The Devil's Carnival

Careful Observation

Still further back behind the two joined at the face were a mother and her two young boys. They were dressed in their Sunday best and had their hands neatly founded in their laps. At this point they were probably Bob’s favourites. Throughout the trip and subsequent breakdowns not one of them had uttered a single word. Instead they stayed in their seats and kept to themselves. Mrs. Gimble and her brood were also on their way to Good Hope City to, in her mind, fulfil a promise to God. The boys, Edward and Alfonse who wore blue suites and had their hair parted at the side, were to be taken to St. George’s Cathedral where they were to be baptised and spend the rest of their days in service to God. It was their mother’s last attempt to save their souls. The twins, whom you could only tell apart by a 2cm difference in height, were born out of wedlock and their father left not long after. She would never admit it now but she wasn’t all that thrilled when she found out she was pregnant, far less so when she learned it would be twins. Over and over she was told all that would change once the babes arrived and that was exactly what happened. She was over the moon. It didn’t matter that she was a single mother as long as she had her babies. Mrs. Gimble had been raised in a catholic orphanage and as a result baptisms and Sunday services where not very high on her list but then one night she had a dream. In it, she claimed, she heard the voice of an angel warning her that the children were distained for hell unless she gave them over to the Lord. Whether it was a dream or she was lying could not be said for certain but whichever it was they have since been baptised and with the help of their local priest were now on their way to eternal servitude. She may not have said anything but she was as eager to reach the city as she was to get off of the bus. The last thing she wanted was her angelic boys around all this sin and blasphemy. Especially that Moor girl and her attachment. It was such a shame. Mrs. Gimble could still remember her singing in the quire as a little girl. She was such a darling little girl right up until that boy walked into her life and set her on a downward spiral. Her hairdresser, Sally, had told her that she heard Gemma, the owner of the local flower store, talking to Eileen, the organ player, say that Amanda was sneaking out at all hours to meet a boy and not just any boy, the Tate boy. At first she hadn’t believed a word of it. It just wasn’t possible for such a sweet girl to lose her way like that but pretty soon the two of them stopped hiding and sneaking around. Instead they walked hand in hand in broad day light. It was despicable and pretty soon the attentions shifted from her to her parents. The shame she brought on those poor people was unthinkable. She really didn’t know the Tate boy all that well but it didn’t matter. If it hadn’t been for him she would have never strayed from her father’s home. He was the cause of all this. Mrs. Gimble would shoot a glare at the two of them every now and again but they were far to occupied to even notice. Amanda Moor and Brian Tate had not had their hands to themselves since getting on the bus and it didn’t bother them in the slightest who was watching of who thought what. So much so that the numerous breakdowns had hardly fazed them and they were in no rush to get anywhere. Their only concern was each other, or rather their only occupation. As the bus swerved Amanda had practically fallen into Brian’s lap and although they had laughed it off he didn’t allow her to get up again. “Not long now. Then all this will be over.” Brian whispered to her. “And we’ll be together forever.” She answered before they reattached at the face. The two went over their plans again and again and ravelled in the new life that would start as soon as they reached the city. Yesterday, just as the afternoon sun settled in the horizon, the two met at the bus stop with nothing more than a duffle bag and the hope of a new life together. Neither of them really wanted to run but if they were going to be together and play out the pretty little fantasy they had in their heads it was crucial. Amanda was the daughter of a very prominent church figure in their community while Brian was a British born African American who made the mistake of moving to the one place there would be no piece from them. He and his family had wanted to attend their church but were very bluntly denied, but a number of people were having none of it and a call was given to boycott the church. Amongst those who answered the call was Amanda and what started out as friendship eventually turned to something more. As could be imagined her parents were furious and wanted her sent away. Her parents much like Mrs. Gimble were the classic example of Bible under the arm, devil in the ass. They hailed God every Sunday and prayed for the homosexuals, the Muslims, the troubled youth at Marilyn Manson concerts and occupying their time with Pokémon. Then there were the other six days of the week where they gossiped, lied, rolled in infidelity and Mr. Pastor wore Mrs. Pastor’s underwear. It was no place for the two of them and Brian’s mother helped them escape. They would have their happy ever after but had plenty to occupy themselves for the time being.