It was going to be a feast. It was always a feast when we took a trip to the fair.
I could barely bottle my excitement or calm my hunger. It's been a tough week, living off scraps and rags. Our only driving force was if we could survive till Saturday, then we could feast in the fair.
The people of Salt town were meticulously tidy and frugal with their meals.
A harsh place for a rat to live, a nightmare for a family of rats. Still it was better than the surrounding towns which had more food but lots of cats.
"Safety is the number one priority." That's what my dad always said.
He's gone now, starved to death after leaving his share for his twelve kids and one wife.
"You have to take care of them, Ren." Is what he told me as I was the eldest son.
A guideline and a curse of sorts, I couldn't abandon this duty forced on me now.
I looked back at my other eleven siblings still sleeping in our den as I walked out to scout the fair.
As always everything looked neat and tidy, the roads were clean, the grass was short, and it looked like a city that one would see on paintings.
I walked through the clean gutters as I made my way to the fairgrounds.
It was 8pm, the fair would just be getting into the main swing.
As I looked at the colorful lights, I became mesmerized at how beautiful they were, regardless I didn't come to sightsee.
After a few minutes of searching, I saw what I was looking for: Corn dogs, Popcorn, Hotdogs, Hamburgers,.. the food stalls went on and on.
My mouth salivated on the thoughts and my stomach rumbled.
I heard other stomach's rumbling beside me and turned around to see my siblings popping up one by one.
I left early and alone to scout and plan so they wouldn't have to meet any unexpected and avoidable trouble.
Yet it seems the plan now was null.
"What are you guys doing here?" I shouted at them, making sure my echo reached those who were on the way too.
"We couldn't wait anymore." replied Anya, my immediate younger sibling.
"Hunger practically woke us from sleep, besides it's already time for the fare, let's get in position and feast." Theo said, backing up Anya and giving inspiration to the others.
There was no stopping them now so I decided to join them.
"You all know where you want to go?" I asked and got different replies calling different stalls as everyone shouted their objective at random.
"Okay, Goodluck, stay safe and stay out of sight." I replied to them and made a quick dash to the corn dog stall.
The plan was simple: stay in or near the stall and wait for crumbs, pieces or a healthy bite of the food to fall to the floor then quickly snatch it.
Immediately I went into the Corn dog stall, I noticed how many pieces were on the floor.
I spared no time thinking as the hunger overtook my senses. I quickly ate everything in sight noticing the slight difference with taste but with a partially full stomach, more full than it had ever been this month, I couldn't care less.
When I was through with the store, I rushed to the next, to see the same thing.
Food littered here and there on the floor from the chefs.
Some of my siblings were already there, stuffing their faces full of the delicious treats, content in their faces.
"Seems they fell for it. The food on the floor is gone."
I heard voices speaking outside and crept closer to eavesdrop.
"Share the word to the shop owners. The rats, our only blemish in this city, have eaten the poison."
"If any is seen, make sure to clear them away from the public."
My blood chilled at the knowledge of what had happened, it's no wonder the meticulously clean chefs had food lying down here and there on the floor.
It was a plan to get rid of us.
I looked at my siblings eating away at the popcorn laced with poison and I remembered the slightly off taste the corn dog I had eaten tasted.
Immediately I rushed and took the food out of their mouths, telling them to go stop the other siblings.
I knew that it was impossible for anyone to not have eaten any spare food, we were all doomed.
"Take care of them Ren..."
My father's dying words rang in my ears. I had failed him.
Soon, all my siblings had gathered and I can already see the effect of the poison on little ones.
Little Tom and Anna were already having droopy eyes and trouble staying on their feet.
"I'm feeling sleepy Ren." Tom said, yawning and teetering.
I was angered, angered at the sheer greediness of man, angered at the fact they thought we were blemishes who's lives can simply be discarded.
"We won't go down like this !" I proclaimed to my down cast family.
"It's over Ren." Anya said, tears already forming in her eyes.
"We're done." Theo replied, holding Anna upright as she almost fell.
"Done? Done?!!" I replied in anger caused by grief.
"Nay!! We are just getting started." I said pacing, the blood laced with poison boiling in my veins.
"We came to the fair for a feast, and feast we shall." I said, holding my head upright.
"And if it's going to be our last trip to the Fair, we shall have the biggest feast ever!!" I screamed, forcing my enthusiasm and courage down their throats.
We weren't going to live and then die like rats.
I briefly explained the plan to those who were still conscious, Anna and Tom, already had been put to rest by the corner.
Immediately, we set out.
The plan was simple: we were going to terrorize the fair goer's. As they dropped their food, we picked it up and carried it back here.
It was a blast, we moved with speed and efficiency, causing havoc at every corner.
I remember how Theo and Anna climbed up a woman's leg, making her fling her hamburger which I and other siblings caught and carried it back.
The fair closed down as patrons ran out in shock and disgust, the shop owners ran after them, begging them to calm down and cursing at us in outrage.
In less than eight minutes, the havoc and chaos caused by us had settled down and it was a clear simple sombre silence.
We ate our clean unpoisoned food slowly, exhaustion already in our body.
"Is anyone awake?" I asked quietly.
"I'm here." Theo replied, slower and weaker than me.
"There were like four other answers, although each weaker than the former.
I myself could barely hear them, with my stomach full and cheese on my lips, I knew I was reaching my limit.
Regardless of the outcome, I was certain that our last trip to the fair was the best trip to the fair.
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