Betsy Buck, Nederland. It was so sudden! The cheetah was lunging toward me.  Its eyes were intent, as if they were seeing right through me.  I couldn’t remember if I should avoid eye contact or look him straight in the eyes!  His huge body was flying through the air, with great furry paws straight out ahead of him.  Should I run away, or stand there facing him?  Should I scream, should I try to hit him?

In my hand was my only defense: a rag with soap and water. Now, I talk softly to him, and he calms. His eyes become soft. I start to wash his head, and continue along the expanse of his spotted body, not forgetting his long tail.  I use a brush to clean his furry paws.  He gleams!

I am here to wash the animals.  These are the pets created by Scott Harrison, for people to ride. They are on their poles and we are tenderly cleaning them getting them ready for the Grand Opening of the Carousel of Happiness.

Here is the rabbit who is nervous about the time, constantly checking his wristwatch.

His long fur seems soft, needing a brush to clean around the crevices. With my help, he looks fine, and ready for a rider.

Oh, this zebra, he is so eager to dash off!  His ears are up, and he is alert, ready to run.

I must clean each stripe, and not forget his tail.  I brush his mane to stand up on end. “Here, now you are ready!”

The moose has a look in his eyes that means business.  He is strong, steadfast, and ever ready to protect his mate, and their children. But where are they?  He must go and find them!  I clean his wide red ribbon, his smooth coat of fur, and polish his huge antler rack.  “O.K. Soon you can go,” I tell him.

The giraffe looks down at me, and knows what’s coming.  It is a stretch to reach way up on my toes to wash her face.  Oops, where did that snake come from, all wrapped around her long neck?  Uhhh, I think the snake will be fine without a dusting from me.

Large, green, scaly thing: the dragon.  It’ll take a brush and rag to get those scales clean.  He seems quite harmless, and eager to talk with the children!  Oh, wait, I’d better do a good cleaning on his teeth… what’s left of them. And his flaring nostrils!

Be careful with the mermaid!  She is shy, and probably wonders what she is doing on the carousel with all these weird animals!  Face to face with her, I realize that she’s not so delicate, and I can see that she will fend for herself.

Having found that he is too large to carry around a person, I see that the huge tiger is just there watching everything that is happening around him.  He seems content with this.  When I wring out the rag and start wetting down his fur, he gets somewhat fidgety. But I talk to him gently, and he understands that a cleaning is good.

Oh this elephant is impossible!  I can’t imagine washing his big round body and those deeply rutted legs full of dirt. And his head.  How do I clean the inside of his ears?  Certainly I’ll need a ladder, especially for his long upturned trunk.  Guess I’ll have to dust off the bird at the top of his trunk, too!

Wow! So many animals. But I’m finished, and they all look shiny and clean and beautiful in all their vivid colors and textures.  All ready for the riders!

I’m so tired! I’ll just sit here in this chair by this… this gorilla!  His big, long, hairy arm goes around my shoulder, and when I look up at him, I see gentle eyes and detect a kind friendliness.  Maybe he wants to say, “I understand that you’re tired.  Just sit here, and we can talk.  Take a rest.”

It’s not long before people of all sizes gather around the animals, gleefully picking their favorites!  They climb up or are lifted to their positions on the animals for the ride of their lives!

What’s that?  Music starting! There is a subtle motion, and the animals start to move.

Slowly at first. Then faster. And faster!

The cheetah flies, the rabbit dashes, the zebra races as fast as he can go.  The giraffe lopes along with the snake holding on for dear life. There’s the moose, galloping, starting his search for his family.  The dragon is following along, happy to be pulling children in his wagon.  Is that the mermaid?  She’s really getting into it!  Oh, the elephant, lumbering as fast as an elephant can go, clean ears flapping! And with that bird following along.  

The tiger, well, he’s just surveying all that is going on.

It’s amazing!  In this small space, there is so much laughter, so many grins and giggles.   And these carved animals are so alive, as if they knew what makes people happy and living in the moment.  Here are the Harrison family pets, born from an idea, raised with  love and devotion.  Plus years of hard work as they were carved into life.

Now! Out to the world to fill the air with happy moments. This is the Carousel of Happiness!

[This story was composed when the Carousel first opened in 2010. The Carousel is now open for rides once again. For more information check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CarouselofHappiness/?ref=br_rs]

(Originally published in the June 18, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)