Fictional Short Stories

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Catching the Brass Ring

I was 11 years old, a boy in a magical summer of freedom; allowed to wander the enchanting streets of New Orleans LA

My friend Mario and I were drawn to the rides and entertainments offered by City Park. There were various concessions for small children such as pony rides and there was a small train that meandered through the trees and various tunnels and mountains. The train broke down often or refused to go and the driver made up elaborate stories of bridges fallen, Indians, mud slides and boilers blowing sky high.

There was a carousel. A carousel is a large circular affair with 2 or three rows of elaborately carved horses, rabbits, airplanes, unicorns, gremlins, and various fantasies which you ride as the entire production goes around and around.

The carousel is covered with paintings, color and flags waving in the breeze, music blows out across the park calling the faithful to a bright memorable day.

Mario and I heeded the call and rode the carousel to the point of friendly and familiar with the operator, a youth not much older than ourselves. On the inside circle, where the centrifugal force was not as great, the operator was able to pull a long brass lever as it passed by, thus stopping the carousel. It was a brake. He would relaease the brake after calling the faithful, and we were off!! He made a circle, collecting fares and after a really long ride, "placed" the brake.

Soon Mario and I were "helping" by placing and releasing the brake, assisting small kids on and off or holding them in place, as the Merry-Go-Round spun the fantasies of youth.

The outside edge of this circular device consisted of Horses, Unicorns and Dragons, larger than the other seats. A long pole passed from ceiling to floor through these animals. These were for adults and they sat astride with the left hand gripping the post against the centrifugal force...and with your right hand you tried to put your index finger through a stationary brass ring about the size of a silver dollar, suspended from and fed by a device outside of the moving carousel. "Catching the Brass Ring" entitled you to a free ride.

This is shooting from the hip Bird. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for recalling this story for me...never before put to paper.

O.Lafaye


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