Colgaikat's Funfair story 2

COLGAIKAT'S FUNFAIR

Ever since Adrienne was a baby, sat in her pram, she can remember watching the children's faces light up as they threw hoops over plastic ducks & walk off laughing as they collected their cuddly toy prizes. The fairground life was all Adrienne knew. Her Mum, Sinnead was married to the finest showman in England, Adrienne's father, Miles Grogan. His entire life revolved around the fair & he was a very proud man.

Adrienne was a real Mummy's girl & they got on really well. They were never very far away from each other. She didn't see her Dad much, he was always busy everywhere. Every now again he would treat her to some candyfloss. Adrienne giggled as she sat eating her "pink cotton wool." He was always in a hurry & was always surrounded by other women.

When Adrienne reached four, Sinnead turned to Miles & said "I want Adrienne to go to school" "I'm afraid, Sinnead, that is NOT going to happen - & THAT is final." he yelled back. "She will get all the education she needs, from my brother - she belongs here." Miles was not a violent man, but he was very strict. The subject was now closed.

Sinnead had never really been happy with Mile's way of life. She missed her family, friends & her home life. She felt trapped. When she had fallen pregnant with Adrienne, they had decided to marry, but now the novelty was wearing off. Sinnead was getting more & more fed up with Miles & the way he was always chatting the young girls up. She felt like an unpaid skivvy & longed for a normal life. Even though she adored Adrienne, she could stand it no longer.

The following morning Sinnead cried down the phone to her mother "What am I to do, Mum?I feel so lonely & unhappy." Her Mum replied "Come home to us, Sinnead - start a new life for yourself." The music from the various rides, blared out all around her, crowds of people were bustling past. Miles was standing by the caravan, flirting with his new conquest. Sinnead put the phone down. "that's it" she shouted to herself, angrily. She pushed past Miles, ran into the caravan (their home) & began to pack all her belongings. She took all Mile's clothing out of the wardrobe & cut them to shreds.

Their caravan stood right by the top of the hill.Making sure that all her belongings were safe, she jumped out of the caravan. She was so angry, that she pushed it until it rolled all the way down to the bottom of the hill.She then made a hasty retreat.

Miles was oblivious to what had happened. It had been a busy day at the fair. The night was even busier. After he had collected all the takings & picked up Adrienne from his brothers, he headed for home. He hadn't been able to find Sinnead so assumed she'd decided to have an early night. "Am I going mad? where's the bloody caravan gone?" he shouted to Adrienne. They both looked down the hill & saw it, upside down, at the bottom. Some of the workers helped him get the caravan back - but it was empty - everything had gone. He then guessed what had happened.

Months passed by. Adrienne was missing her Mum. Miles got his divorce through (claiming Sinnead was an unfit mother etc.) & he had a new woman in his life, to replace Sinnead. Her name was Heather. Adrienne had to call her "Mum." She hated her. She got a new brother, Joe, so Adrienne was replaced too. He was always the centre of attention.

When Adrienne was seven, she was made to work on the Hoopla stall. She wasn't happy & dreamed of what it would be like not to work on the fair, to be able to live in a real house & invite friends round. "One day, maybe." thought Adrienne.

Adrienne was fifteen, when her Dad employed Dominic to work on the dodgems. He was eighteen & to Adrienne he was her "Adonis." She followed him around everywhere, she became totally obsessed. She had never felt this way before. It was a lovely feeling but she wasn't happy because Dominic never seemed to notice her. One night she decided to get really dolled up, to go & pick up the takings. "He's bound to notice me, tonight." thought Adrienne - but he just handed them over & went off to his own caravan, to his mates. "What do you think of that girl, Adrienne?" Dominic asked his mate. "She's alright, why? do you fancy her?" his mate replied. "NO" Dominic retorted "of course not." Deep down he did like her, but he preferred to hang round with his mates. Adrienne cried herself to sleep that night.

The days passed. Everytime Adrienne saw Dominic he seemed to be dodging her. Adrienne couldn't understand. "I really like him" she told Rosie, her friend, & everything else that she thought about him. Rosie just laughed. "I wish Mum was here , she'd understand" thought Adrienne.

