Dunk Booth

While working in the “Green Booth” with the Uncle Bob’s growing power magic show I decided to take a walk around the festival to see what was happening. There was a big crowd around the dunk booth where people were gathering to be the first one to dunk in the water a very popular parishioner. The first five balls went to the highest bidder who gave them to some of the best throwing arms of his friends, but with no success. Then others purchased balls to throw at the target. Ball after ball was thrown and still this popular parishioner sat dry above the water. After all the heavy throwers had tried some young teenage girls were allowed to move in closer to try. They also failed. Than some young children were allowed to get real close and throw the ball at the target. The man stayed dry after ball after ball missed the target. Finally a very young boy, tired of waiting to see someone dunk the man, walked up to the target and hit it hard with his hand and the person in the booth went into the water. The crowd laughed with joy and the boy was proud.

Taking a walk down a game booth row I heard my name being called out. I looked into one of the booths and saw a dear friend who I had not seen for quite a while. We updated each other on our lives and promised, as usual, to stay in touch.

A friend, a religious sister, had invited me to participate in the festival with my home model garden stuff and magic show. Talking with her in the Green Booth today I learned of her twice-a-week visits to the Veteran’s hospital to visit with vets in the locked psychiatric ward of the hospital. Here she found persons deeply scarred in mind and spirit by the various wars of our times, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. She saw the deep suffering of these men who were forced or pressured into wars she, as well as I, opposed as being immoral. However, no matter what we think of the war we must respect and love these veterans who were put into the unnatural and unholy environment of war where one needs to kill or be killed. One cannot escape from the horrors of war even at a Church festival.

Yesterday and today there was one small child who watched in wonder the magic show, as I turned waste into food plants with help of the ‘magic organic box’ and worms, who really thought I did it. Today the young child said: “You really are a magician.” I smiled and felt like saying God or Nature was the real magician.

At the end of each show I would ask the children who would like to eat a worm. Not many children respond but today an older kid said: “Yes, if it is a gummy worm.” It was, as it should be in a day in the life of a Church festival.

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