse it?"
"No," said John. "I'm afraid not."
"Somebody help m..."
The effects of the green beam had already reached Ben's entire head. He was immobile.
"What have I become?" he thought to himself.
"Here, go on and promote the balloon stand," said John while putting some balloon strings in Ben's right hand, and a sign in the left, saying,"BALLOONS FOR SALE! COME AND GET THEM!"
"You are the balloon stand's new mascot," said John. "From now until forever," he added.
"No, this can't be happening!" Ben thought.
YOU ARE READING
Melancholia
FantasyThere was once a town called Melancholia, where weird things often happened. The spirits there, are not necessarily good, not necessarily bad. The skies there were most often blue, but sometimes light shows occurred. Clouds came in all shapes, sizes...
