Passing in Jest

Composed for the Day Nine Prompt of the 'Halls of Pandemonium' challenge hosted by Bradley Ramsey

They were bored.
Vacation from school
Was not looking promising anymore.

The first three days itself,
depleted all the excitement
they had in store.

Watching them roam restlessly 
on the streets,
Neville's Grandpa called out 
to them.

He asked them to gather round
for a tale he hadn't yet 
shared with anyone else.
 
He told them of the Old Carnival
in his childhood town
where for an entire month
There were no bounds.

Food and drinks, 
Feast and frills,
Music, revelry,
laughter and thrill...

He told the group
How he came to be the Jester
and gave auditions to be 
bestowed the role. 

But what is a Jester???
Not what, silly! but who...
Once Grandpa explained...

There were twenty more 
questions lined up
for him to tackle. 

Upon vaguely registering 
What Grandpa Neville was saying
The group got excited
and wanted to tell jokes.

The evening turned into
a daily session of anecdotes
interspersed with retelling 
of jokes.

One session led to several 
over that entire summer
Other grandparents and 
friends and neighbours...

All found a reason 
to laugh without waiting 
for a particular season. 

Now the neighbourhood 
has a carnival of its own
a festival of stand-up comics 
and story-tellers in the making.

Signs around the Carnival
state - No trespassing if you have 
no joke or story to share.

The only condition for entry
that you spread laughter
and good cheer!

A doodle created by yours truly with brush pens and black micron pens on 11.02.2025 in a toned paper sketchbook.

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This is my entry for the Day Nine prompt of the ‘Halls of Pandemonium’ Challenge hosted by Bradley Ramsey. Sharing the link below to the Challenge, if you wish to participate or read other wonderful entries to this challenge:

The Halls of Pandemonium: Week 2 Directory

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