The Best Fair Ever

The Best Fair Ever

	John woke up.  It was past breakfast time and he was going to be late for the fair.  He had promised his friend, Kevin, that he would pick him up and bring him to the fair to show what the fair is all about.  He slammed his hand over the overly annoying alarm clock his parents had bought him, got ready, and headed out the door.
	Kevin was waiting by the road when John arrived in his Dodge Charger.  “You ready?”  John asked.  Kevin nodded and hopped in the car.  “Don’t forget to eat the lunch I packed!”  Kevin’s mom said as the car faded out of view.  John knew they both would have the best day ever.
	When they arrived the obese, grumpy ticket guy stood in a building next to the gate.  “License and registration please.”  The man called out in a sadistic tone.  John handed the person his information, and the gate opened.  As he was about to drive into the parking lot, he looked back at the man.  “I hope you have a good day.  Thank you.”  John said as he drove away.  John never saw it, but the old man’s frown changed to a smile.
	John parked the car and the two walked into the main fair area.  There were so many things to do: Food stands with everything imaginable, the best rides in the country, and live events that were happening right before their very eyes.  “I am so excited I can hardly wait!”  Kevin exclaimed in a high-pitched tone.  “Well, what would you like to do first?”  John asked.  The two talked it over and proceeded deeper into the fair.
	John and Kevin had so much fun.  They bought cotton candy at one of the food stands and happily ate it.  Then they rode the Swirl King, the craziest roller coaster in the country.  Finally they listened to some live music at one of the events.  There was something missing though.  It was a surprise indeed.
	As they were about to leave the fair, the ticket man came up to them.  “Hey, did you guys hear about the campfire in section three?”  He asked.  “No, but let’s go check it out!”  Kevin shouted happily.  John followed Kevin and the old man to section three, and did so in a hurry since the fair would close soon.
	When they arrived there was a large amount of people sitting around a fire with smores in their hands and smiles on their faces.  The three sat down in three empty chairs, and listened to one of the people tell a ghost story.  “It was a dark, scary night.  I was running away into the woods and heard a faint noise.  When I looked behind me there was an animal with the face of a man!”  Everyone screamed in fear of the story, and then laughed together.  Even the old man was slapping his knee.  “Hey, want smores guys?”  One of the people asked.  “Sure.”  The three replied.  The person handed them three smores they made themselves and they devoured it hungrily.  The ghost story had increased everyone’s appetite, so everyone went for another round as well.
	“You know, I never thought I would have this much fun at the fair.  All I have ever done is ask the same boring question in that empty booth and open the gate.  You guys have made an old man happy once again.”  The ticket man said.  After he said that he disappeared before their very eyes.  Both John and Kevin’s mouth opened in surprise, but they quickly closed it and smiled.  “I think that old man was looking for a friend all this time.”  Kevin said.  “You may be right about that.”  John agreed.  They continued to participate in the activities until it was closing time.  Reluctantly, they left the fair and got in the car.  “Thanks for taking me.  That’s the best fair I have ever been to.”  Kevin said.  “You are welcome.  Glad you enjoyed it.”  John replied.  As the two were about to leave one of the managers came to them.  “Thank you for helping that old man let go of his sorrow.  We truly appreciate it.”  The manager said.  “No problem.”  John replied.  “And uh, sorry about the loss of your employee.  If you want I would like to apply for the job.”  He added.  “That would be wonderful.”  The manager said.  The next day John applied for and got the job.  A generation later John was an old man.  The same thing happened and he disappeared in the same way.  Next to his tombstone there were a couple of things: Flowers, writing, and one peculiar thing that stood out the most of all.  There was a frame with a picture of when John and Kevin went to the fair.  It showed them eating smores together and having fun.  There was some writing in the frame on the margin: Your friend, Kevin.