Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury
Explanation
Summary
William Halloway and James Nightshade are thirteen year old boys living in Green Town, Illinois. Charles Halloway, Williams father, is a janitor for the local library and if starting to feel old. Plus, a lightning rod salesman was kind enough to give the boys a rod for free. They hear that the carnival coming to town, despite it being October and although the boys are excited that a carnival has come so late in the year, Charles has a bad feeling about it.
The carnival starts to display strange signs, as the lighting rod salesman's bag is found, a teacher goes missing and a Merry-Go-Round starts to display an anti-aging process.
Mr. Dark, the ring master, appears covered in tattoos of the freaks and town people of Green Town. He starts to show the boys the various freaks of the carnival and James starts to become enthralled.
As it becomes apparent that Mr. Dark begins to seek out the boys, Charles starts to try and help them out. He had been doing research at the library and has discovered something dark about the carnival. He tells them that their best weapon is love, but they are not sure how to fight. Then Mr. Dark enters and starts to fight for the boys. Mr. Dark is easily stronger then the old Charles and almost kills him, but he is able to drive him and the Dust Witch away with laughter and positive emotions. He then goes to the Carnival and starts to take out the various freaks, the Dust Witch, and Mr. Dark all though the power of emotions. Ultimately Mr. Dark is defeated by the friendship James and William share and the carnival is destroyed.