Chapter 15
Standing at the edge of the midway, Seb couldn’t help but smile at the myriad blankets dotting the landscape, families spread out with their picnics in wait for the evening fireworks, couples sneaking kisses as the sky darkened to violet. This was his favorite time of their stays in each town, this last night of celebrations where everyone came together and forgot about losses and sunburn. It was even better than opening day, when hopes ran high and smiles were wide. They weren’t nameless faces anymore, and even if he wasn’t a part of their community, he felt the bonds each town shared as they flocked to the carnival’s periphery to partake of its escape one final time.
His job was done. Bertie liked to host the closing festivities himself, playing the role of the benevolent
