Her mouth was glued shut
Pink Cotton Candy Tutu Girl sat squeezed between a bucket full of balls and a bunched up net. She did not know where she was, the place smelled bad, and she needed a full glass of sugar water very badly. All the demonstrations she had given to her friends had taken a lot of energy out of her system. Her head spun a little bit, it was dark in this space. She tried to open her mouth, but she couldn't. When she felt her face with her hand, she knew. A straw stuck out where her mouth used to be. She had been swiped by something wet, remembering it now. Her mouth was glued shut by that brutal act, the straw would allow her to still drink her sugar water; but not to sing or whisper. Slowly her memory came back:
I had just performed for the Flying Carpets, they clapped and thoroughly enjoyed my short performance, praised me and gave me a very good suggestion how to end the number with a little more pizzaz. Then I left and looked up to the sky, the storm was still far enough away to make it safely to Lady Rose's Story-Castle and then back to Mirror Boy with whom I always feel so good. And then it happened. Something held me suddenly from behind, a rough bag was pulled over my head, I felt lifted up and tossed into something I could not identify. I just smelled it. Bad. When I landed, my head was knocked and I lost all senses.
She tried to look around, but everything lay in still darkness.
Now he was very upset and worried
The next day broke with a golden, peach and crimson sunrise. The colorful flags around the fair grounds cracked in the breeze, a good day lay ahead. Noises of busy preparation started all around. The tarps were rolled up, laughter erupted, everybody was happy. Except Tobias. Steam rose up all around him, the puddles were burning off. It would be a busy day and he could not take off, not even a minute, to look for Tutu. In the last year she had always been there to greet him in the morning. Not today.
Where is she? Now he was very upset and worried. There just was no place for her to go, other than to her friends, and he had been to every one of them on the fairgrounds. She would not have gone to visit Lolly Pop who performed in the neighboring town this weekend, without telling him. He was perplexed. The images of his dream kept returning to him over and over.
Song Bird landed on top of his sign over the entry door. The sign said “FUN HOUSE.” Today Mirror Boy did not feel at all like the owner of a fun house. “Did Tutu come home last night?” Song Bird asked Mirror Boy. He chirped a little between the words, as was his nature, but the words were not hard to understand.“No, I was awake off and on all night between some terrible dreams. But I heard no sound and I saw no sign of her.”
“Well, maybe I've got something for you.” Song pulled a little piece of cotton candy out of his breast pocket. “I found it sticking to Dunk's roof. Maybe it is nothing, but maybe it will clue you in to something or other. I shall go back there and keep an eye on him. He has not opened up yet, the tattered awning is still shut. Huh, that we have to deal with the likes of him.” With that Song flew off.
Mirror Boy opened the entry door to his fun house to get ready for the last day on this fairground. In the evening he had to join his fellow carnival performers on the train that would bring them to the next show.
Galloping sounds got closer to him, a little cloud of dried up trampled grass, a whinnying and then a streak in front of his mirrors. Esroh never was able to judge distance properly, that is why he was such a good carrousel horse, he could stand always in just one spot there. And Esroh always got very confused inside Mirror Boy's place. He looked into strips of mirror on the middle post of the Merry Go Round all the time, but in the Fun House he lost his sense of being grounded, so he backed out as quickly as possible. This was no fun for him here. He did like Mirror Boy very much though, he just could not be inside his booth.
His elaborately decorated saddle with the shining brass inlays and tacks made him truly regal. His mane was in a look of being constantly wind blown, golden highlights on the carved hair shimmered. His voice sounded slightly decadent, but so lovely. “Did Tutu Girl get home last night old chap?”
“No, no she did not. Song Bird told me this morning he had found this on Dunk's roof.” He showed Esroh the little piece of pink cotton candy that he had carefully wrapped in a fresh handkerchief and now looking at it brought tears to his eyes.
“I saw Dunk leave as I galloped by his spot. He made this snide remark about me being such a slave, having to deal with sugar smeared pudgy fingers and this horrible laughter of the little awful monsters. He surely does not belong into this business where you have to make children happy to make them smile and delighted with the ride on one of our backs. They tell me secrets too, you know.”
“I fear now that Dunk did something to her, maybe he even took her. I can't leave to go after him now, couldn't even close up fast enough before the crowds come through the gate. But Song told me that he would watch him. Oh Esroh, I am so very worried.”
“Can't even say anything right now, this, this smelly bad what not." Esroh shook with disgust. "But I have to go back now, and I will spread the word for every one to watch out.”
“Bye, Esroh, I am so beside myself. Bye for now.” With a heavy heart Mirror Boy got himself into show mode.
