Snippet #2194476

Evie watched with anticipation as the woman took a enormous boa snake out of a large basket. The snake was bigger than even the woman was, and it looped around her like a living scarf. Evie held her breath, not wanting to make any noise to startle the snake. Her younger brother, Tommy, had an unholy fascination with everything to do with snakes. Despite their mother's wishes, he always kept a pet snake in the house in a small, slightly cracked, glass aquarium. Evie had been bitten before and knew how easily a snake could get startled, especially when it had nowhere to run.

Evie was almost surprised that its weight alone did not drag the woman down, but she still looked as light and graceful as ever. Evie wondered how the woman seemed to know where everything was and each step seemed to be placed with a remarkable purpose and care. Evie wondered if she was born with that grace or if she just developed it somewhere on the way. Developing grace was difficult for Evie, though she was somewhat better than when she was little, and she was uncertain whether her efforts to be more graceful were fruitful at all. She often doubted it though since she was never really good at doing anything. She knew it was and would be nearly impossible to improve herself, she was so horrible at everything.

Her thoughts and concentration on the woman were suddenly interrupted by a loud pop immediately followed by loud crying. Her eyes searched the crowd and zeroed in on a little boy in the front row. His parents were trying to quiet him, but he was too distraught. Evie, unable to help herself, immediately jumped up and pushed through the buzzing crowds to the front row and began trying to reassure the boy in a calming voice. The boy began to quiet, and his parents shot Evie a thankful look.

Suddenly, there was a loud thud as the woman who was dancing with the boa thudded to the ground. The crowd let out a collective gasp before vocalizing their shock. Evie became very still, watching in horror as the poor woman was slowly being crushed by the massive coils. Unexpectedly, the woman sunk her teeth into the snake and slipped out of its grasp, rapidly dumping it back into its basket. Evie stood with the crowd and applauded her bravery. However, Evie's enchantment with the snake act was shattered. She realized that it was just as bad, and worse, than the mutants trapped in cages, especially if she was forced to do it. She could almost see the anger and fear behind the woman's smile, but in a moment it was gone and Evie questioned if she really saw it at all.