Aviona the Flying Carousel Horse of Long Beach Island

By Corinne G Ruff

The lead carousel horse on a glittering carousel at a Jersey Shore Amusement Park comes to life during a summer storm. Stepping off of the carousel, she discovers freedom and her wings. Once she learns to fly, she must choose between staying on the carousel or embarking on a quest into the unknown to find others like her and discover where she t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sea Cottage Press
• Release date: Nov 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9780578782614

Book preview

Chapter 1

Awakening

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.

– Louisa May Alcott

Every storm brings something and takes something away.

Popcorn clouds dotted the summer sky above the Queen City, as the sun melted into a puddle of orangesicle ice cream, slowly dripping onto the royal blue waters of the Barnegat Bay. The star of the show would be back again tomorrow morning, her sunbeams rising up from the Atlantic Ocean to greet a new day on Long Beach Island. For her final bow, she painted the golden sky in lavender blue, sweet Jersey peach, and blew kisses of wispy pink cotton candy clouds along the horizon.

But weather on a New Jersey barrier island can change in an instant. Tree leaves began fluttering in the breeze, and shorebirds took shelter under darkening skies. Light rain a few hours later chased everyone inside, canceling the summer evening’s outdoor activities of mini-golf, shopping, dining, cruising the boulevard, standing in lines outside ice cream parlors, and going on the rides at the Fantasy Island Amusement Park.

Large lollipop raindrops plopped down on the red and white canopy of the park’s carousel, cascading down the edges of the golden Victorian style scenery trim, past the rounding board, and splashing onto the ground.

Steady rain continued through the night, as an army of billowing, oyster-gray clouds began marching across the Barnegat Bay on a course for the carousel. Roaring as loud as a thousand lions, the wind intensified the waves on the bay, which clawed at the bulkheads and licked the sides of the sailboats in the marina, chaotically clanking their masts in a metallic tune. A few blocks to the east, frothy whitecaps on the ocean waves flew like the manes on a stampede of wild white steeds, crashing thunderously onto the shoreline.

As the brunt of the storm arrived overhead the park, a single bolt of blue lightning struck the ornate, golden ball atop the park’s carousel, immediately followed by a thunderclap. Globe lightning, the size of a blue basketball, floated down the center pole of the carousel, hissing as it crawled to the brass pole of lead carousel horse and swirled down the pole, disappearing into the horse.

As quickly as the storm had arrived, it dissipated. The wind barely whistled through the Giant Wheel spokes as a hush fell over the pitch-black park.

The golden horseshoes of the lead carousel horse began to glow sapphire blue, and a low buzzing sound came from its mouth. Millions of teeny-tiny blue sparks circled the horse’s legs and moved up its body. As they revolved around its head and neck, a kaleidoscope of iridescent colors shone out of each eye, like high beams, into the dark. 

The blue orb traveled back up the brass pole, over to the center pole, and exited the top of the carousel. Shooting straight up into the starlit sky, it showered the carousel in gold sparkles as the eyes of the carousel horse slowly closed.

A few moments later, its eyelashes fluttered rapidly as a golden haze traveled the horse's body, transforming the fiberglass carousel horse into a real golden palomino horse. Each strand of its flaxen mane and tail levitated toward the sky.

The clouds parted; moonbeams shone down on the carousel.

           Quivering on four buckling legs, the horse shook its head from side to side. Opening its mouth, it let out a loud moan, like a blue whale with a stomachache. Snorting and coughing, it looked at its reflection in the carousel mirrors. 

A living, breathing, horse with bright blue eyes, blinked back at her.

That’s me! I’m alive!

Her mane and tail stuck out in all directions, like the quills on a porcupine. Breathing short, quick breaths through flaring nostrils, she settled into her hoofs. Leaning from side to side, forward to back, she steadied herself. Looking back, she noticed her brass pole was gone! Lifting each hoof up and then down, she heard the clink of her golden horseshoes on the carousel's metal platform—clink, clink, clink, clink.

