[Jessari]

Pagoda was about to explode with excitement. There was a party in the park today! There would be a mix of bands, and although several of them she'd never heard of, the ones she knew were pretty awesome.

[Jessari]

Even if she hadn't known any of the bands, or didn't like them, Pagoda would still be excited. As soon as it got completely dark, there would be fireworks! She lived for fireworks.

[Jessari]

She enjoyed all sorts - small ones, large ones, loud ones, quite ones. The loud ones were her favorites. The large ones that sounded like a muffled cannon when shot off, and shook the ground when they exploded, those were heaven to her.

[Jessari]

Her hands shook with excitement as she pulled her old-style VW beetle into a parking spot. The three cups of coffee she'd gulped down after studying for finals this morning might have had something to do with that. She frowned at that thought. She'd have to leave as soon as the fireworks finished. It would be nice to get some sleep tonight.

[Jessari]

But now wasn't the time to think about school. Pagoda bounded from the car, her spectrum-striped hair nearly blinding passersby in the sunlight. Pulling the driver's seat forward, she leaned in and dug around in the cramped back seat.

[Jessari]

She came out tugging a backpack large enough to hide a body in. It had been painted spectrum colors to match her hair. Inside, Pagoda knew, was a stash of something she valued higher than gold.

[Jessari]

She had to peek inside to make sure the rough ride hadn't jarred her babies too much. Nope, everything was safe and sound. With a satisfied grin, she latched it and swung it over one shoulder.

[Jessari]

Then she was off. The festivities had already begun, with flashing lights and shrieks drawing her attention to where a few carnival-sized rides had been set up. There was a little extra bounce in her step as she walked towards them.

[Jessari]

There were several to choose from - the side-to side twister thingie, the miniature roller coaster, and the large wheel that spun in quick rotations as it tilted from horizontal to nearly vertical. She chose that one. It had always been her favorite.

[Jessari]

Pagoda could still remember the first time she'd ridden it. Her family had gone to a county fair. She had been young, and only barely tall enough to ride on it.

[Jessari]

The attendant wouldn't let her ride by herself, and she'd had to beg and beg for her father to go with her. He caved in, as he always did. It had been hard to resist giving cute little Pagoda anything she wanted. Apparently it was still a difficult thing to refuse her.

[Jessari]

She'd screamed and squealed as centrifugal force pressed her back against the iron wall. Her dad had simply looked queasy. He looked even more so when she had talked him into riding it a second and third time.