The Unusual Guardian

Chapter 1: Unexpected

Hello! Another update. I apologize for any errors.

Enjoy!

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"What's that?"

I glance down, following Tiffany's stare. "Oh, this? I don't know. A clown-or whoever-threw it at me."

She grasps the monkey in her hands, staring at it with a puzzled face. "It's creepy."

"Eh..."

She tosses it back. "Bury it. Burn it. Get rid of it."

I clutch it to my side. I don't know what I plan on doing with this thing.

Just keep it.

I sigh. I probably will. It looks maniacal with its obtuse eyes, yellow vest, and puffy red pants. I take its arms and slap the tambourines together, a delicate clink is released.

"Hey!" Lee cries out. "Let's buy tickets so we can go on some rides." She skips ahead before any of us could protest. A stream of curses run fluently from Sam's mouth. She's not trying to be discreet about her displeasure either, considering I can hear her above the noise. Impressive.

We follow Lee to the booth, who has already paid her bid and is holding her tickets. "What should we ride first?"

We all keep mellow at first, looking around for a ride that may interest us all. Except me. I can't handle rides. Heights make my knees turn to jelly and alarm my sweat glands into overdrive. I rub a hand against my pant leg.

"Ooh," gasps Tiffany. She smacks Sam's arm and points.

Sam tsks. "Wha-oh! Yeah! Now there's something I can get drunk on! What do you think, Lee? Crystal?"

Lee found it spectacular. Me? I found it to be less than invigorating.

"Hmm. You guys can go...I'll stay here. On the ground. Where the sane people are."

"Where the boring people are," bites back Sam. "Let's go and leave Crystal to her monkey."

Lee giggles without a second thought and dashes to the ride, standing in line behind a big bear of a man. Sam sashays behind her. Tiffany lingers for a moment.

"You sure?" she asks.

"Yeah. I'll be fine."

"Okay...and may I just apologize ahead of time..." she sprints off.

Apologize for what? I shrug it off, thinking nothing of it. I hold the monkey to my chest, and, serendipitously, the song "Masquerade" from The Phantom of the Opera pops into my head. I hum it while I wait. Thankfully the line was short and the three characters were on the ride in less than two minutes.

"Cotton candy! Come grab your cotton candy here!"

That grabs me from my stupor. I turn toward the loud voice. Spotting a man on stilts waving around colorful bags of cotton candy, I smile and rush towards him.

Sweets are a weakness of mine.

"Cotton candy! Co-Well hello there, young lady," he grins big and wide. "See anything that tickles your fancy? Tell me what will be your pleasure tonight?" He opens up his long, red coat, spreading it wide like the wings of a proud bat. "Luscious lollipops? Bubbly-licious gum? Sour, sour gumballs? Twizzlers galore? Or...?"

"...cotton candy?" I gently intervene.

His face lights up. "Ah! The little redhead speaks."

I smile, blushing. "May I have-?"