Every now and then I find myself thinking, “Max, what if carnies were real people? Where would they go? What would they do?” As it turns out, this summer I had the distinct displeasure of working at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk as a ride operator. My experiences there changed me into one of them forever.
These are the untold stories of Carnie life.
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_Work
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Child: I can’t get my seatbelt on. Can you help me?
Me: Yeah whatever, no one helped me in life. You can figure it out like I did.
Child: Doesn’t this ride go upside down?
Me: Maybe. I stop paying attention after I start the ride. Here we go!
-One minute later-
Prostitute: So, are we gonna do this or do you want to wait till the ride’s finished?
Me: Baby, I didn’t wake up at ten fuckin’ thirty for any of your fancy city talk. I did it to start drinking. Anyway, let’s have sex.
Prostitute: Oh yeah, let’s– OH MY GOD! Some kid just fell off that ride! I think he’s dead.
Me: Don’t look at me. I told him to put his fucking seatbelt on.
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_Basic Necessities
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Grocery Store Clerk: You’re purchasing how many bottles of tequila?
Me: Just 10. I’m not very thirsty today. Oh, and I need a lime.
Clerk: If you don’t mind me asking sir, what do you eat?
Me: That’s what the lime is for, dumbass. That and scurvy.
Clerk: Okay. That brings your total to 214 dollars and 62 cents. How will you be paying today?
Me: With the green paper stuff. What’s it called?
Clerk: Cash?
Me: Yeah, that’s it.
[Hands over green paper stuff]
Clerk: Sir, this isn’t money. This is just green construction paper that you scribbled numbers all over. Even then, it still only adds up to fifty cents.
Me: Read the back.
Clerk: “WYL U IZ REEDING THIS I IZ TAKING BOOZ AND RUNING.” God dammit, not again!
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_Dating
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Me: So the point of my story is if you’re not careful you can end up with herpes in BOTH your eyes!
Woman: That…that’s disgusting.
Me: Hey don’t judge until you’ve tried it.
Woman: Okay yeah, I’m definitely leaving now.
Me: Just like my wife on my eleventh birthday last year? Women! You’re all the same. You’re more immature than my 3 year old son. Or his three year old, for that matter!
Woman: Did you say eleven? You told me you were Gary Busey! That’s the only reason I’m here!
Me: Naw, that’s my daddy.
Woman: I thought you said your daddy was Robert Downey Jr.?
Me: Naw, that’s my other daddy. Maw was pretty drunk. That’s why I got me a speech impediment.
_Safety Training
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Boss: So we don’t really know what this button does, or why it’s here, but legend is that it was pressing this button what gave Frank polio. So don’t press this button.
Me:**** Right.
Boss: Next up, this piece of equipment is really dangerous and shouldn’t be operated if you’ve been drinking.
Me: But how am I supposed to get through the day without tequila?
Boss:**** Pssh. Okay, if you’ve been drinking pussy shit like tequila, that’s fine, princess. I meant _really _drinkin’.
Me:**** There’s a lot of sparks comin’ out of this wire. What should I do about that?
Boss:**** Shit, we need more gum.
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_Hanging Out With Co-Workers
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Jeb: Damn, sometimes it’s just good to hang out outside of the workplace. Specifically, in the parking lot.
Charley: You gonna eat that cigarette?
Jeb: Hell yes, the filter is where all the vitamins are.
Me: You guys ever see that ghost that walks around the Fried Beer stand?
Charley: Aw, you mean ol’ Carnie McGee? He’s somethin’ of a legend around these parts.
Jeb:**** According to myth, he was president of the carnies, until he disbanded our union in exchange for half of a Meat-Lover’s pizza. Some say he was struck by lightning while hosing off vomit. Some contend he died of a broken heart after his wife left him for her other nephew. Charley says he saw him get hit by a motorcycle.
Charley: And he’s been haunting the park ever since, for a whole week.
