The Fair Surprise!

The Fair Surprise!
Entry by MadisonCrossing
“Come on, hurry up, Madison!   We’re going to be late!”
My best friend, Sprinkle, pulled me along the paths of my town, and my boyfriend, Marshal, followed close behind.  Being an energetic penguin, Sprinkle had a ton of ferocity and eagerness inside her, like a young dog begging to go outside.
“Sprinkle!” I cried in dismay, “Calm down!  The carnival’s only been going on for thirty minutes.  We can load the boat in time.  Plus, you’re starting to leave Marshal behind!”
“Oh, yeah.”  Sprinkle slowed down, and I rolled my eyes as Marshal caught up with me.  Every four years (the day happening to be on my birthday), the town of Paris had a carnival event, where the villagers – and villagers from all around the area – could visit and enjoy the festivities.  Held on the tropical island, residents would load onto large boats that could hold up to 30 villagers, and could even be served a small drink on the slow ride there.  The food baked for the carnival was outstanding, cooked by Franklin, the town’s best chef; the events were even better.  There were pie-eating contests, bouncy houses, and tons of souvenirs.  Plus, the usual tours of the island were set up, just like always, so anyone that wanted to relax had the freedom to do so.
I took a seat next to Sprinkle and Marshal on the boat, and a wave of residents flooded in.  Kapp’n, the boat driver, immediately walked around and handed out lemonades.  Marshal and I took one for ourselves.
“Wow, I’m so excited for the event!”  Marshal piped up, taking a sip of lemonade.  “This is the first annual Fair, isn’t it, Madison?  Oh, and happy birthday!  Sprinkle and I are planning on giving you your gifts tonight.”  Marshal gave me a warm smile and a hug.
“Thanks.  I’m so glad Isabelle told me about the fair.  She went to one in an old town she visited four years ago, but she can’t make it to this one.”  My heart sank inside of me as I remembered the accident.   I had been shaking trees for fruit a week before, but a beehive was hidden in a tree, and that was the night I was headed to have a reunion with my family.  Isabelle, who was clumsy yet kind, tried to drag me to safety but ended up tripping on a large rock, and landed awkwardly – she had sprained her ankle pretty bad.  Sure, it seemed foolish, but she was clumsy, and had tried to save me, so I felt guilty for it.
“Aw, that sucks,” Sprinkle murmured.  “Don’t blame yourself for what happened, Madison.  We could always bring a souvenir back for her, you know…I could buy it for you.  After all, it’s your birthday, not mine.”  But I could tell she was at a loss for most words too.  Without our caring yet somewhat inept secretary, it was hard to stay organized.
“Residents for the carnival, please exit here,” Kapp’n called, snapping me out of my misery, and instead a wave of excitement crashed over me as I stepped out of the boat.  Sprinkle, Marshal and I waited for everyone to get off before we did.
“Ar, have fun, milady,” Kapp’n chuckled, as we stepped out of the boat.  “Yar, ye have a happy birthday!  Must be quite a’ event fer ye, celebratin’ yer birthday the same day.”  He turned to Marshal.  “Take good care o’ her, yar.  She be fragile.”  I found myself blushing deeply.  Kapp’n had always been flattering me, ever since I first came to Paris.
As we stepped into the island area, a loud voice boomed on the intercom.  “And now welcoming…Paris’ own mayor, Madison!”
A loud cheer echoed from all around the island.  I blushed even deeper as surprise and shock whirled through me.   Who had planned all of this?
Marshal and Sprinkle both joined in the cheers, so they obviously knew about it.  I turned to my boyfriend.
“What…what is this?”  I inquired, but before I got a response I was whisked outside by Kapp’n’s wife.  Marshal and Sprinkle both followed me out.
The island was packed with visitors from all around.  A beach ball was being tossed over the water; Zucker, a resident of Paris, was winning against Erik in a pie-eating contest close to the sand; a small inflatable bouncy house was full with villagers.
Wait a minute… I thought, squinting at the water.  Is that –?
“Madison!”  Marshal exclaimed, tugging me to where Zucker and Erik were standing.  “Let’s do this!  The pie contest!”
“Yeah, you two should totally do the pie-eating contest,” Sprinkle chipped in kindly.  “I’m not a chocolate pie person, yuck.  You can’t get me to do that.  But I’ll totally watch!”
“Um, I don’t…” I stammered.  “Well…um, okay, if you really want to do it, Marshal.”  I tried to smile, but nervousness churned inside of me.  Would I look bad if I lost in front of everyone?
Marshal and I were loaded up in front of a pie, sitting across from each other.  A small crowd gathered to watch the mayor in the contest.  Marshal grinned at me.  “I’m a champion pie eater,” he whispered proudly, but I knew he was joking.  After all, he always did.
“Ready…” Tortimer, the old mayor, began.  “And…hack hack…GO!”
I stuck my face into the pie.  Whipped cream attacked my face like a beard on Santa.  Fudge dripped from my chin like mud.  But I didn’t care.  I was so going to win this; I just had to!
A few minutes past, and I could feel the intensity of the race, but it was soon over.  “Done!”  I gasped, as soon as I had finished the pie crust.  Tortimer blew a horn, and the crowd cheered.  I wiped the whipped cream and fudge off my face.
“What?”  Marshal glanced from his pie, and he had obviously finished right after me.  His face was smeared with the contents of the pie, and he burst out laughing.  “Oh, darn it!  I just finished my pie too!”  He still clapped for me, though, so I guess I had really won.
Oh, if only Isabelle was here, I thought sadly, despite the loud, encouraging cacophony raging around me.  She loves desserts.  I smiled a little.  I would have totally lost to her!
“Yay!” A familiar voice called above the rest.  “Congratulations, Mayor!”
I whipped around and shook my head, believing I was dreaming.  But I had heard her clearly.  “I-Isabelle?  Is that you?”
“Oh, hi, hi, Madison!”  Isabelle cried, and she gave me a hug.  “Hey, guess what!  I came to the Fair!  Finally, and boy, is it fun!”
“You…you did!”  I answered, and gave her a hug back.  “Isabelle, you’re okay!  You’re safe!”  Tears streamed down my face.  “I’m so happy you could make it!”
“Me too,” Isabelle whispered, her excitement suddenly toned down to gratefulness.  “I had to wear a cast all week and stay at the doctor downtown, but I was released early to see you,” she continued.  “I wanted to come because we’ve never spent time together, and I figured that, since this event is huge, I might as well make you happy as mayor!”
“Oh, Isabelle,” I murmured.  “You’re the best secretary ever.”
“You know it,” Isabelle said with a blush.  “Now don’t go shaking trees again, okay?”
I laughed.  “Okay.”
“Oh, and um, I have a gift for you,” Isabelle added.  “I was the one that planned all of this for you…and I..er, well, the town of Paris, want you to have this.”  She handed me a wrapped gift.  I tore up the wrapping.  Inside was a mug that said “The Best Mayor Ever!  Keep up the awesome work!  Love, Isabelle and the town of Paris.”  I threw my arms around Isabelle in a pleased hug.
“Thank you so much!”  I sniffed.
“No problem,” Isabelle answered.  “Have a happy birthday.  It’s time to relax as the mayor!”
And for the rest of the day, Sprinkle, Marshal, Isabelle, and I enjoyed the festivities of the fair.