Edmond's Carousel - The Story (Draft)

I haven't had time to put pen to paper, but Edmond's story has been playing in my mind for weeks now. For those who are curious, I thought I would post a sneak peak of a much larger story yet to be formed:

"Edmond was the misunderstood son of a craftsman who designed carousels (as his father had before him). When the local amusement park wanted the jewel of the fairground crown redesigned, no one was as surprised as Edmond when the task was appointed to him.

The amusement park was actually the life blood of the little town Edmond lived and grew up in, and Edmond spent most of his childhood running through the fairgrounds while his father worked.

His father had always been a well respected man, and in a sleepy town like Edmond's, events like the unveiling of a new carousel theme was bigger than the Mayoral election (which had become an even hotter topic of discussion since the upset of 1994 when, shockingly, Mr. Horbury - up for re-election - was beaten by Thomas Ackery, the local dairy farmer. But that's another story).

Edmond's father could sense his son's lack of confidence, but knew Edmond was a bright and creative young man. Besides, it was almost time for him to retire. The boy needed to take over the business at some point.

"Just base the design on childhood dreams that brought you joy", his father said with a tone of reassurance.

Edmond hesitantly took the advice.

In regards to the carousel, Edmond had searched recollections of his childhood imaginary friends, fond memories and dreams for inspiration. Bringing them to life made the usually quiet and awkward Edmond feel...well...like he belonged to something. Like he was soaring.

At the unveiling, the town folk gave a collective gasp. Initially, Edmond thought the beauty of it all had taken their breath away. Then he saw the horror in their eyes - first directed at the carousel, and then at him.

Mothers covered the eyes of their children. Fathers gathered their families closer before leading them away.

Worse than the look of horror was the immense shame he saw in his father's expression. The only thing his father said to him was "The failure isn't yours. It's mine."

People stopped going to the amusement park. Adding Christmas decorations to the carousel just provoked accusations that it was an abomination to a sacred season. The park owner, Mr Turbol (who genuinely had an affection for Edmond, having watched him grow up in the same park he was now being cast out of) was forced to remove the carousel from the grounds.

Trouble was, small towns being what they are, people talk. Rumours had been burning through the town that Edmond was touched by evil. This morphed into the amusement park being haunted. And so on, and so on.

The park eventually had to close.

Edmond's father couldn't get work at any neighbouring towns. He was a shell of the man he once was, and barely spoke to his son anymore. The following winter, he would pass away from congestive heart failure, which Edmond interpreted simply as a broken heart.

That's when Edmond left for exile, without a single protest. When he reached the townline, he could swear he heard that horrible gasp which escaped the crowd that fateful day. Only this time, instead of being a sound filled with the crowd's horror, it expressed their relief."

This story is dedicated to anyone who saw or created beauty where others saw none.