           Looking in all directions for signs of life on the carousel, all she saw around her were rows of motionless fiberglass carousel horses. Standing in place for a few more minutes, she looked into the carousel mirror again, in disbelief.

How am I alive?

As an outside row carousel horse, she could see the ground near the carousel platform.

Maybe if I just stand here for a while, I’ll change back.

After about five minutes, which seemed like five hours to her, she came up with an idea.

I wonder if I could touch the ground?

It’s so far down.

Reaching her quivering leg farther and farther, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. As she planted her right hoof on the ground, she opened one eye. 

I touched the ground!

She kept tapping her hoof and then mustered up a bit more courage.

I wonder what would happen if I stepped down off of the carousel? 

One shaking hoof at a time, she stepped onto the ground until she was standing next to the carousel. Tipping from side to side, she tried to find her balance, standing without her brass pole on the ground. Her golden horseshoes clippity-clopped on the bricks as she moved sideways, sounding like a giant crab with tap shoes on. Taking her first stiff-legged steps forward, she walked like Dr. Frankenstein’s monster-horse until she realized that she could lift her hooves and bend her legs to walk. She moved forward with exaggerated high steps, and then backward.  

As she turned toward the carousel, her long flaxen tail fell gently, tickling her back legs. She quickly figured out how to make her tail move back and forth. She swung her hips from side to side, fluttering her festive ribbons through the air.

Staring up at her reflection in large, oval mirrors on the rounding board of the carousel, she flipped her mane from side to side, bared her teeth, whinnied, and winked. Her icy-blonde mane settled onto her head and neck, and she no longer looked like a lion who’d stuck its paw in an electrical socket. 

Her trappings included an elaborate garland of cabbage roses draped around her neck, a golden bridle, and a brown leather saddle traced in gold-leaf with AVIONA written on it. Her oval girth buckles gleamed as she pranced back and forth in front of the carousel mirrors. She was used to spinning counterclockwise on the carousel; now, she could move in all directions.

I know my name is Aviona. I know I am the lead horse on the Fantasy Island carousel in Beach Haven, New Jersey. I know I came here two years ago when my carousel arrived at the Park in 1987. I saw a flash of blue lightning and felt a big jolt.

Then, I came to life.

           She closed her eyes, reflecting on the first thing she ever saw at the carousel horse factory—a man’s smiling mouth.

Happy twelfth birthday, Aviona! she heard the man say sweetly in a thick accent.

Carousel Master Carver legend says a carousel horse's spirit comes to life when they receive their glass eyes. Each carver decides the forever age of his carousel horse and gives them the gift of their unique personality. 

Yes! The carousel legend was true. She had come to life in spirit. She was aware of everything around her, just like every carousel horse. She could hear and see everything. She remembered the long bumpy journey on the truck with her carousel family from Chance Rides in Kansas. She remembered being placed on the brand-new glittering carousel by her sweet owner Mr. F. He always told them how much joy he felt watching the park’s guests ride the carousel.

You are the stars of the park! Mr. F would say. He told them that each of the carousel horses on the Fantasy Island Carousel represented a Master Carver from the Golden Age of Carousels. They had relatives, both fiberglass and the original wood-carved horses, spinning all over the world! He even showed them his favorite book, The Art of the Carousel. A carousel horse that looked just like her was on the cover.

Raising her face to the moonlit sky, she marveled at its beauty. In her position on the carousel, her head bowed slightly and turned to the right. She neighed joyfully at being able to look up!

Woah! I think something, and suddenly I'm making sounds.

She wondered what other sounds she could make. Opening her mouth as wide as she could, she let all of the air out of her belly and moved her head from side to side, moaning, Ahhhhh. She stuck out her tongue, coughed a few times, and cleared her throat. She attempted to say her first word aloud. Hellllll … ooooo … Helllllo. Hello. Hello. 

There was no response.

           Slowly turning away from the carousel, she spotted the statue of Mayor Gator, the alligator mascot of Fantasy Island.  

Oh my gosh! I know him!

