Adventure Under the Big Top - A Choose Your Own Adventure-Like Story

If you didn’t read Choose Your Own Adventure books when you were younger or have forgotten how they work, they are second person stories where you are the main character. Throughout the story, you are asked to make decisions that shape your adventure. I am attempting to write a story kind of like that.

Below is the beginning of an adventure starring you. At the end of this segment of the story, there is a decision to make. I would like all of you, gracious readers, to vote on the choice and help shape the story. Cast your vote in the comment section and look for the next episode of the story in about a week.

Thank you for reading and enjoy your...


Adventure Under the Big Top

It’s finally Saturday! You’ve been waiting all week. Ever since the circus caravan marched through town on Monday afternoon, you’ve been dying to come to the Big Top.

Everyone in town came out to see the parade as the circus traveled from the train yard to the fairgrounds on the other side of town. It was difficult to miss a fleet of elephants marching down Main Street followed by fire spitters and tumbling acrobats. There were horses prancing along on their back two legs and clowns by the dozens. It was the best parade you have ever seen. The Ring Master, who led the parade, said that the parade was just a taste of what you would see at the fairgrounds, so you knew that tonight would be something special.

Your parents said that you and your older sister Julie could each bring a friend with you, but you have talked them into letting you bring your two best friends Peter and Andrea. The three of you are inseparable and always have a good time together.

As you pull up to the parking lot on the outskirts of town the air in the car is charged with excitement. As you walk to the gate, you can feel the anticipation of everyone in your group. Even your sister, who is trying to act cool in front of Claudia – her new best friend, is giggling and jittery as you stand waiting for your dad to buy your tickets.

All of you make your way through the gate and your eyes are met with a festival of color, activity, and sound. The red and white stripes of the big top tent tower above everything and the entrance to this enormous tent is directly in front of you about twenty yards back from the gate. Off to the right you see a bustling of movement as hundreds of animals move about their cages and are readied for performance in corrals. You hear a lion roar and the crack of a whip.

“The Lion Tamer must be warming up,” says Peter beside you.

Beyond the animal staging area you can see colorful lights whirling and spinning. It’s the carnival rides. You can see a Tilt-A-Whirl, a Ferris Wheel, and a Merry-Go-Round all filled with laughing children and there are more rides around the side of the big top out of your line of sight. From where you’re standing, the lines don’t look that long.

Andrea tugs on your sleeve and points over to the left of the main tent where a man on stilts wearing polka dotted pants is juggling flaming torches. Behind him is the fairway with games to play and prizes to win. You can hear the barkers calling for contestants to “Step right up” and test their strength or try to toss a ring around a bottle neck. On the far side of the fairway you see the sideshow tents. They are covered with posters announcing their performers. You can make out the posters of Go-Go the Electric Girl, Aquanina the Hawaiian Mermaid, and Marco the Magnificent World Famous Magician.

“Okay kids,” your Mom says, “We have an hour and a half before the main show starts to look around. Everyone has their tickets, right? We’re sitting in the second bleacher section. We’ll meet you there. Stick together you three and have a good time. We’ll see you inside. Your Mom and Dad walk off down the fairway. Your Dad has been talking all week about winning a big prize for your Mom. Your sister and Claudia are on their way to the cotton candy seller.

“What do you guys want to see first?” you ask Peter and Andrea.

“Let’s go ride the Tilt-A-Whirl and get some funnel cake. That guy over there is selling them.” Peter points to the right of the cotton candy seller across from the zebra pen. “Plus I want to check out the animals, especially that Lion Tamer. I heard he puts his head in the lion’s mouth. What a nut!”

“No,” says Andrea. “Let’s go see the side shows. The posters out front say there is a woman completely covered with tattoos and an elastic man who can sit on his head. Plus I think that guy’s going to jump from that platform into that little bitty bucket of water.”

Do you want go see the lion tamer and ride the carnival rides?
or
Do you want to go see the sideshows?

Cast your vote in the comment section.

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