Whoever he was, the man playing Jack was a master showman.  So much so that if you squinted, or was hopped up on<i>Tricerahops IPA</i>, he could pass as Johnny Depp.  He also knew how to work the crowd into a lather and a frenzy, as a few members of the crowd were all too eager to trade insults with the pirate.  Some a little too vehemently in Felix’s humble opinion.<br/><br/>Jack was soon left alone on stage, as Felix sadly noted the auburn-haired maiden had departed.  Jack, however didn't seem to mind flying solo, if his lively theatrics were anything to go by.  He followed her exit with his eyes only, lest he incur another firm prod from Clarisse.<br/><br/>Having enjoyed a pair of pints each, Clarisse and Felix decided to leave the rowdy Pirate’s Cove and wander the grounds aimlessly.  Since neither of them had anything in particular they wanted to see or do, they just walked amongst the other fair-goers, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells on offer.  And who knew?  Perhaps they’d be caught up again amidst jugglers or summat.<br/><br/>Clarisse gently elbowed him and pointed toward a tent, which apparently was where<i>Celestine The Clairvoyant </i>“revealed all.”  Suppressing a smirk in case she revered fortune tellers, Felix said, “Don’t look at me.  I don’t wanna know.”  He shrugged with that smirk anyway.  “I like surprises.”  This time she nudged him with her generous hip.  A smile soon followed, and then she inquired, “Oh, do you now?”<br/><br/>Returning her smile, they were rudely interrupted by something or someone jarring and holding on to his left leg.  Felix and Clarisse looked down at the intrusion.  With a mile-wide smile, Mini-Maiden looked back.  It was immediately evident that the waif had just enjoyed a pastry of some sort, most notably of the berry flavor.  The dark red surrounding her lips gave it away.  Still not knowing her name, he knelt down and said, “Hey, you.  Are you having a good time?”  This close to her and before she answered, he caught a whiff of raspberry.  Pretty sure.<br/><br/>“I am,” she chirped.  As Mini-Maiden fished in her pocket for a mystery item, Felix glanced at her mother.  It made his day to see that all she did was smile with no trace of concern.  Sought-after booty now in hand, she happily stated, “Look at what the nice lady gave me.”  What she held in her hand was green, and Felix knew that it was their Puff, the hand-puppet from the show.  “She gave you Puff?  Now, you’re gonna take good care of him, right?” he asked.  A sincere nod and a dragon-hug later, and Mini-Maiden embraced him with a sloppy kiss on his cheek.  “I’m gunna take the goodest care of him,” she announced to anyone within earshot.  Final good-byes exchanged between the foursome, Clarisse and Felix resumed their exploration.  Less than a dozen steps later, Clarisse leaned in and licked his left cheek.  Lips pursed, she informed him with an impish grin, “It’s raspberry.”<br/><br/>About to respond in friendly protest, Felix detected the clear sounds of<i>Clarisse! </i>being shouted into the breeze.  Within a minute later, two women and a man were by their side, excited to see his blonde companion.  “I thought you guys said you weren’t coming to the fair until tomorrow,” Clarisse said.  Laughing with derision, one of the women piped up, “That’s right, but genius here found out at the last minute that the bard contest is today.”  The guilty male rolled his eyes and stated, “Which is why we have to hurry!  It starts in less than five minutes,” he smoothly changed the subject.<br/><br/>Both women grabbed an arm and swiftly escorted Clarisse toward the contest’s location, with the man gleefully leading the way.  She turned back in half-panic, indicating with her left thumb and pinkie for Felix to call her.  Still stunned by the sudden coup, he replied with arms extended, palms facing upward.  His message was clear: We never traded phone numbers.  Watching her disappear into the throng of humanity, he thought, easy come, easy go, although he did briefly consider going after her.<br/><br/>Roaming the fairgrounds on his own, he happened upon a chance realization.  Why, oh why was he wearing a black t-shirt in unrelenting sunshine? he thought, with a feel-good buzz.  Talk about a heat magnet!  He needed a respite.  He needed a break.  He needed relief.  He needed some bloody shade!  Spying a large tree, Felix detoured toward it.<br/><br/>He hunkered against the tree’s trunk just in time to witness a spectacle he had never seen before.  There was a large pole with long, colorful ribbons attached to it.  The ribbons’ vibrant hues seemed to sparkle in the dazzling sunshine.  Men, women, and children had already garnered a ribbon for themselves.  Felix inquired of a passerby, who kindly informed him that a maypole dance was about to begin.  Thanking her, his attention returned to the maypole and its soon-to-be-dancers.<br/><br/>And then he saw her.  Again.  Jack’s flame-haired damsel in distress had arrived, securing the final, gold ribbon for herself.  The music started and fluid movement soon followed.  All of the dancers were clearly having a good time, judging by their wide smiles.  “Red,” however, seemed to be the most graceful of the lot, or perhaps that was just his mental favoritism rising to the forefront.  Felix now focused solely on her.<br/><br/>Warmth.  Shade.<i>Tricerahops.  </i>Music.  Dancing.  Laughter.  Each and every one of these were conspirators for what happened next.  Eyelids seemingly growing heavier with each blink, Felix finally succumbed to a peaceful slumber against the welcoming tree.