Arthur fumbled for his map. Immediately after unfolding it, he realized where they were and remembered what the building was.
“It’s the Transportation Building! Well, the back of it, anyway. It’s supposed to be beautiful!” Arthur beamed.
Jesse crooked an eyebrow. “Doesn’t look very beautiful to me.”
Arthur’s smile faltered. “I’m sure it’s more elegant out front.”
Goodness, it had better be.
Jesse hummed and nodded, seemingly not convinced.
Arthur and Jesse wandered around some more, unsure of where they should go. Eventually, Arthur’s gaze settled on the building to the right of them. It was large and white, with five square-shaped pillars, one in each corner and one taller one in the center. It looked a little like a castle, though perhaps more industrial than medieval.
“What about that one?” Jesse asked, looking up at the building, too.
“Ehm . . .” Arthur checked the map. “Cold storage.”
Jesse began to laugh.
“Goodness, Arthur, this fair sure is impressive,” Jesse said.
Arthur huffed. “Oh, come on, Jesse! We’ve only just got here.” He had to save this somehow. Had to prove to Jesse (and to himself) just how wondrous the fair truly was. “And, well, the cold storage buildingissort of impressive in its own way, isn’t it? I mean, I’ve never seen an ice box that’s several storieshigh. Have you?”
“No?”
Arthur ignored the teasing lilt in Jesse’s tone.
“See? It’s The Greatest Refrigerator on Earth! We’re witnessing magnificence already.”
“Whatever you say,” Jesse replied in a singsong tone.
Arthur sighed. Oh, why was Jesse so resistant to letting himself have fun sometimes?
“I’mcertainthat things will be more spectacular when we reach the main buildings.”
“I thought the Transportation Buildingwasone of the main buildings,” Jesse countered.
Arthur threw his head back with a groan. “We’re only looking at the back of it!”
“I’m teasing you,” Jesse said through a chuckle.
He took hold of Arthur’s sleeve and started for the front of the Transportation Building, pulling Arthur with him.
“Let’s keep going. I’m sure I’ll be wowed very soon,” he said.
Arthur really hoped so.
After walking past a whole cluster of train tracks to their right, the two men reached the front of the Transportation Building, which, as Arthur had predicted,wasa lot more impressive than the back. Romanesque style, the building was painted in an array of colors—crimson and wheat and sage—with winged figures, perhaps meant to be angels, perched between the building’s arched windows. Arthur and Jesse squinted up at them, both men walking sideways together toward the building’s entrance. Despite Jesse’s earlier teasing, Arthur could tell that the man was starting to see the fair’s splendor.
Arthur was starting to see it too.
“Do you remember these from the guidebook?” Arthur asked, pointing up at the winged figures.
Silently, Jesse shook his head, seemingly still in awe. Arthur stood up straighter, puffing out his chest a bit. He felt less silly for having wanted so fervently to be part of it now.
“Spirits of transportation,” Arthur explained, proudly. “Magnificent, aren’t they?”
“They’re... interesting,” Jesse said, though his burgeoning smile betrayed him, revealing the fact that his lack of enthusiasm was merely a façade.
