"Oh fuck, I'm really doing this" James said to himself in a whisper. He looked down the long winding road leading towards the setting sun in the horizon. He pondered his thoughts about what is to come.
"Sword swallowers, acrobats, contortionists what will they be like? Angry brutish freaks? sweet and delicate performers? Or regular common folk? I can't imagine why one would choose this life, no home, no family, performing with your life on line its madness!" James lost in his thoughts barely aware of how far he had walk in the rather nippy night all alone.
"...But is that what I think? Or is what I've been conditioned to think? Fuck it, what does it matter. This is a one off. Set my curiosity to rest and continue on with my life". He struggled with his own desires, conflicting thoughts, pushing it all into the back of his mind.
After a brief 2 kilometer walk arriving just in time as night stretched over the sky. James finally arriving to what he could only describe as a small makeshift city teeming with activity, oddities, music and sounds completely foreign to him.
"HEY YOU! BOY!" the carnival barker rather ironically "barked" at him in his loud booming voice stopping james in his tracks.
"Hmm?" James said barely above a whisper with his eyes large and innocent looking like that of a new born doe.
"You need to pay the entry fee if you want to get in here! Cant you read the bloody sign?! Eck, of course you can by the looks of you"
James so lost in his thoughts of what is to come, that he forgot about what is currently happening. Missing the large incandescently lit sign a mere 2 meters away.
"Oh im so sorry! How much is the fee?" James timidly responded, not looking for conflict
"Ah 2 coppers! But for you, 4 coppers!"[1] The barker said with a snicker
"What?! Why?!"
"Because it looks like you can afford it. You want in or not?"
"Fine" James said reluctantly and in a huff, handing him the 4 coppers
Finally gaining entry on to the grounds he wondered the area, instantly being drawn to side show freaks that accompanied the circus train. Excitedly walking into the the darkly colored shanty tent, he felt his heart pumping and beating so fast he couldn't hold his excitement and nervousness in for a moment longer.
[1] A British copper in the 1900's is the equivalent of $5 dollars USD in 2018
Part 2 coming tomorrow! If you haven't read the prelude check it out on my page!