Months came & went. It was another hot, boring day on the hoopla. A familiar looking woman was just standing, staring at Adrienne. "Hello sweetheart, don't you remember me?"the woman said. Swallowing hard Adrienne replied "Mum? why now? I never expected to see you again, you can't just turn up as if nothing has happened." "I'm sorry, I didn't want to leave you - you'll understand one day, that I had to go. I HAD to. I'm so sorry" Sinnead then went to walk away but turned back again & said "Here is the key to my house, Adrienne. 8, Institute Road." she then turned round again & walked off leaving Adrienne speechless.

Adrienne lay awake all night long, then the following morning told Rosie that she was leaving & going to live with her Mum. "Don't go, Adrienne, what about Dominic?" "He hates me" she replied. While Adrienne sorted through her belongings, Rosie went to find Dominic. "Adrienne's going, Dominic" she told him. "what's it got to do with me?" he replied. "Well she was right then" Rosie went on to explain "she told me that you hated her & how she really loved you - & I think that's why she's going." Dominic walked off, confused. On his way back from the shop,he saw Adrienne waiting at the bus stop, with her suitcases. "Goodbye Dominic" she said to him. "Goodbye Adrienne, I hope you'll find happiness." She watched him walk down the lane, trying to control her tears. Just as the bus turned the corner Dominic hurried back to her, shouting "I don't want you to go Adrienne" & grabbed her suitcases. "Leave me alone" she cried. "I can't let you go, Adrienne, please stay." pleaded Dominic. "I thought you hated me Dominic" she asked. "Well you thought wrong, I've always liked you, in fact I like you too much." Dominic tried to explain & added "I was always afraid of your Dad, so I always pretended to enjoy myself with my mates & work really hard so that I wouldn't lose my job & at least be near you." Their eyes locked together & the next moment they were in each other's arms, crying with happiness.

The years passed by, they stayed at the fair. Adrienne loved Dominic so she carried on, wanting to make him happy. Miles had divorced Heather. Adrienne was happy about that, as she had never liked her.

The year Adrienne reached thirty, turned out to be a tragic one. One morning Dominic was helping Miles mend the electrics on the dodgems. While Dominic went off to fetch some coffee Miles had switched the electric back on. Dominic returned to find Miles slumped on the floor. He wasn't breathing. The ambulance arrived, but it was too late. Miles was dead.

Adrienne was devastated. Dominic was a tower of strength & gave her the courage to carry on. The fair belonged to Adrienne now - & Dominic, of course.

A few months after the funeral, which was a magnificent one, there was a knock on Adrienne's door. A beautiful young girl stood there. She explained to Adrienne that her name was Siobhan & that they were related. Cousins, in fact. At first she thought Siobhan was just interested in a share of her father's fair & was angry. Hours later it emerged that Siobhan was only curious about the family she had never met. She was a lovely girl & eventually went on to be good friends with each other.

Another chapter of Adrienne's life was coming to a close. The fair was almost destroyed by the fire they had on 20th July - their first big fair of the summer. A lot of money & hard work was used to restore the fair. It was like a brand new one.

Adrienne reached a decision. She couldn't put all her heart & soul into the fair, like her father did, so she decided to close that chapter of her life. She decided to give the fair to Gavin & Siobhan as a wedding present. "I've got all my faith in those two, Dominic. They were made for each other & were made for the fair life." Dominic was in total agreement.

Adrienne and Dominic are now happy in their new house. "It's lovely to run up & down stairs, at last" Adrienne thought & she remembered all the other things she'd dreamed about, as a child, sat in her pram by the "hoopla" stall.

Dominic was happy too. He was about to become a proud father, he had a good job & didn't really miss the fair either. Adrienne's mother visits often & is looking forward to being a Grandmother.At last, they had all found each other.

"We have given Colgaikat's fairground it's missing links now." said Sinnead to Adrienne. "Yes" Adrienne replied, hugging her Mum & Husband.

"COLGAIKAT" will be alive for many generations.

THE END


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