A Bittersweet Wheel

Sunrise was Avelyn's favorite time of day.
Avelyn strolled into the bright, cheery carnival. It wasn't a small one, either; There were clowns shaping balloons, cotton candy and candy apples being handed out, and everything to grand ferris wheels to paint-flaking merry-go-rounds. Avelyn had brought the village with her; "My treat," she had proudly announced. Isabelle supported the idea. It was a celebration of the town which had achieved the perfect status. Avelyn, the mayor, had been overjoyed that her villagers and the villager satisfaction community had given her town the biggest of thumbs-ups. Her ten villagers, Tangy, Peanut, Bruce, Amelia, Deirdre, Keaton, Goldie, Bones, Kid Cat, and Roscoe crowded around Avelyn.
	"I think," Tangy announced, "we should go to the ferris wheel first."
	"That's a great idea," Peanut replied enthusiastically.
	"No way, I think we should go the rollercoaster," Roscoe butted in, his voice disapproving.
	"I'm with Roscoe on that one," Bruce called out.
Bones suggested going to the food stand, but Goldie wanted to go to the sandbox. Amelia insisted on getting their faces painted. Kid Cat snapped that they had to do their morning jogs, but Keaton said he already had a good body.
	"Now," Avelyn shouted over the shouts spreading throughout the group. "We can all split up and do what we want. How's that sound?"
The villagers nodded and split off. Bruce and Roscoe headed off towards the rollercoaster, while Tangy and Peanut raced to the ferris wheel. Amelia and Deirdre went off chatting, while Goldie, Kid Cat, and Keaton went together towards the food stand, Bones struggling to catch up. Avelyn looked at the sky, still dark, and sighed dreamily. The sun hadn't even risen, yet so many people were cheering and playing games at the fair. Avelyn hooked up her headphones and bobbed her head softly to the peaceful tunes of K.K. Bossa and K.K. Marathon. A breeze marched across the scenery, children squealing and tossing balloons to their friends, who laughed and giggled and twirled.
	And then there was a scream.
Avelyn whipped her head around, ignoring that the quiet songs had vanished and her headphones had hit the ground with a thud. She stared at the ferris wheel in sheer horror, along with the other hundred people at the fair, and spotted Tangy desperately hanging on to the ferris wheel chair, Peanut holding her hand and yelling. Tangy was dangling over the edge of their seat, towards the ground a hundred feet below her.
	"Help!!" she screeched. Avelyn jumped from her bench and raced toward the ferris wheel. Peanut tugged at Tangy's paw, but squirrels were much smaller than cats, and therefore it was all she could do to keep holding on, unable to pull her back up. Keaton began flying up towards Tangy while the pedestrians watched in horror and shock. Keaton tugged along with Peanut, but Peanut toppled backwards. Caught off guard, Keaton stumbled and lost his grip. With a scream, Tangy fell down, down, down…
	Kid Cat and Roscoe ran like lightning to catch her. Avelyn joined them, feeling utterly helpless and terrified. Amelia began flapping her wings as hard as possible and shot towards Tangy, grasping her scruff in her beak. Tangy squealed in pain. Keaton instantly helped, holding up Tangy and flying up towards her seat in the ferris wheel. Goldie and Bruce cheered them on, Deirdre running to alert the person running the ferris wheel. Amelia and Keaton safely placed Tangy in her seat. Peanut let out a gasp and hugged Tangy. Tangy was trembling in fear as the ferris wheel went agonizingly slowly towards the ground. The ride stopped and the animals on the ride got off, looking curiously at Tangy.
	"I'd be a pile of orange juice if it weren't for you guys," Tangy panted, smiling at Amelia, Keaton, and Peanut.
	"Don't mention it," Keaton responded, chin up. He had a big grin on his face.
I raced over to Tangy, hugging her. She laughed as everyone from the village gave her a big group embrace. The owner of the carnival began playing K.K. Island, and Tangy squealed.
	"It's your favorite song!" Goldie cheered. Everyone began dancing, singing, their faces bright with cheer and excitement. The songs ranged from K.K. Mambo to Mountain Song, making them jump and twirl. Some other people participating in the carnival joined in. It seemed as though the entire area was full of happiness, and even the sun peeked up through the horizon to watch their joyous race across the ground. Tangy, at the center of it all, never stopped smiling, despite her close encounter with death. Hours passed, and they never stopped, ever if the sweat got in their eyes and their voices got scratchy from laughing and singing, all the while the sun rising up and walking across the sky in a waltz of its own.
	Need I explain why sunrise is Avelyn's favorite time of day?