It was a warm summer evening, and the carnival was in town, and nearly all the servants had been given the evening off to attend, since the family was away. The organ from the merry-go-round competed with the band on the fairgrounds, both overpowering the voices of people more than a few feet away.
"What's that?" Mrs. Patmore asked, pointing to the giant wheel near the edge of the field.
"It's a Ferris Wheel," Daisy answered. "I heard there was going to be one this year."
"Looks dangerous."
"Oh, come on, everyone's lining up, and I want to try!" Daisy said, grabbing the older woman's hand.
The line moved along slowly, each car filling up with two people at a time, while the wheel moved along a little more to get new people seated.
"Tickets!" the man at the front of the line announced.
"Here," Daisy said, handing over two.
"I didn't say I wanted to go!" Mrs. Patmore protested.
"Move along, the line is waiting!" the man insisted.
They sat down, and the bar was lowered.
"See, it's perfectly safe," Daisy said.
Mrs. Patmore yelped as the wheel moved them along a few feet up. "You're sure about this?"
Daisy waved at one of the younger housemaids walking along, and the girl waved back. "I think this is exciting, being so high up!"
There was a groan from the line below as the people were told they needed to wait for the next round, and the motor whirred into action.
"Oh…" Mrs. Patmore said as the wheel sped up. "Oh! Look! Is that the house? I can't see the house, but I'm pretty sure those are the lights! Daisy, what do you think?"
Daisy was gripping the bar with her eyes closed.
The wheel sped through the ground level again, and took them up high once more. Mrs. Patmore laughed. "Yes, that's the road to the house, I'm sure of it! Daisy, you really ought to open your eyes!"
One more round, and the wheel slowed down, and they were stopped at the very top.
"Goodness," Mrs. Patmore sighed, "it's really like looking at a map from up here."
Daisy opened her eyes briefly, just as the wheel started going again, and shut them instantly. Her knuckles were white.
A few more minutes passed, and the ticket man pulled up their bar, forcing Daisy to let go.
"Thank you, Daisy," Mrs. Patmore said as they left, "I'm quite happy that you made me try that thing."
Daisy nodded, staring straight ahead.
"Perhaps something a little more sedate now?"
"Yes, Mrs. Patmore."
