Part Two:
We reached the fairgrounds by a quarter to nine.
"Go help Larry fire up the generators. That's him over at the Ferris Wheel. After that just do whatever looks like it needs doing, and don't be afraid to ask if you're not sure. It's all about teamwork!"
"On my way!"
I wanted to prove myself to the big man in the worst way and was scared to death of failing him as I set off. When I found Larry I introduced myself and told him what Roy had instructed me to do. He was a gruff looking man in his fifties, maybe older, considerably bigger than me but not nearly as big as Roy.
He turned out to be friendly, though, and lost no time showing me what to do. After he fired up his generator he pointed out another half dozen or so for me to tend.
The last one I fired up was at the Kiddy Coaster. I asked the man who showed up to run it where I should go next. He suggested helping the gaming tents set up.
My familiarity with the basic layout of the carnival came in very handy and I quickly fell right in as we breathed life into the place. By about a quarter to ten everything was spinning like a top and the warm up spiels of the barkers melded with the clanking of the rides and the canned calliope music. In spite of Roy and me being a tad late, we managed to make our ten o'clock opening with just over fifteen minutes to spare.
I found a place to sit and catch my breath while we waited to swing the gates open. A familiar pair of work boots peeking out from under cuffed khakis came to rest within the periphery of my vacant stare. I looked up to see Roy beaming down at me, his massive hands balled into ham-sized fists and resting on his wide hips.
"Well, that was certainly a baptism by fire," he chuckled.
I heaved an exhausted sigh in response.
"Had my eye on you. You did a great job, Eddie...a real self-starter, exactly what I need from you."
"Thanks, Roy."
I was relieved by his praise.
"Let's take a walk around. I'll introduce you to some more of the crew and then we can head off for an early lunch."
We toured the grounds for about another ninety minutes or so and more names than I could possibly remember came at me. Many of the carnies were just as friendly as Roy. A few others were perfunctorily polite in his commanding presence, but left me with the distinct impression I had my work cut out for me proving my worth to them.
"A few more days like this and they'll come around," he assured me, "Just do your job and don't take offense if they get a little bossy."
"No problem."
Our final stop was the trailer Roy operated from as manager and advance man. He showed me the safe where he kept the daily take, from which he paid any fines or other unplanned expenses and doled out the cash payroll.
I was once again smitten by the authoritative figure he cut as he settled behind his big desk. I sat on the couch and attentively listened as he gave me the rundown on my responsibilities in that shrine.
"How about some food?" he asked when he concluded.
"I'm starved!"
"Me too. Sorry we had to miss breakfast, but I think Gold Star serves it all day if you still want one. That's what I'm going to have," he said as he showed me out.
"Sounds great."
Before long we were back at his beloved greasy spoon. Our same waitress from the night before spotted us and hot-footed it to our table.
"Missed you this morning. Can I get you some coffee?"
"You bet!"
"Make it two," I chimed in.
She set two lunch menus down and left. In a couple of minutes she was back with two steaming mugs.
"What'll you have, gentlemen?"
"You serve breakfast all day, don't you?" Roy asked.
"We sure do."
"Bring me the biggest one you got - whatever's on it - and keep the coffee flowing, please."
"One jumbo breakfast platter and a bottomless pot coming up. How you want the eggs?"
"Over medium."
I was so hungry I just told her to make it two and to add a large milk to mine.
Her eyes got kind of big. She looked Roy over and then eyed me again.
"You sure?" she asked, "I've got no doubt your granddad can polish it off, but I'm not sure you know what you're in for."
"I'll give it a shot," I assured her.
"Well...alright, sweetie...if you're sure. I'll keep a to-go box handy for you. How you want those eggs?"
"Scrambled."
"Same check?"
"Separate," I insisted, eager to pull my weight.
When she left to place our order with the cook Roy leaned forward.
"I think she's sweet on you."
"She was just being friendly...Granddad," I teased.
My joke caught him off guard and, in laughing, he spewed a bit of coffee out onto his chin. He raised a bristly forearm to wipe it off.
"Good one!"
"Besides," I continued, "I was thinking it's you she's sweet on."
He laughed again and reared back in his chair, making a stunning display of his barrel chest and bay window belly. My hard-on raged at the sight.
