Street Carnival Dragon

A cluster of kids pack into the curved seat of a carnival ride shaped like a snarling dragon, its huge yellow eye and fanged mouth looming just behind them. Every face in the car shows a different flavor of thrill, one hand thrown up in a wave, another braced hard against the safety bar, mouths open in shouts or squeals. The ride glows under bright overhead lights against a dark night sky, and clusters of purple carnival bulbs cling to the dragon’s head like grapes. The energy is pure motion and noise, a car full of kids fully surrendering to the ride.