In the second of his five part series of features, our new writer Matt (a war veteran) continues the story of the Puppet Parade-it’s a cerebral dance as our protagonists takes us deeper into this weird and wonderful moment-just where is he taking us?
You cannot bring the puppet to life by fighting it. You must dance.
“No, no, no, you are fighting the puppet.”
That’s Sarah talking, the coordinator of the whole carnival; she coaches me on my puppet prowess.
The puppet “floats” overhead, a great grinning face, hooked nose, gross patches of hair, and two ominous floating hands. The contraption hangs on a frame that attaches to a steel pole which is affixed to a backpack. The arms rest on sticks that jut forward from the back so the whole thing looks like a jetpack.
“No! Not like this!” Sarah shouts. “You are wearing the puppet like a man.
Stomping forward and fighting the sway with your strength – it is not beautiful.”
Sweating and panting in the summer sun, I ask, “Well, how the fuck am I supposed to carry it?”
“Like a woman. The control comes from the hips. You balance at the hips and bend from the hips and twist from there too. You must take big careful steps so the fabric flutters and the puppet comes, to life. You cannot bring the puppet to life by fighting it. You must dance.”