Mayor Gator! Hello! It’s Aviona, the lead horse on the carousel. I’ve come to life! she said excitedly. Can you hear me?

Nothing. Just a giant, bright green, grinning alligator, standing up holding a sign welcoming guests to the Fantasy Island Amusement Park. 

           Well, if you can hear me, hello! I’m going to check out the park now, she said cheerfully.

The Giant Wheel towered over her as she craned her neck to see its tippity-top. Following each brightly colored gondola and spoke around in a circle, it reminded her of a golden spiderweb, the kind she’d seen once glistening on the gate around the carousel one morning.

She turned toward the Sea Dragon ride. The dragon’s eyes were black, not fiery red as they were during its pendulous dive, carrying high-pitched screaming riders. 

Scanning the park, but staying close to the carousel, she inched closer to the Frog Bog Game. The cheery, giant stuffed animals hung above the lily pad launchers, waiting for their winner. Looking at the clown balloon blast game, she realized now what the excitement was about when guests sprayed water into the clown's mouth until a balloon popped! Walking on the wooden boardwalk, looking at all of the games and prizes, she wished she could play.

She stopped in front of the ring toss game and peeked into a bucket of rings on the counter. Reaching in with her teeth, she pulled out a ring and flung it toward the bottles. It flew across the bottles and ricocheted several times off the bottlenecks’ sides before sliding down between them. 

Not a winner!

Looking over to the dark arcade building, she sighed. 

No one else is awake but me.

Staring at the lifeless carousel, she clip-clopped around its perimeter. There were no lights, no movement, and no sound. The red and white striped top sloped down from a golden ball on the center pole.

The carousel horses were frozen in motion, looking both magnificently regal and wildly graceful. Stopping at each of the horses on the outside row, she greeted them.

Hello, Buddy, Elvis, CB, Sweetie, Rosie, Abu, Nick, Lumpy, and Genesis, she said enthusiastically, to no reply.

My carousel is so pretty!

Oval mirrors on the rounding board had a golden carved lion’s head below, outlined by tiny bulb lights and framed by shimmering laurels. The gold relief carved shields shined on the white and maroon background. The chariots had intricate gold-leaf scrolls and smiling gilded cherubs. A small, golden, swirly, three-petal flower was everywhere on the carousel.

It must be an amazing sight with all of the lights on; the music playing, filled with riders and galloping horses. 

She sighed. I wish the other horses came to life too. 

A few minutes later, she had an idea. 

The lightning strike didn’t wake them up, but maybe I can. 

She walked up to Buddy, admiring the way his flashy, blue, fish scale armor reflected the moonbeams. His soulful, brown eyes peered out from behind his silver chamfron, his warhorse face covering, and a burgundy plume stuck out from the top of his helmet. 

Leaning in, she whispered, Hello. 

With no reply, she spoke a little louder. Hello, Buddy! as she brushed his muzzle with hers. Then, reaching out with her golden horseshoe, she gave him a little tap on the shield he wore on his side. 

Blue light arced from her horseshoe and raced over his entire body. 

Oh my gosh! she whispered and backed away from him. 

It's going to be okay! Hang in there, Buddy! she called to him as she began waking up the other horses on the outside row of the carousel. 

           A whirlwind of activity ensued on the carousel, as blue sparks flew and a swirling, golden haze engulfed the carousel. Guttural moaning sounds filled the quiet night air, as manes and tails floated ethereally upward from bodies bathed in a blue hue. 

Maybe waking them up one at a time would have been a little better. 

No turning back now!

Aviona walked around the carousel, watching the other horses come to life, excited to talk to them. 

After they wake up, maybe they could step off of the carousel!

           Lead horses lead, so she gave them some time to adjust. Then, speaking loudly and clearly, she said, Hello! Hello, everyone. Please remain calm. You’ll feel better in a little bit. Once you get used to … being alive, she said. 

After things quieted down, she walked around the carousel and told them what had happened to her. 

I stepped down off the carousel, and maybe you can too! she said. The first step is the hardest.

I can’t, said a raspy voice from the other side of the carousel.

