My foot tapped with a clear impatience as I waited in the line. I had been here since 6:10 on the dot just so I could get a good spot. Mark that on my list of choices that have taken away twenty minutes of my life I’ll never get back.

I pulled out my pocket watch for what seemed to be the 50th time since arriving at the freak show's entrance. Was it just me, or did the small black needle seem to move slower with each second that I looked at it? Pedestrians seemed to be packed around me, making my skin crawl. God how I couldn’t wait to get my own little bubble of personal space back.

But for now, I was just in the same place they were, waiting for the “closed” sign to flip around and the gates to swing open. The show started at 6:30 but as the seconds ticked on ever so slowly my restlessness seemed to get worse somehow, along with my thread of patience. Kids around me screamed and giggled, chasing one another as they weaved through the line. Mothers and fathers barked at them to be on their best behavior, threatening them with whatever punishment deemed to be fit.

Thank God I planned on being single for the rest of my life.

At last, to my relief, the creaking sound of the gate opening rang throughout the entire back lot, bringing silence among the citizenry. As quickly as that relief came, though, it was instantly replaced by disgust and horror.

An old man unsteadily making his way out of the fog on a thin cane hobbled his way out, head down as he bit his lip in concentration. Grey rags of what might have used to be a pinstripe suit clung to his frail frame, bones jutting out where gaping tears revealed pale skin that was tight with wrinkles. Everything about him seemed to be sharp and precise, not a single curve on him. His gray beard speckled with some hairs of white swayed as he walked, whipping around in the frigid wind, a few strands still left on the top of his head.

Seeing him was like a ghost from a horror story coming to life.

There was a pause between him stopping and opening his mouth. Since his appearance was chilling enough I immediately prepared myself for a demon to fly out of him or black smoke to pour out. “So sorry for the wait everyone,” he croaked, voice hoarse like air rushing over sandpaper, “I have a horrid time trying to find my way around here.”

Lifting his head, I managed to bite back my gasp unlike everyone else. Instead of normal eyes with two colored irises, wide orbs of white gazed at nothing. Red arteries lined the edges that even being a good five feet away was obvious, leading to the bulging scars that inflamed the tissue of his eye sockets. Faintly there was the gray outline of a circle that may at one time been a membrane of his delicate pupil. Just looking at him made shivers trail up and down my spine.

“Now there's a surprise,” he gave a just about toothless grin, only a few brown teeth that scattered along his gums were visible, “No children are crying this time. But I assume I have everyone's attention at the moment, right?”

Some people, so stricken with shock, just managed a slow nod. Obviously, their brains still didn't process the man was most likely blind and a nod would do no good. Since I seemed to be the only one not shaking like an infant, I cleared my throat and let out a loud, “Right you are sir!”

Quicker than my eye could follow he whipped his cane around to point at me. Every person around me jumped back a foot or two but I stood firm, stuffing my hands into my pockets. “Here's a courageous fellow,” he cackled, poking me with the end of it, “What would you happen to be looking for at a humble little freak show like this, hmm...?”

It seemed almost like a trick question as those pure white spheres in his sockets bore into me. Even though I know he couldn't see it, I smirked. “I'm looking for a display of just how creative God can be. Curiosity may have killed the cat but I'm still alive after all of my searchings, aren't I?”

He gave a raspy laugh and reached up to thump me on the shoulder. “You're a brave man I'll give you that,” the corner of his mouth twitched up slightly, “A stupid one at that, but still brave.” He bowed his head and gestured back towards the gate with a crooked finger. “There are creatures in there the devil himself shrinks away from. Monsters of nightmares. Freaks that haven't seen the light of day. They despise people like you, ones who look at them like animals. Go in there,” he lifted his chin, smile gone, “And your life will change forever. I can’t promise you that no harm will come.”

That unsettling feeling was returning quick, whispers of startled guests ringing around me like a church bell chiming as the hour struck. I should have turned and run. I should have decided to just leave it be and go home. I should have listened to the clear warning. But my pride, steadfast and as strong as diamonds, led me to chuckle.

“What do you think I'm here for?”

He started to laugh again, this time, a bit more obnoxious. It was raspy, like a cat that couldn't get a furball out of its esophagus. It was pretty enjoyable until he was coughing for air, struggling to keep breathing. Spit flew out of his mouth, spraying anyone unfortunate to be in a two feet radius of him. One of the women whacked him on the back as she freaked out three times with her purse. To everyone's, including myself, surprise a brown wrinkled tooth flew out and onto a child's hand. I muffled the sound of my own laughter as the little girl screamed and flung it away, wiping at her hand as if she was now infected.

The man managed to catch his breath, leaning on his cane for support as one of his gnarled hands clutched his knee. As he did, he lifted his head so his milky eyes could stare up at me once again. “Go inside then ye young wanderer,” he gave a toothless grin, “Go inside and come out changed forever. Old Man Pete will watch over ye.”

With a pat on my shoulder, he limped to the front of the line and slammed his cane on the front of the gate. “Y’all heard me! Welcome to the land of God's rejects!”