I was tending the gardens my uncle had on the farm. That is until I heard a car come driving up. "Alice could you go see who that is? I'll take care of the rest of this work." I nodded as I wiped my hands on my already dirtied dress. As I made my way to the nice car a blonde woman was already out of it to greet me. "Good evening madam. You are Alice no?" her velvet German accent made me raise an eyebrow as I nodded my head. "I hear you are in need of a job of sorts. I would like for you to join my little carnival. The name's Elsa." She spoke with such high authority as if I had already taken up the job.
I laughed at her face. "Well Blondie. You speak as if I already have this job." I said as I signaled her to come inside. She followed surprisingly enough. I set the tea on the stove and sat down in front of her. "Now I would like to know what this job entails, and what service I would be providing." I said as I watched her every move like a hawk. She stiffens as if she was hesitant to tell me. "I own this little carnival. One of our cooks for the carnival has quit on us. I only ask that you would cook during the showings at the carnival."
The teapot steamed making me cringed. I got up poured it into two tea cups. I gave one to Elsa and sat back down in my chair. "So all I have to do is cook, nothing else?" She nodded in confirmation. Her eyes widened when she tried the tea. I was worried she didn't like it. "And could you make this tea for me every morning it's exquisite!" I laughed nodding. "Alright how about you let me tell my uncle the news. Do you mind driving me to where the carnival would be at?" "I'll meet you in the car." I got up and ran out the back door overwhelmed by excitement.
"Uncle Bethlehem! I finally have a job. My boss's name is Elsa, she owns a carnival." I said a bit too quickly for him to comprehend. "Slow down girl. Now lass tell me again slowly." I told him everything that's transpired, and as I did I saw him smile brightly. "Well what you waitin` for? Go!" I laughed as he starts pushing me out the door. I ran to Elsa's car and got in.
When we got there I saw many tents. "What does this carnival involve?" I asked as we walked to I'm guessing her tent. "Well my cabinet of couriosities." I nodded then I heard a motorcycle. I turned around to see a man oddly wearing gloves in the middle of summer. "Who's he?" Elsa looked to where the man on the motor bike was. She scoffed and shook her. "That my girl is Jimmy Darling. Him and his mother works for me, in the Freak Show." I tilted my head not knowing what she meant. When she saw my look her smile instantly dropped. "Oh you do not know about freaks?" I furrowed my eyebrows at that, and shook my head.
"JIMMY!" she called for him and signaled him over. I instantly bit my lower lip as he came closer. He didn't seem to notice me at first but as Elsa explained to him who I was. She pointed to me. "I want you to show her around. Her name is Alice." He shifted his gaze to me. I looked down at my feet a bit shy. "Alright." Elsa nodded and left us.
He started to show me around always standing behind me. I of course noticed he wasn't wearing those gloves. I turned around and started walking backwards to look at his face. "Do you like being here, Jimmy?" He shrugged at the question. I say his hands were behind his back. I tilted my head and tried to look behind his back. He retaliated by going the opposite way. "Stop." He finally said wanting this little game to end. I pouted. "What are you hiding behind your back?" he stiffened a bit. "I won't bite. I'm only curious." I said as I went back to walking backwards. He hesitantly moved only one of his hands to show me.
"Whoa.." I spoke silently as I stopped walking. I walked closer to him. His hand was similar to a crabs, only that it was his fingers fused together. "I've never seen anything like this. May I touch your hand?" I asked looking him in the eye. He was stunned for the politeness. He nodded his head making me all giddy. I reached for his hand and felt a shiver going down my spine. "Jimmy!" We both looked up to see a bearded woman approaching us. "Oh you must be Alice. You can call me Miss Darling." I nodded once again being shy.
"What'd you need Mom." My eyes grew a bit. This was Jimmy's mother. She looked so exaughsted, I felt a bit sorry for her. "I actually need something from Alice. I heard that you can make tea that will make any person's day brighter." I instantly nodded furiously with a wide grin, making her and Jimmy laugh at me. "I have many remedies for anything! Even something that helps with and injury!" I said really fast making Mrs. Darling hold up her hand and Jimmy stifled a laugh. "Slow down Alice. I just need you to make a brew of the day brightener thingy."
I blushed realizing I was talking fast again. "Yes Mrs. Darling." She nodded and left. I turned back to Jimmy with and other grin creeping up my lips. "Jimmy I hope we can be friends. You're really cool." I said and turned to go to the kitchens. I found a kettle and some tea cups. I gathered the ingredients and when I was done making it I placed both the kettle and teacups on this wooden tray. I walked out to see a very tall woman. "Uhm miss. Would you like to try some tea?" I asked shyly making the tall woman look down at me. "You're Alice right?" I nodded as she took a cup of tea. "Name's Amazon Eve. Welcome to being our new cook." She smiled gently at me but I felt like she knew something I didn't. I waved it off as I made my way to Elsa's tent.
"Elsa?" I saw the woman sitting like a statue reading a poem book. "Yes Alice?" I handed her a te cup filled with tea. "I made some tea. This remedy helps a person's mood be better." She thanked me and sent me away wanting to finish reading her book alone. I continued to walk around still holding the tray, till I spotted Mrs. Darling. "Mrs. Darling! I have your tea." I carefully made my way to her. Her head shot up upon hearing my voice and a smile spread on her. "Thank you Alice. Come on sit. I'd like to get to know you a bit more." I shrugged and sat on the bench with her.
"Now. Do you know anything about a freak show? I talked to Elsa and she told me that you had no idea." I nodded confirming what Elsa had told her. She sighed heavily. "Do I need to know about it?" I asked as Mrs. Darling sipped her tea. "Well first off, a freak show is filled with showings of freaks. In other words people like us here. We all have a show name given by Elsa. I'm the bearded woman, my son's Lobster Boy. There are other's but I know that in due time you'll know theirs."
I looked down at my hands. Biting my lip I looked back up at her. "I'm sorry I've always spent my whole life on a farm. Since my parents died I got the farm. My Uncle knew I couldn't be able to make payments on it so he helped me out. I've never left the farm except for getting food for the house and horses." I felt embarrassed as I told her. "Don't worry Alice. If you need anything just ask me or Eve for help." I nodded thanking her. "Do you have anywhere to sleep?" I realized that my job was going to be 24/7. I laughed and shook my head no. "Well if you want I can get my boy to help set you up a tent." I nodded happy for the helping hand.
As if on cue Jimmy came telling his mother that Elsa needs her for something. "Oh and Jimmy. Alice needs a tent set up." And with that she left. I just sat there looking at the kettle. "Alice?" I jumped and looked to see dark brown eyes meeting my hazel ones. "Oh right tent!" I realized and stood up but tripping over myself. Jimmy caught me just in time. "Easy there." He laughed out making me want to cover my face from embarrassment.