All of the carousel horses had their names written on their saddles, and they had ridden the carousel for two years together but hadn’t had any face-to-face time. They stared ahead, mainly at the rump of the horse in front of them.

Hello, Abu! It’s okay; I’m sure you can do it, Aviona said sweetly to the silver-haired horse.  

I’m still stuck on the brass pole, he said as he wriggled around.  

One by one, the others called out that they couldn’t step off either. All of the brass poles were still there. Aviona’s heart sank. She tried to think of another way to get them off of the carousel so they could see everything that she could see. Nothing worked.

I will be your eyes and ears off of the carousel! If you can’t get off, then I’ll bring what I see to you! she announced.

Yes! That would be wonderful! said Genesis, flipping her long, wavy, black mane. Her saddle blanket and chest straps were a vibrant violet and light pink. She had a fancy eagle on her saddle cantle.

Aviona beamed with happiness when the others chimed in that they all loved that idea.

Let’s not worry about what we can’t do and be happy for what we can! said Sweetie, whose large brown eyes lit up as she tossed her wispy auburn mane. Sparkling gold tassels hung from her saddle blanket, covered in gleaming gemstones.

A horse with a bright red roached mane said, Hi, everyone. Nick here. I’m grateful Aviona brought us to life, but will we go back to our old selves, carousel horses? he asked. 

I hope so, Nick! said Aviona. I’ll get back on the carousel and see if I can reverse the magic."

Wait! said Lumpy, a horse with a blazing red mane and tail, I just want to say hello and that I’m so proud to be part of our Fantasy Island carousel family. 

The other carousel horses called out Hello Lumpy!

Elvis, a carousel horse with a thick, black pompadour mane, said, My carousel family, I just can’t help falling in love with each of you. It feels amazing to be alive!

Everyone swooned, and called out I love you too, Elvis!

I hope our carousel magic lets us come alive and also go back to being carousel horses! Rosie said sweetly. Thanks for waking us up Aviona.

Aviona looked at the giant, red roses draped around Rosie’s neck and the golden cherubs on her saddle. Me too, Rosie! she said. Mr. F always said he knew his carousel was magical!

Hi! CB here! Aviona, have you tried to wake up Mayor Gator? a mare with flowing, gray hair asked.

I said hello but didn’t tap him with my horseshoe, Aviona said. I’ll try now!

She walked over and tapped him with her horseshoe. Nothing happened. No sparks flew.

 Maybe your golden horseshoes just work on the carousel, Genesis said, Carousel magic!

Chapter 2

Alive

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

– Maya Angelou

After three o’clock in the morning, a few nights a week, Aviona would wake up or bring to life the other carousel horses with the magic of her golden horseshoes, transforming from fiberglass horses to live horses standing on the carousel platform.

Aviona found if she used all four hooves at once, she could wake up the outside horses on the carousel at the same time. Even though there were thirty horses on the carousel, the middle and inside rows of horses didn’t wake up at all. The nine outside row horses were only awake for an hour before the golden horseshoe magic wore off, and they fell asleep, or transformed back into fiberglass horses.

Aviona would share stories about what she saw in the park and loved making the other horses laugh. One night she discovered pink cotton candy. She found her first bag in a can with the lid half off by the storage shed and gently pulled it out with her teeth. Placing it on the ground, she wiggled the top of the bag open, savoring the sweet smell and fluffy goodness. She stuck her tongue out to lick the pink puff, and it immediately melted in her mouth.

No wonder everyone loves cotton candy. It’s delicious!

By day, Aviona and the other fiberglass carousel horses gave rides as they had before the storm arrived that brought Aviona to life. But at night, Aviona transformed from carousel horse to a live golden palomino horse and woke up the nine outside row horses.

The carousel horses shared stories of the riders they had that day and commiserated about overhearing people scream Giddy-up, horsey! a few thousand times a day in their ears.

