Based on a sentence from The Price of Salt that didn't get mentioned in the film, so I thought I might develop it a bit.
"They discovered a one-ring circus that night besides a railroad track in a town called Sioux Falls." (Chapter 16, The Price of Salt)
Therese woke up with a slight jolt as the car came to quick stop.
"Therese, my darling, get up," said Carol, who had nudged her gently on her shoulder. It took Therese a few seconds to remember where she was. She looked outside the car window to see a giant tent highlighted by bright colours in the night sky, mounds of people approaching and leaving the piercing lights in their vicinity.
"Have you ever been to a circus?" Carol glanced at her through the interior rear view mirror with a mixture of mischief and whimsy.
"No."
Therese had never had the chance. To be honest, she knew little about what they actually consisted of. While she was still in school, whenever the circus happened to come into town, Sister Alicia always displayed a subtle disdain for those "carnies" and their lifestyle. From then onwards, Therese had a rather curious outlook on those mysterious marquees that whisked in and out of towns like nomadic gusts of winds. She did recall a conversation with Richard, who long ago had suggested they go see a trapeze act. Unfortunately, Therese usually worked long hours at any temp. job she could find and had missed most opportunities to go. Who would've known, she thought, that her first time at the circus would be with this woman, who had come into her life just as randomly as these performers and their tricks? But I suppose, she meandered in her mind, that with Carol, she had done things she wouldn't ever had imagined possible- she lacked the initiative or nerve. To be honest, she admitted to herself, she was still in complete disbelief of the events that took place in Waterloo, at the very mention of which still brought her blissful anxiety.
Carol's eyes lit up and proceeded to park the car. She spotted a space immediately amongst the dozens of poorly positioned vehicles.
"Well then," she said, excitedly putting the gear shift on R, meeting Therese's eye for only a few seconds.
"There's a first for everything."
She had an idea of what kind of scene it would be. Weird strangers doing weird things, was it not? Fluorescence exuded from the multiple stalls that surrounded the massive marquee, located in what seemed to be an abandoned lot. The giant tent of red and white stripes beckoned intrigue and phenomenon like a freakishly sized homing beacon planted in the ground. Therese didn't realise how fast she was walking towards it until she looked back to see Carol, a few metres behind her, looking delighted at her clear enthusiasm.
"Have you really, never been to the circus?"
"No…I had never had the time."
"Well, isn't that just adorable? Come on then." Carol took playfully by the hand and pulled her onwards. Therese's palm tingled at the touch of Carol's, both of them looking around for signs of anybody who might be watching.
"I'll show you my favourite parts."
The smell of sweet candied apples and freshly popped kettle corn danced along the air with the sounds of laughter and accordion music. Therese had never had such a fully sensory experience anywhere else in her life. The food, which was already exotic enough for her bland diet to begin with, was nothing compared to the sort of folk that were ambling around. An extremely muscular and short man with a ponytail and a bar handle moustache, wearing nothing but a tight green leotard, walked passed Therese, yelling something in a foreign language at someone behind them. Her gaze trailed his path and landed on Carol, who was smoking a cigarette and looking straight at her. She was bemused and seemed utterly unfazed by the events taking place around her.
"I've never seen anything like this before." Therese said as she gawked at everything, as if she were on a different planet. She felt like a child again, and was starting to feel the sense of wonder that gradually diminishes as one grows older. Carol was looking fixedly at her, watching from behind, never getting too close but always within reaching distance. Therese could feel Carol following her movements, and suddenly felt very embarrassed.
"I'm sorry." She felt her face bloom a slight tinge of pink, put her hands in her pockets and started to look timidly at the floor. Therese was reminded of the conversation of how "young" Carol viewed her to be. She became incredibly self-conscious of the way she was behaving; she felt silly for it.
"Don't be. I was the same when Harge took me the first time."
She had such a deep smile in those grey eyes.
"Actually, I find it rather endearing…You remind me so much of Rindy."
She laughed and teased as she put her arm around Therese's shoulder. Therese was surprised and found herself suddenly engulfed in the familiar fur coat that sheltered Carol. Carol had always been a little taller than her, so she seemed to be the perfect fit, Therese thought, like she was always meant to have Carol's arm wrapped around her. She felt warmth inside of her spread, as if her heart was a furnace that was pulsating comfort throughout her entire body. She had loved the distinct odour that was a mixture of tobacco and perfume, loved the woman who wore it, forgetting instantly about her awe and bashfulness.
To see Carol acting so casually was, however, rather strange. They normally refrained from any kind physical contact to keep a low profile. A low profile of what, Therese thought, she was not sure, but she knew instinctively that it was a private affair. That only behind closed doors could they truly display their affections openly. She whispered in Therese's ears.
"Don't worry, no one will be looking at us while there's a bearded lady over there." She nodded towards a woman on the right, who had a gloriously long and luscious beard that reached the floor. She had an obscene amount of piercings and was wearing what Therese could only assume was a green wig, tied into a multitude of thick, plastic-like braids. So stunned by the existence of this incredibly fascinating sight, Therese didn't even see that Carol was guiding her into a small tent.
- to be cont.
let me know if you guys like it :D feedback welcome