Shades of Cool

t. h. r. e. e.

I'm convinced that the road to Heaven smells like Funnel Cake and when it rains, it pours powered sugar.

The first time I went to the Florida State Fair I ate a record of five Funnel Cakes and got sick on the Ferris Wheel. My brother still makes fun of me for it.

I'm two Funnel Cakes deep when my friend and co-worker, Annie, calls me.

"Hey, B. Where are you?"

I look around. "At the food thingy."

"How any Funnel Cakes have you eaten?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

She laughs. "Brent and I are about to get off the Ferris Wheel. Meet us?"

I agree and hang up.

The path to the Ferris Wheel is continuous booths of carnival games and scattered food vendors. The teenagers who run the games remind me of those makeup women at Macy's, always trying to pressure you to buy a product. They start to shout at me to come play a game as soon as I'm in sight.

I walk with my head down and mouth full of powered sugar goodness through the valley of Death.

"Hey, come play and get yourself an animal!"

"Three tries to win a prize!"

"Hey girl!"

"Hey Emotion."

I hear a familiar voice. A familiar voice who likes to give me random nicknames that has ocean eyes and smells like a certain fruit.

I turn my head around, searching for him.

"Over here."

I spot him sitting at a picnic table besides one of the food trucks. He raises one of his hands so I'll notice him. He is smoking a cigarette from a bright yellow pack with an Indian wearing a headdress on it. The bright yellow matches a visor resting on top of his head and an apron tied around his waist.

I swallow the mouth full of Funnel Cake and walk over to him. His apron says Wiley Coyote. Oh.

"I get it now."

He raises his eyebrows as he takes a hit of his cigarette. "Just now? You got it right now?" He says rather sarcastically.

"This very moment."

"What is it that you got?"

"Why you are annoyingly and freakishly exceptional at making puns out of my name."

"I don't think you should make fun of me for this." He nodded his head at me, looking very matter-of-fact.

"I think that's exactly what I should be doing."

"Ya know, it's a lot of work and I wouldn't want to put all that stress on you just to make fun of me. I'm looking out for you." He flicks his ashes.

"You should have a key to the city. You're such a Good Samaritan."

"We should start a petition."

"I'm sorry what did you say? I can't hear you all the way up there on Bullshit Mountain."

He stared at me for a prolonged moment, a wide smile stretching across his face. I watch as his eyes travel to my bruised cheek and he looks down, stepping on his fallen ashes.

"Win me a prize, Blitzkrieg."

"Why don't you do it?" I start to pick at the remains of my Funnel Cake.