Ten years go by since you were a little girl with your grandma telling you stories. Now it's the year 1974. You're nineteen years old, now and you're out on your own. Truth is, you were living with your grandma who is in fact an old gypsy woman now in her sixties. She goes by Madame Laverne (L/N).

Your dad was in prison for a stupid crime he committed when you were only six years old. He did nine years there. When he got out, he got custody of you until you turned eighteen and moved out, moving in with your best friend. Your friend Wendy Jefferson. She's been your friend since childhood. 

As for your mom, she was a prostitute who wanted nothing to do with you or your dad. You were born an illegitimate child in the year 1955. Your dad actually got arrested for stealing stuff for you. Toys, dresses, etc. It was all for you. That's why your gypsy grandmother, his mother raised you. But your dad would do anything for you. Even if it was stealing stuff to care for your well-being.

Luckily, he's out now and he lives by himself in his two-bedroom house. You'll visit him as much as you can. Unlike your mom Rita who left you when you were just an infant, your dad Vince loves you.

Since you grew, you've become sort of a masochist, but also laid back at the same time. And you love smoking pot. So does Wendy. She's no masochist, but she's a bit of the sassy type. She's always got your back in situations.

You're sitting back on your couch in your apartment right now. Your vinyl record player is playing American Woman by The Guess Who. You're smoking a joint. You cough a bit and you say, "Oh man. Good shit. Who did you get this shit from, Wendy?" Wendy says, "Ch, girl. I got it from my cousin Lenny. Who the hell else?" You smirk and you say, "Far out." 

https://youtu.be/3r_qd2yxIsM

You hand her the joint and she says, "You're my favorite girl. You know that?" You say, "Awe. You're too much, Wendy darling." She says, "Yeah yeah. We ain't in Peter Pan, bitch." She takes a hit. You smirk and you say, "Come on, man. Puff puff give." She says, "Yeah yeah. I know this shit, girl. I'm the cousin of a dope dealer. Lay off." She coughs once and hands you the joint. You take it.

You take a hit and you sigh. You say, "Did I ever tell you that the Victorian mansion near the carnival became a haunted attraction?" She says, "Shit. You for real? That same damn mansion your grandma will be warnin' your ass about?" You hand her the joint and she takes a hit. 

You say, "Yeah. I mean, they did increase the carnival. My old man runs it, now since he got out of prison. I mean my grandma is the gypsy. She knows her shit, man. She knew about the phantom man Once-Ler from her own mind. I was brought up that way. I'm into that weird shit. Weird is good." 

You listen to the song and you sing, "Now, woman... I said stay away! American woman. Listen what I say ay ay ay...!" She hands you the joint and you take a hit. You sigh and you say, "We should go there. To the carnival." She says, "Yeah?" You say, "Yeah. I mean come on. There's food, isn't there? Weed makes you hungry as shit, man." 

She says, "Yeah it does. Lenny has stronger shit than this, lady. Some other shit he be sellin' will trip you the fuck out. Make you mellow for days. Know what I'm saying?" You smirk and you say, "Far out, man." You and Wendy continue talking, smoking weed and listening to music on your vinyl player.

(Remember. This story is set in the mid 1970s.)

**************************************************

Later on, you and Wendy are at the carnival. You're walking around. People are walking around, playing games, riding rides, children are running around laughing and playing, etc. And your dad Vince runs the carnival now. You get to a game booth that's playing the song I Shot the Sheriff by Eric Clapton.

You say, "Oh, I love this song." You sing along to it. Wendy says, "For sure." She moves her head a bit to the song. You look over at the guy behind the booth who's got a bottle of booze in his hand. He's got the music on on his small radio. You yell, "Hey! Hey, man!" He looks up. You and Wendy walk over and you say, "Good music taste, man." 

He smirks and says, "Right on, chicks. Enjoy the carnival. You want real joy? Smoke some good dope before you get on the Ferris wheel." Wendy says, "Shit. My girl here loves her weed, man. She'd be smokin' up in our place every now and then. Then again, I like it too." 

He says, "Far out. Safest thing on the planet, man. Fuck what the pigs think. Am I right?" You say, "So right." You make a peace sign with your fingers, then you put your hand down. He says, "Just um, you know... stay away from that house at night." He points over. You look to see the same Victorian mansion mentioned in stories. The one that's been turned into a horror attraction.

He looks at you guys and says, "I hear a lot of brutal shit went down in there, man. A monstrous being or something has killed like hundreds of people going in there at night throughout the century." 

You say, "The Once-Ler?" He says, "Yeah, man. How did you know?" You say, "You know the old gypsy woman here?" He says, "Yeah, chick. Madame Laverne." You say, "That's my grandma." He says, "Madame Laverne's your grandma? No way." 

