She Was So Happy When Her Baby Boy Was Born… But Then He Wouldn’t Stop Eating
By Sean Seebach
The shadows of dusk stretched across the concrete walk- way as Denise entered the carnival. She gazed at the colorful lights shining from the Ferris Wheel, creating a kaleidoscope of hypnotic hue, and wondered if Bobby would’ve felt the same if he was with her.
The girl was pointing at a large wooden display. A bald man, nearly seven feet tall, was holding a large barbell over his head. His mustache reminded Denise of the one that Wyatt Earp wore, dark and curly at the ends. An epic characteristic.
In front of the attraction was Buddy. He stood behind a podium, exchanging money for tickets with zero enthusiasm. She approached him, and ignoring her presence, opened his hand and accepted her payment. He slid a ticket across the podium, motioned her inside the tent with his thumb, and hung a hand written sign on a piece of cardboard that said ‘sold out’.
Inside the smoky tent stood the World’s Strongest Man. He was every bit as large as the display suggested. Two massive squares formed his chest, his legs the size of timber logs. Next to him stood a skinny fellow holding a microphone with a deformed hand. His other hand identical to the other one. Five digits formed together that split between his middle and ring finger. Lobster Boy.
“Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages,” Lobster Boy said. “What you’re about to witness is a marvel in strength and vigor.” He leaned in close to the front row of the crowd, opening and closing the gap in his free hand as he did. “This may shock you, but I assure you, this is not an illusion.”
The lights fell low and a single glow permeated onto the stage, focusing on Strong Man. A tiny monkey wearing a painter’s cap handed a child in the audience an iron bar.
“Go ahead little girl,” said Lobster Boy. “Try it out.”