Mini globe lights floated above the midway entrance, washing it in a whitish yellow light. Upbeat music and sweet smells mingled above shouting kids scampering between their parents and the crooning young couples gazing at the romantic glow of the carnival.
I was fifteen, working at the carousel while my dad took a smoke break. I had been watching him run the complex levers and buttons since I was ten, when my mom left and my dad began working at the midway.

She appeared during the third week of the fair, wearing a long dress, a glimmering ‘Miss Midway’ sash, and a tiara that shone as much as her sapphire eyes. She strolled through the mass of giddy humanity holding hands with a round-faced, fluffy haired guy. The couple meandered past the carousel, whispering and laughing, her dovelike eyes reflecting the dazzling lights. A few hours later, they reappeared in the dim light a few yards away from the ride while I was taking tickets at the gate to the carousel. Her crystalline eyes brushed over me as she and the guy came toward the ride. Her face was almost heart shaped, framed with black curls and topped by her sparkling tiara. She was radiantly pale and her one shouldered silver dress twinkled under the glittering lights.
She smiled and handed me her tickets.
I dropped the tickets into my pocket, tipped my hat and said “Good evening,” I watched her race ahead of her friend as I took his tickets. I called after her “congrats”, nodding to her sash and crown.
“Thanks.” She flashed a beauty pageant smile and her fellow caught up with her to find a spot.
The ride filled up and I shut the gate and started the ride
The swirling colors, fuzzy under the luminous carnival lights, swayed with the movement of the ride, showing the scintillating silvery dress once, leaning back laughing, and twice, her arms wrapped around her beau.
They got off the ride, the princess’ face glowing. The couple chortled and sauntered through the swinging gate into the night.

The next year, the princess returned alone.
She wandered once through the midway in her long dress and crown. The colors of the ride faded in the autumn-like breeze; paint flecks pulled away from the aging carnival ride and carried off into the past. Crudely carved clowns along the edge of the center column glared at her, shooting evil grins as she passed.
She trudged back after all the visitors had left and the workers were shutting down the rides for the night.
I was locking up the gate in front of the ride when I felt something on my shoulder. I quickly turned, thinking it was my father but instead saw the princess. She apologized for startling me.
Her eyes had lost their luster and her hair was no longer curly.
There were snags all along the delicate dress and I noticed her makeup was slightly smudged.
She asked if I could run the ride one last time.
I nodded; unlocking the gate and holding it open for her. She stepped up onto the ride. The princess was barefoot and the fringes of her dress were dirty. She stumbled around to the opposite side of the carousel; I plodded over to reboot the ride.
The ride creaked on its pedestal, the sharp sound mixed with the clanging of the eerie old carnival music, the lights flickering with every low note. The platform turned faster, the princess came around, huddling against the zebra like it was her only lifeline in the sea of intense, burning light. I felt off balance watching her go around and around, my hand hovering over the emergency stop button…
But the ride slowed to a stop, the metal quietly squeaking in the depth of the night. She carefully descended, her arms wrapped tightly against her stomach. She staggered out into the moonless night.

She returned with her crown and sash the next year, complete with a long strapless blue gown. She held a little girl’s hand and they strolled past the carousel near sunset, returning about an hour later, materializing in the soft radiance of the midway lights
The princess passed me her tickets and smiled. I dropped them in my pocket and wished her a good evening.
The girl held her tickets tightly in her small hand. The princess leaned over and coaxed her to give me the tickets. She glimpsed at the princess and slowly opened her hand, raising it up to meet me. I carefully took the tickets from her small hand and thanked her, noticing the girl’s resemblance to the princess.
The princess picked up the stoic toddler, pointing out the resplendent lights with a childlike wonder. I called after her before she rounded the carousel. “Congrats by the way.”
She smiled, brightly and winked, “thanks.”
The metallic tune cheerfully played while the child and princess rode the carousel, the little girl twittering and the princess laughing with her. Vivid, artfully molded clowns laughed alongside them and smiled with happy pride on the other riders while polished mirrors reflected their smiles, bouncing their excitement into the starry sky.
When they got off the ride, the princess picked up the small girl and carried her into the darkening night, marveling at the wonders of the midway.