July and August is considered carnival season, not just in Maryland, but in small towns everywhere. The rides and games people roll in usually in the middle of the night on Saturday, after packing up somewhere else. People go to bed Saturday night and wake up to a ferris wheel skeleton, a few booths and a half-put together Tilt-A-Whirl or Scrambler in the park or community center lot. By Sunday afternoon, it looks ready to go as the rest of the people arrive and the locals begin to set up the fundraiser booths, food stands and displays. Win a goldfish or a bunny, throw a dart to get an inflatable prize. Kids, fingers and cheeks sticky from too much cotton candy, hyped up on carnival excitement and sugar, race from ride to ride. Middle school kids posture and flirt. High school kids try to look cool and above it all. Old folks come for the music, the 'platters in air conditioned comfort', bingo and to sit on lawn chairs catching up with people they haven't seen since last year's carnival.
Bright lights, lots of noise and fun - what more could a kid ask for, right? Maybe the life of a carnie kid isn't as much fun as it looks.

Note: For some reason, on July 10, I decided I needed a break. I'm back. :)