Thread: The Cowgirl and the Carny (Camille and Loneiysong)

Angel awoke that morning to the stench of old grease and what smelled like a musty, old barn stall that was in dire need of a good cleaning! It was quiet all around except for the dull roar of a generator that apparently kept the coolers blowing in the mobile bunk house where they all slept. It took the cowgirl a few seconds to remember how she wound up being in the mobile trailer that night. Her back pack had doubled as her pillow which left a painful crick in the side of her neck. She winced as she reached up to try and massage the tender, sore muscles with one hand, her eyes still adjusting to the dark surroundings. Yawning rather noisily, she heard the woman who had slept across the isle from her whisper sharply. Shhh! Go back to sleep before ya wake the whole damn bunch, cowgirl ! She glanced over just as the gruff looking woman rolled over to face the wall, tugging up on a tattered, worn out blanket to cover herself. Within seconds, the woman was snoring fairly loudly, practically drowning out any and all other noises in the trailer! Laying back down, Angel recalled talking to one of the carnies the night before, asking if he thought they might have a spot for her to join their crew. He told her the best thing to do was to bunk down for the night and then talk to the owner first thing the next morning. Angel not only needed a job, but she needed a place to sleep, a place to call home until something better and more permament came along. Growing up on a farm had taught her alot about hard work and she definately wasn't afraid of it. But what she was afraid of, was having to go back home to the place where her alcoholic father beat her on a regular basis and where her life was a daily struggle just trying to survive. Almost 17, her birthday was a few short weeks away. Angel knew she couldn't wait until she turned 18 to be out on her own. She had packed a few changes of clothes, some peanut butter crackers and an old faded picture of her mother who had died when Angel was only a small girl. With her backpack slung over one shoulder, she headed out to find her own way in the world. Angel was petite, only standing five feet and two inches tall, long blonde hair, sky blue eyes, and a smile that could melt your heart at the first grin. But the cowgirl was also full of grit and spit and she wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to take care of herself. Luck was with her the first night she left home as she found shelter in the lobby of a post office a few towns over. It kept her warm and dry that night as heavy thunderstorms brought torrential rain pouring out from the Oklahoma sky. The next day, she came up on the carnival that was about to wind up a three day show there at Weatherford. That's my ticket out , she thought. She just had to convince them of that. Sitting up, Angel quietly slipped out from her bunk and tip toed over to the door. She slowly turned the squeaky knob and looked over just as the old woman mumbled and snorted in her sleep. She was hoping not to disturb her again as she didn't want to make any enemies her first day out. Angel smiled softly as the lady quickly resumed her snoring, hardly missing a beat. Stepping on out of the trailer, Angel closed the door gently behind her. She walked over to the owner's trailer which was about one hundred feet away. It was a much nicer, fancier rig than most of the other travel trailers parked in the field. She knocked a couple of times on his door.