Belle and the Carousel By: Lauran G. Strait. Page 3/5
Though Belle wasn't looking for the girl, she couldn't help noticing her each time the carousel came round. She seemed so happy. Belle's breath rushed out in one long, whistling puff. How would she explain the sweater's disappearance to Momma? Maybe she wouldn't notice? Fat chance. Belle's shoulders slumped.
Worry still needled Belle even after two spools of cotton-candy. The scent of spun sugar teasing her nose, stickiness pasted on her fingers and lips, she spent the last of her money inside the freak-show tent.
Afterward, Belle trudged home, sniffing back a less than contented sigh. The afternoon had passed too quickly.
"How was the carnival?" Momma wiped flour-covered fingers on her apron.
"Neat-o-keen." Belle grinned. "You should see it."
"Maybe later, Belly-Boo."
Belle's smile drooped. Perhaps now was the time to talk to Momma about the nickname?
Belle's hand flew to her shoulder just as someone rapper rapped on the door. Her purse was gone!
“We’ll talk about this when I get back.” Momma walked away.
"Belle, come into the parlor, please," Momma called from the front of the house.
A woman and the girl from the carnival stood by Momma.
"I got the shock of my life," the woman was saying to Belle's mother. "I never won anything until today. What a surprise! This must be Belle! Here you go, Missy. We wanted to return these to you."
Belle gasped. Her purse and sweater!
"Erica found them. She says you were nice to her. There's a present in there for you."
Inside the purse was a crisp twenty-dollar bill. "I can't take this, ma'am,” Belle said. “It's too much."
"Nonsense," the woman said, "what comes around, goes around kind of like a spinning carousel." She patted Belle's shoulder then turned to Erica. "Let's get back to the carnival. Luck's with us."