With only two balloons left to hand out, and a date set to meet back up with that hot lifeguard you cut across the hot sand and climb the wooden plank staircase back up to the midway.
There are several groups of people running around, a few loners, and almost all of them are misbehaving.
Kids with handfuls of junk food stuffing it in their faces with one hand and throwing litter on the ground with the other, passing by groups of kids spitting and cussing and fighting as they stand in line for rides.
No wonder the bad kids get sent here to become donkeys, or balloons, or whatever else this island has in store for them. This is where the riff raff get sent so that society can forget about them. Somebody here is providing a public service, and now you are part of it.
The hall of mirrors looks especially attractive. You could go in there and hand out your balloons and make it back for your date on time. You make your way toward it.
"Anybody wanna buy a balloon?" you bark as you walk past the kids in line. Making your way to the front, the operator takes a look at you and has that same understanding the lifeguard did. He knows you are working. He lets you in without having to wait.
The air inside the hall of mirrors is cool and feels refreshing after the hot sun. You walk down the hall hearing the occasional crash of a mirror being vandalized. They must replace these things a lot you think.
As you walk you see your reflection hilariously distorted in each mirror. You still look good, though you wish you had something more to wear than the speedo you have had on all day now. Oh well. Focus on the job.
Noise up ahead reveals two boys as you turn the corner. They are both younger than you and wearing baggy jeans and black tshirts with the latest metal band advertised. They think they are pretty tough. They would do nicely with some balloons.
"Hi kids. Want some balloons?" you stretch out your hand with the last two balloons ready to be given out.
"Fuck off underwear man. We are breakin shit and nobody here needs a girly balloon." says the boy with the shaved head. His friend is of the shaggier variety with long tangles of greasy hair over a pimply face.
"Oh come on. You can pop them if you want." You offer them to the boys again, just need to tie them on and then its too late.
"Ha! Ok cool." they hold out their arms. Bingo, you just gotta know how to sell em.
As you tie the strings on the boys turn around and go back to smashing the mirrors. In the reflection of the one nearest you your own reflection is stretched thin by the distorted glass. You can see that you have a tail but its slowly receding. You hadnt even noticed.
The boys are busy laughing at the mirrors, pointing and making faces. Their balloons, like the others, are magically gone. A little tiger balloon and a little winged dragon balloon all cute and round are vanished, but you know that soon the boys will have a new surprise.
The one with the shaved head stops laughing and point at the mirror.
"Hey whats that. This one looks normal, but I have something on my head... are those horns?" You decide to stay and watch. This should be interesting.