Panhandle Town, Gymone OK
Panhandle Town is a small town in Gymone, Oklahoma. The town's residents were relatively close and overall pleasant individuals. Panhandle had one main shopping center, two gas stations, a small theatre and the annual Panhandle Town Carnival. Residents of the town would have to travel outside of the town for other resources and entertainment. It was known to have the best saltwater taffy in the world. The town's favorite was cherry-vanilla and oddly enough, the black licorice taffy. Winter months were very cold and boring.
Summer-time brought life back to Panhandle. Panhandle Town Carnival was the highlight of the year. From children, to adults and even town visitors loved attending the town's carnival. Festive music enchanted the town, bright colors brought vibrance to the dull streets; as the string lights crisscrossed the town's square. The scent of buttered popcorn, grilled hotdog smoke andsweet cottoncandy sugar filled the air. Children's laughter echoed through the streets while some gathered for face paintings of their favorite characters.
Carnival clowns gifted the children with colorful balloon animals, vendors sold handmade jewlery; while ranchers told old folk tales, passing out fresh squeezed lemonade for .50 cents. Elders watched from shabby benches, teenagers flirting around the prize wheel as couples snuck kisses behind the carousel. At night fall, bright lights consumed the town's streets, fireworks lit the sky casting reflections over the town's water creek near by. For one month, every year, Panhandle Town didn't feel small, it was exhilarating surpassing the town's unusual boredom, nothing short of magic.
To be continued...
