Love and Other Consolation Prizes(49)

The crowd gushed their excitement, but Ernest could hardly see her.

“I’m tired of the exhibits. My brain, it overfloweth,” Maisie moaned. “Let’s go, I want to explore the House Upside Down and ride the Tickler.”

“I’ll catch up with you two later,” Fahn said. “I heard the Eskimo girl is hosting a reception. I have to see this for myself. She got fifty thousand votes. She even won a villa with a nice piece of property—can you imagine?”

Ernest wanted to see this one-woman spectacle as well, but he followed Maisie back to the wilder part of the Pay Streak and then to the carnival rides.

“How were the exhibits?” he asked.

Maisie pretended to yawn. “You know, once you’ve seen an elephant made of apples, one million dollars in gold dust, the world’s largest display of clams, and a tribe of topless natives at the Smithsonian exhibit, you’ve pretty much seen it all. Plus so much bunting everywhere—a sea of red, white, and blue. Madam Flora means well, but I was bored to tears.”

They skipped the carousel and went straight to the roller coaster, where Maisie hung her hat, clutched the hem of her dress, and boarded the first car. Until today, Ernest had never been on anything faster than a merry-go-round. He sat next to her, their legs touching.

“You know, I’m glad it’s just us,” Maisie said, “because three’s a crowd.”

Ernest smiled at the echoed sentiment.

Maisie looked at him as she twirled her hair with her fingers, and he felt his stomach lurch, rise and fall, his heart racing again as he tried to catch his breath.

Then the roller coaster began to move.





STARS, FALLING


(1909)



After waiting in line for what seemed like hours to ride the Ferris Wheel, the Haunted Swing, and the Scenic Railway, Ernest and Maisie split an egg-cream soda at Ezra Meeker’s restaurant. Then they found a meadow alongside Rainier Vista, not far from the bubbling fountain and the gentle waterfalls. They lay down on a cool, soft bed of freshly mowed grass and removed their shoes and socks, wiggling their toes in the warm breeze of an Indian summer. Maisie perched her open parasol on the ground, creating a shady spot to rest their heads as they stretched out, their heads nearly touching as they watched puffy clouds slowly migrating across the blue northwestern sky. They could hear a band playing, and watched as kids joined hands and danced in wide circles within circles, groups spinning in opposite directions. It matched the way Ernest felt inside.

“Fahn is sweet on you, you know,” Maisie said. The words felt almost like an accusation. “At first I thought her obsession was because you’re both—you know, sort of from the same part of the world, but I think she really does find you…interesting. She told me she stole your first kiss—that’s her thing. Just don’t be in a hurry to throw your heart away for the first girl who might want to punch your ticket; true love is wasted at a place like the Tenderloin.”

Ernest didn’t know how to respond. He found himself smitten with both girls, though he wondered if he was anything more than a convenient companion, like a younger brother who happened to share the same roof. He also wondered if either one would care if they weren’t competing with each other.

“I think Fahn likes everyone,” he said. “Most of all, Fahn likes Fahn.”

They both laughed. Then sighed, tired, but comfortable to be together. They enjoyed the moment, the music in the distance, the chirping of nearby birds, and the squawking of Canada geese flying south in a lopsided V-formation.

“Do you remember the look on your face when you first saw me?” Ernest asked. “It was right about here. I’ll never forget the expression you made.”

“I couldn’t help myself. We got all dressed up and came to the fair and didn’t get to go on any of the rides! That was so unfair—unjust. All I knew was that we were here to collect some stupid boy. I remember thinking to myself, What in the world do we need a boy for? We live in a house where rich old codgers come and go and that’s more men than I need in my life as is. But…”

“That’s okay,” Ernest said. “I had no idea in the world what I was in for either. Let’s call it even.” He offered his hand.

“Handshakes are so grown-up.” She shook his hand and then let go. Then she stretched out on the grass again and closed her eyes.

Ernest smelled something sweet and sat up slowly, glanced around, and quietly put on his shoes. He looked down at Maisie, who looked like Sleeping Beauty, her long dress splayed upon the clover.

She spoke without opening her eyes. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“Stay here,” Ernest said. “I’ll be right back.”

When he returned he lay down next to Maisie and asked her to open her eyes as he presented her with the most perfect candied apple that he could find.

She smiled and cocked her head.

Ernest held the apple as she took the first sticky bite.

—

AS THE SUN sank into the waters of Puget Sound and the orange-hued clouds grew dim, everyone from the Tenderloin gathered around the Geyser Basin. Electricity flickered on, lighting building after building. Ernest watched, spellbound, as countless glowing bulbs turned the reflecting pool and the cascading waterfalls into a paradise of glimmering, glittering, yellow and white stars. He held up a hand, momentarily blocking the light, his eyes adjusting. The brightly lit Court of Honor made the fair look like a department store Christmas and Independence Day fireworks rolled into one.