You say, "Yeah way. Her son runs this carnival. My dad, Vince." He says, "Far out. You're practically the princess of this carnival, man. Your dad's like a king here." You say, "Oh man. I'm far for princess material." Wendy looks at you and says, "Girl. Shut the fuck up. Guys will be gawkin' their eyes at you a lot. Not princess material, my ass." You smirk and you say, "Awe. You're the greatest, Wendy." 

You look at the guy and you say, "Hey man. What's your name?" He says, "Wayne Marbles, man." You say, "Hey, Wayne. Not during the night, but during the day we could go to the highest floor of the haunted attraction. Our smoking spot. Know what I'm getting to? Hit us up." 

Wendy smirks. Wayne says, "Hey, alright. I'm down with that. So long as we get the fuck out of there afterwards, so the monster isn't the one getting the munchies... for human flesh, that is." Wendy says, "It's a done deal." You say, "Hit us up, man." 

After that, you leave and you say, "Wonder what my dad's up to." Wendy says, "Let's see." You walk around and you spot a middle-aged man with sort of shaggy dark blonde hair, a mustache, glasses, etc. You smile and you say, "There he is. Hey! Old man!" 

Your dad Vince turns around and he sees you. He smiles and he approaches you and Wendy. He says, "Hey, sweetheart. How are you?" You say, "Great, man. Wendy and I decided to get out and come here. Away from my shitty job. Boss is kind of a cunt, man." 

Your dad says, "I've had bosses like that in my life before. Don't worry. I could get you a job here to avoid that tyrant of a woman." You look at him and you say, "Yeah?" He says, "Trust me. I'll get you away from anyone that hurts my little girl." You smile and you say, "Awe. You're the best. Thanks, dad." He comes to you and kisses you on the forehead saying, "Anything to make sure my daughter's safe." 

He looks at Wendy and he says, "Same to you too, Wendy." Wendy says, "Ch. Shit, man. Anything to get away from my bigoted ex Charlie. Motherfucker tryin' to mooch off of me all the damn time. Jobless prick." 

You say, "I'm sure in the future, most of our kids or grandkids will need at least two jobs to get by. I'm sure prices will go way the hell up forty something years from now, man." Wendy says, "Ch. Yeah. Let alone only affordin' a one-bedroom apartment. Not even that for some. Get a damn roommate who will actually work." 

Your dad says, "I may be dead by then." You say, "Hey. Don't jinx it, old man. Who knows? You may live to be at least a hundred and two. Grandma told me so." Your dad sighs and says, "Mom knows too much. Tell you two what... Explore the carnival. And if you happen to go into the attraction, make sure it's at this time of day. Daytime." You say, "Got it, man. We'll be fine." Wendy says, "Mhm." 

After talking to your dad, you and Wendy walk around. You even ride on the swing ride and the tilt-a-whirl. Good thing neither of you ate before that. You have sodas in your hands right now as you walk. You say, "Wanna go into the attraction?" Wendy says, "I guess so. After nightfall, fuck that shit." 

You say, "My grandma did warn me about the Once-Ler. They lock those doors at night now to prevent anyone from going in and getting brutally murdered by him. Legends are true, man. The Once-Ler is one brutal fucking being." She says, "Girl. Just know Miss. Wendy got your back." You smile and you say, "Awe. Thanks, Wendy." 

You and Wendy approach the attraction. People are going in. It's alright right now since it's broad daylight outside and it's a sunny day. You look at the Victorian mansion which is a haunted attraction for the carnival now. You say, "Too bad they don't make this at night. It would be more suitable." Wendy says, "Yeah. No shit. They would if that fuckin' monster didn't slaughter anyone at night." 

Right upstairs in the mansion turned horror attraction, there's a figure in the attic, looking out the window and down at you and your friend. He smirks and says, "I sense two soon to be victims in my own hands. I..."

He looks down and he notices YOU. He presses his hands against the window and he leans in. He sees you looking up. He moves away. Right outside you say, "Holy shit, man." Wendy says, "What?" You say, "I saw him. That had to be him up in the attic window." Wendy says, "Girl, it's broad daylight." 

You say, "Wendy... I don't think the day makes a difference. Something tells me... the Once-Ler will strike whenever he wants. It won't matter if we're in there at night." Wendy says, "Then how the fuck is no one dyin' up in there during daytime?! Makes no damn sense to me, girl." 

You say, "I saw a figure in a green suit, black hair, light gray skin, black eyes... You name it, man. Had to be him." Wendy grabs your hand and says, "Girl. Let's get somethin' to eat. We'll come back here in a bit." You say, "Alright. We'll eat, then we're coming back here. I know they say curiosity killed the cat, but we should be alright in there... for the time being." You and Wendy walk off.

The same being comes back to the window and looks out to see you and your friend walking off. He says, "I must find out who that is. The most beautiful thing I've seen in a century. Something tells me this female is different. I know she'll be back.~" He grins, baring those sharp teeth.