Genesis liked getting a million hugs and kisses a day. Buddy felt proud to be a War Horse. He got a lot of compliments on his shiny armor. But they all agreed that their favorite experience was the triple generation ride—when grandparents, parents, and children all rode together, sharing the timeless joy of the traditional carousel ride on a balmy summer’s night.

The horses laughed about the never-ending petting and patting by all riders of all ages who visited the park. Many accents and languages were spoken by the guests and employees who came to Long Beach Island from around the world. But the universal language spoken on every carousel was a smile.

The highest honor a carousel horse could have was giving a child their first solo ride on the carousel. Aviona watched as Rosie had that honor with a sweet little girl named Lucia. 

Spinning at eight miles per hour, to Lucia, it felt like eighty, as she tightened her grasp on the brass pole with both hands. Lucia sat perched forward in the saddle. Rosie’s large, sculpted muscles strained forward as Lucia’s bubblegum pink dress billowed back. Her glittery flip-flops barely clung to her feet as her tiny legs dangled from the sides of the carousel horse. She looked up at the twinkling lights and shimmering jewels, catching her reflection on the carousel mirrors.

 That’s me! I’m riding all by myself! she yelled. Her proud parents and grandparents waved at her and called out her name. But she couldn’t hear them; she was captivated by the magic and freedom she felt riding her horse.

A few more spins later, Lucia loosened her grip on the brass pole. Faster, Rosie! Lucia commanded. I’m galloping! No, I’m flying! she yelled as her curls fluttered behind her. On the last spin around, she finally looked over at her family. Bravely taking one hand off the brass pole, she flashed a pearly white smile and waved quickly before grabbing back onto the pole. 

As the carousel slowly came to a full stop, Lucia leaned down and patted Rosie. Running her small, sticky, cotton candied hands over the bright pink roses and the horse's black mane, she shouted, I love you, Rosie, I love YOU! over the loud and cheerful pipe organ music. Her parents rushed over, pried her fingers off the pole, and plucked her from the saddle. 

Standing in front of the horse, Lucia screeched excitedly, You’re my best friend! reaching up to pat the horse's face. Her father took her gently by the hand to lead her away, but Lucia pleaded, Again! I want to go again! 

Her mother whispered sweetly, Lucia—it’s someone else’s turn now … we’ll come back in a little bit. 

Lucia looked at the crowd standing in a line wrapped around the carousel. She crossed her arms and pouted. Can I have ice cream? 

Yes. Let’s get ice cream, her father agreed.

 Lucia skipped away from the carousel, beaming. Bye, Rosie! I’ll get you some ice cream too!

The polaroid pictures may have come out a little blurry, but Lucia’s memory of her first solo ride with Rosie would always be crystal clear. She’d ride Rosie weekly during the summer, and one day, she’d bring her children to ride her too.

Park guests craved this quintessential seaside experience of a bygone era, recreated with Victorian lampposts, oak park benches, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, and cotton candy.

Keeping the tradition alive for the next generation, they rode on the glittering carousel, the crown jewel of the park.

The horses had special riders who loved them. People of all ages would rush over to their favorite horse, greeting them as a dear old friend. Elvis’s most popular riders were the women who would stroke his shiny, black bouffant hair and scream, This carousel horse looks just like Elvis Presley! Elvis had the most lipstick kisses scrubbed off his face when the horses got cleaned each night. 

Aviona had a kindhearted rider named Von. He was her first rider at the park and rode the first day the carousel spun. He’d always say, Hi, Aviona, softly and look her right in the eyes as if he knew she could hear him. His tousled, brown hair and sun-kissed face framed the kindest brown eyes she’d ever seen. He helped younger kids on and off the other horses. He even spoke up when he saw older kids kicking the horses roughly with their heels and riding aggressively.

Don’t kick the horses, Von said. You’ll hurt them.

The older boys scoffed at him, but Mr. F noticed and thanked Von for speaking up. He even gave him a golden ride token.

It’s not easy speaking up when you see something wrong happening. But you did, Von, Mr. F said. I want to say thank you. I bet the horses would too, if they could talk.

