Freak Show by J Richards

shrugs.
                  “It’s the only safe place in this world for them, Serenity.” Her eyes are focused on the half lion, half eagles before us. “Think of all the poachers who would kill to have one mounted in his smoking room or the billiards hall. They would kill them for sport because they think its “cool” to own a griffin,” She pauses only long enough to look at me. “They may look unhappy but they’re alive. Just like the unicorns.” Her face lights up as she squeaks the last word.
                  “Unicorns? Stop teasing me.” I gently shove her and she laughs.
                  “They’re up ahead, just a bit farther.” Kelly informs us with her nose in the map and Becca lets out a happy scream that ruffles the griffin’s wings.
    With a new kick in our step we hurry from the griffin house and up through the pretend street. Again, we begin to mosey and it’s a pace I’m enjoying. There is so much to see and people watching means a whole other thing here in this park.
                  Flames from the promised tiki bar catch my eye and I grab my girls to scurry over there. The bartender here is a woman with long red hair. Much darker red than mine and so much longer than mine as well. It curls sweetly over one shoulder and her uniform is so tight the fabric puckers in places. Her name tag says “Candy”.
                  “Hi Candy!” I smile brightly and lean on her bar. “Can I get a good time?”
                  “Of course Miss, may I see your wrist band first?” As she moves towards me her outfit squeaks softly against itself. I hold up my cuffed wrist and she nods then turns to mix my magical alcohol. I take it from her when she offers it and thank her.
                  Now armed with a fresh drink, I want to see some damn unicorns! I suck the straw between my lips and my eyes roll back into my head. A small moan shakes the back of my throat at the taste of the sweet drink. “I forgot how good this is.” I tell myself out loud.
                  “It’s right there.” Kelly points across the street at a building that is pretty cheesy, even for this place. A barn painted like a cloud with a rainbow streaked across the doorway has a wooden unicorn covered in glitter with its hoof lifted towards the doors.
                  Like a group of school girls we run towards the glitter and push open the doors. It smells exactly like a horse barn at the state fair. Hot and nasty. I cover my nose with the animal information pamphlets and we move closer to the first stall.
                  Hay covers the ground and a water pail hangs from the side. Really it’s nothing magical or inspiring like I expected. There is no unicorn in this stall and with grumps of displeasure we move forward. There are still no beautiful horned horses in the next five stalls.
                  “Well, what the hell?” Becca gripes.
                  “Let’s go out this way?” I suggest as we near the end of the hall of stables.  The back doors to the barn are open anyway. Neighs can be heard as we approach and I’m struck breathless as we exit the barn.
                  Trotting in a large circle are six of the most stunning creatures imaginable. Milky white in color with long lustrous manes, the unicorns are as tall as Clydesdales. Their black hoofs strike the ground with purpose as they round the track and small puffs of hot air blow from their noses even though the air is a comfortable temperature.
                  “I had no idea they were so big.” Becca climbs half way up the fence dividing us from the unicorns. She hooks her stilettos over the lower board and hangs her arms over the top one. She looks like a crazy princess waiting for her turn to ride the ponies.
                  When the unicorn in front of us passes, a break between