The warm summer night surrounded Wanda and Jane as they walked down the country dirt lane to the edge of town. The annual county fair was here and in the distance, they could hear the faint sound of laughter and music. As they got closer, a sea of lights and colors came into view. The first thing Jane wanted was a corn dog, but Wanda had other ideas.
The two good-looking teenage girls walked through the gates to the sights, sounds, and smells of the fair. Everywhere they looked kids and adults were buzzing with excitement. Jane spotted a corn dog vendor, but Wanda dragged her to the ride area. Kids screamed in fear and excitement as various rides twisted and turned in the air. Overhead, the Ferris wheel cast long-moving shadows on the ground below, and Jane and a couple kissing at the top.
Jane and Wanda wandered down the midway, stopping now and then to watch kids lose money at games of chance. A group of teenagers they knew tried their luck at throwing baseballs to win a stuffed animal, groaning when one failed and cheering when one of them won. A few stalls down, a young boy concentrated on knocking down all the milk bottles with a softball, his face scrunched up with determination.
Wanda directed Jane to the Funhouse, where they paid their money and entered the darkened hall. For eighteen-year-old Jane, the Funhouse was her worst nightmare. She'd always been afraid of its twisted mirrors and eerie lighting; not knowing what would jump out and grab her. Wanda held her hand and pushed open the creaky door pulling them both inside. Jane took a deep breath, trying to control her fear and not cry in front of Wanda.
The first room was filled with distorted mirrors, making them appear fat, thin, tall, or short. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, thought Jane as they laughed at each other's images. Then they had to run through a horizontal spinning cylinder called the "barrel of love". Wendy made it through without falling, but Jane fell three times. Next was the trick floor that moved back and forth. When Jane finally made it to the other end a shot of compressed air shot up between her legs making her scream and think something was crawling on her legs.
Wendy disappeared around a corner and Jane found herself in a pitch-black maze. Unexpectedly, the floor dropped. Jane screamed as she fell through a trap door landing in a hard thud. Her bare knees were bruised and most likely bleeding. Jane flapped her arms around trying to find the wall and some way to escape.
Jane looked around and spotted a dark figure watching from the shadows. She scurried backward in fear. He was staring at her and she could hear the sound of his heavy breathing. The being slowly made his way through the darkness toward her, Jane froze, her mouth open but no sound emitting. Helpless with terror, Jane didn't fight back when a tall hairy man pulled her further into the darkness.
He pushed Jane against the wall, his eerie eyes only inches from her face. The mask on his face made him look like a wolf. Jane's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to find an exit. He pulled her into a tight embrace with his strong, muscular hairy arms. "Shh, be quiet Jane," he whispered. Shocked that he knew her name, Jane went limp.
Mateo opened a secret door and pulled Jane into a hidden room A single red light bulb hung from the ceiling. This room was his bedroom. The plan wasn't to scare or hurt Jane, but she didn't know that. When Jane's eyes adjusted to the light she let out a blood-curdling shriek at the man/animal towering over her small frame.
Mateo sighed. knowing the long fine hair covering his body made him look like a bear or a wolf. Nothing he said would change that. Jane stumbled backward to get away from him. "Jane, I won't hurt you," he said softly. "Let me explain everything." Jane continued to scramble away as the beast stalked her along the perimeter wall until she was trapped in the corner. Jane hugged herself in protection. "Please, let me go!" Then her mind caught up with the moment; he knew her first name. "You know my name?"
Jane almost peed herself when the beast reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. He turned away and Jane saw his back was also covered in fine long hair. Jane didn't see the single tear that leaked out of his eye.
"I told Wanda this was a stupid idea," he muttered with his back to Jane. "But Wanda insisted I play this game with you." He turned around to face Jane and pointed to her right. "If you want to leave the door is there. I don't blame you if you do. I probably scared you to death. I'm sorry."
Jane's mind reeled with his confession. Not believing Wanda would do something so sinister to her. But then how did the beast know their names? Jane shook her head in confusion. "But, Wanda is my best friend."
Mateo paced in the small room trying to figure out what to say next. Jane still looked deathly afraid of him.
Jane realized he was telling the truth, somehow Wanda thought this would be funny. She was probably outside the Funhouse laughing like crazy.
"Will you let me explain everything to you?" he asked taking a step back to make Jane more comfortable. "Wanda told me that you want to lose your virginity before going to college. She thought I could help."
Jane let out a little gasp at the thought of the Wolfman being her first.
"Wanda said your parents are very strict, and that this might be your only opportunity to become a woman before joining her at college next month." He let his words sink in.
Jane looked at the Wolfman with different eyes. "Wanda thought I would want to give my virginity to you? Why?"
Mateo knew he had to tell her the truth. "Last summer, after Wanda turned eighteen, we got together. She gave me her virginity, right there," he said pointing to a mattress in the opposite corner. "We made love for hours."
Jane's heart pounded in her ears. Was she brave enough? The Wolfman didn't scare her anymore, instead he looked a little sad. The bed in the corner scared her. "Did Wanda cry the first time?"
Mateo held out his hand. "I promise to go slow and stop whenever it gets too much for you."