Von thanked him and held the new, shiny, golden token in his palm. The name Fantasy Island Amusement Park was on it with a picture of Aviona. He put the token in his pocket, but he never used it for a ride. It was his talisman, his golden, good luck charm.

Aviona was happy that she could transform back into a fiberglass horse, because she loved being the lead carousel horse. It was whimsical and magical, but there were rough days too.

It was loud. High-pitched crying babies and screaming toddlers yelled right into the carousel horses’ ears.

It was messy. Some kids got dizzy riding and threw up anything from chocolate ice cream mixed with chicken fingers to globs of pizza and popcorn. The target area for those with an upset tummy was usually on the back of the horses’ necks!  

It was funny. Not everyone knew how to mount a horse. Most people could get their foot in the stirrup, but swinging the opposite leg over the saddle was not always graceful. Sometimes it took people several attempts and a lot of grunting and maybe a helping hand to finally get situated into the saddle.

Then, there were the endless pokes in the eyes. These eyes look real! Are they real? Can this horsey see me? a little kid would ask as he tapped the horse’s eye with his finger. Hello, in there in! Can you see me?

Yes, I can see you. But I won’t be able to see anything if you keep poking me in my eye! Aviona giggled to herself.

Sometimes, people would make mean comments about their physical features, like, Why does this horse have its mouth open like that? This one is too big. This one is too small. I don’t want to ride on this one.

The carousel horses didn’t understand why someone would be mean to them just because of how they looked. That’s how they were made. Luckily, it didn’t happen too much, and when it did, they knew it was okay if someone didn’t like them. They liked themselves. And many people loved them just as they were.

With each new day, the guests visiting Fantasy Island made summer memories and created a buzz of excitement from the time the park opened until it closed. Mr. F would always walk around and greet his guests. Some nights he would even operate the carousel and wave to the riders. At the end of the night, before he went home, he would be sure to stop by the carousel and say goodnight to the carousel horses. And he would always say, Thank you for bringing joy to our park guests!

The same fantastic scene repeated itself day after day. An endless stream of smiling faces, kids holding their grandparents' and parents’ hands, parents pushing strollers, teenagers rushing excitedly from one park ride to the next happened each summer night. At the center was the dazzling Chance Rides carousel, transporting riders of all ages to a fantastical place where they could ride a horse, and let their imaginations run wild and free.

Chapter 3

Metamorphosis

"One can never consent to creep when

one feels an impulse to soar."

– Helen Keller

Aviona walked around the perimeter of the park one night, always excited to discover something new. She looked up at the Main Entrance Red Arch, walked by the Great Wheel, and then the Sea Dragon ride. She looked at the adorable Pumpkin Wheel and the Pirate Ship, and the shiny silver Scrambler cars. The red and green kiddie train, The Fantasy Island Express, sat on the tracks quietly, waiting for a new engineer to ring the bell as the train circled the tracks. She loved the bright colors of the Hampton cars and wished she could see the kids driving them, beeping and honking as they circled the platform. The bright, yellow and black striped Honey Bee ride always made her happy, because the giant bees were smiling.

Aviona knew every inch of the park. She’d trotted around it and even tried galloping, but there wasn’t much room to go fast. She ran in circles and trotted in figure eights in the bumper car area.

The only place she hadn’t been able to explore was the arcade. She knew from watching the park guests come out of the doors with prizes in their hands, that the arcade was a very happy place. But there were steps, and she had only taken one step up—onto the carousel platform. There were five steps into the arcade. She hoped to get in there someday.

But tonight, she’d head down the small alley between the boardwalk games and the bumper cars. Standing by the gate, she could hear and smell the ocean better. Her attention was drawn to the latch on the gate.  

I could flip the latch and open the gate.

Her heart and mind raced just thinking how exciting it would be to walk out of that gate.

I could see the ocean!

She paced around nervously and backed up from the gate.

But I’m safe here. I don’t know what’s out there. 

But then she remembered her first step off the platform to the ground.

It was so far down, but I did it anyway! 

Her whole body trembled.

I can do this. I want to see