Because parts in this story deal with a traveling show, I had to do some research to understand their way of life and in doing so, I ran across a few phrases I thought lended an air of authenticity. One was “forty miler.” This meant a person or persons who wouldn’t make it more than forty miles with the carnival, but it can also mean someone who doesn’t have to travel more than forty miles to work in one. I guess they’d hire people who lived in towns close by on occasion.
In the sentence this week is the word “yard.” It doesn’t mean a yard like we mow, weed, and plant flowers in. In this case, “yard,” is where there are various amenities set up for the traveling show workers, like dressing rooms, the cook tent, animal corrals or cages, wagons for food storage and many other necessities. All of this is gathered in a central point with the attractions, games and rides set up on the outer perimeter, like a barrier. The yard is off limits to the public, and is also sometimes referred to as the “back yard.”
Chapter Eighteen
Clayton said, “Come on, I’ll take you to the yard, and you can see where you’re gonna sleep.”
A Publishers Lunch BUZZ BOOK Fall/Winter 2017, and a SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance) Trio Pick for 2018, THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET releases December 26th, 2017.
***I’m using #FirstSentenceFridays on Twitter and tagging @Kensington Publishing Corporation. Follow along and tweet out/share if you’d like!***
What a fascinating post, Donna! Thanks to you, Fridays have become absolutely delightful… <3 <3 <3
Thank you, Lilac, I’m glad you’re enjoying these posts! <3 <3 <3
I remember being slobbered on by an elephant at a traveling circus. I loved every gooey minute of it. Not the same as these old-timey shows but drew crowds from all the nearby towns. Thanks for the memory Donna!
I had a little incident with an elephant myself, but I was so young, I was afraid instead. That HUGE trunk came towards me for the peanut I held and I screamed and backed up and of course, the trunk came too. I can’t recall if that poor elephant got that peanut or not.
I love words like “yard” as you use it here that are germane to their own little world. Makes it that much more fun to read. Well done.
Thank you, John! The lingo for traveling shows/circuses made for interesting research, and there are tons of words, but I didn’t get crazy with them in the story. Just a sprinkling here and there… 😉
I love the insight your posts provide. Every profession has its lingo. Yard. It makes perfect sense. Now I want some cotton candy…
You’re right. When I was in corporate and working in IT, my husband would pass by my office and hear me talking on a conference call and said it was like I was speaking another language, mostly b/c of all the acronyms.
My preference (as of this morning) is candy apple. I want a candy apple. The fact I want anything is good. 🙂