"Hey mister. Whats the big idea?" Nate demands from the carnival employee, pointing at the balloons.
"Oh. There are free balloon for anybody at the park. Would you like one?" The man unties one from the ring.
"Dont take it Nate." you say stepping forward. The balloon seller appears oblivious to you, he doesnt even make eye contact as he loops the string around Nate's wrist and tightens the noose-knot with a tug.
"There you are. A little donkey to play with in the pool maybe?" says the man smiling. Nate looks down at his wrist. It happened so fast he didnt have a chance to react.
"No. I dont want one." He backs away holding his arm out. He bumps in to you and turns to face you. "We gotta get this off me. I dont wanna be a balloon. Oh fuck you cant help without hands." He tries to pull at the string on his wrist but the knot is ties tight and wont budge.
The balloon seller behind Nate quietly walks out the Exit door which clicks shut behind him. Nate hears it and spins but too late, the door is closed, and it appears that it has been locked as well. You cant follow that way.
"Come on. Lets go back in to the locker room." Nate starts to walk quickly to the locker room over the slick pool deck. As he moves he looks at the kids in the pool. He didnt see it before, but now he notices they dont look right.
Some of them are shiny and grey, their noses protruding out from their faces. One of the kids climbs out of the pool and groans, stopping right in front of Nate.
"I feel wierd." says the kid and looks down at himself. He is wearing an orange speedo and looks like he is about 16 or 17. He has no body hair and his skin is pale and shiny. His bulge in the front of his speedo is shrinking right before your eyes as the boy moans and reachs over to his back.
Sprouting between his shoulder blades is a fin, smooth and grey. Its definately a dolphin fin growin out of him. His hands look strange too, more like flippers every second.
Nate starts to move again, walking toward the locker room door at an increased pace. You hear a braying sound and look up at the high dive. A boy with a green striped speedo that is clearly too small for him is standing at the top. He is smiling ready to jump in, he doesnt seem to notice his own braying at the donkey ears growing from his head, or the furry tail swishing behind him.
More people are starting to change. What should you do? Escape? Would that help?
You follow Nate in to the locker room and slam the door behind you.