Curiosity Industry
Part Seven

Herman and Henry turned and ran into a mob of carnivallers, loosing themselves in the excitement. Several large striped tents dotted the field, decorated at the top by banners with triangular tails. Games of chance and skill appeared at every turn; people shot water pistols at balloons and lost at the ring toss game no one had really ever won. Barkers, wearing white hats with a checkered band just above the brim, called out from their stations: "One, two, three rings, three chances for a nickel. Big prizes"; "Don't be shy folks, don't be shy"; "The most outstanding ointment money can buy. Fresh from government subsidies." In the distance at the midway's end, a Ferris wheel loomed over the proceedings, sparkling like a crown of costume jewels.

"I want to see," Henry pleaded and pulled at his brother's arm. He pointed to a blue and white striped tent. From beneath came snippets of alluring sounds: an organist played cheery music to a smattering of applause over a man's voice, which called out in praise of the amazement in the center ring. Herman gave into his brother's gravity and they both drifted towards the tent. Just outside the entrance was a plywood booth tended by a man with greased hair, pulled tight to his scalp. He smelled of liquor and a life misspent.

"I'm sorry boys the show is full," he said, displaying a row of gold and silver teeth.

"Any clowns?" Henry asked up on his tiptoes, resting his elbows on the booth's thin plywood shelf.

"Yes, son. But as I was saying the entertainment has commenced I cannot let you in 'til the next show. Ten o'clock."

"Ten?" Herman cried. “Come on Henry, we ain’t got time.”

"Any place got clowns?" Henry dug his elbows into the counter.

"I don't think so. The closest thing might be the Oddities Exhibition over yonder," the ticket taker indicated a similar booth off in the distance. "No show time, folks can go in and out continuous."

"Oddities Exhibition? Never heard of it," Herman stepped towards the booth and peered at the man over his brother's shoulder.

"They got some unusual folks in there to be looked at. It's the closest thing to clowns, I guess or you could see the world's largest yellow squash in the back there," he nodded his head back behind his tent. "422 pounds, that's something to see."

"Their faces painted?" Henry continued his questioning.

"No but they got a woman with a beard. And I think they got a girl with crab claws for her hands." He beamed with pride, describing the unfortunates on display.

Henry shrieked at the image suggested by the ticket taker's description, a girl brushed a woman's beard with the crab claw comb that was her hand; its serrated edges separating the coarse hair. Herman pleaded quietly with his brother to quiet down and not make a scene. Henry became embarrassed and not wanting to further annoy his brother agreed to go see the "Oddities."