The carney people truck in the rides, the tents, the games during the week preceding the fair, and the local kids begin their harangues: "Can we go to the fair, can we, huh?" It's a rip-off, from one end to the other and someday the young'uns will learn that their money is better spent elsewhere. In the meantime, doting grandparents brave the noise and crowds and lights and try not to lose sight of their young charges.

Hope is intent on squirting her water gun right on target, the better to push her monkey to the top and win a huge stuffed doll she doesn't need and hasn't room for in her already overstuffed bedroom.
Luckily, some other young lady won, and we left the fair empty handed. Our wallets, too, were considerably lighter.
Later, we pulled the lawn chairs onto the back yard and watched the carnival fireworks, only a few blocks away.