A Corner of the Universe

Hattie, still thinking about the girl who spoke to them at the carnival, returns there the next day instead of taking her usual walk. Hattie spots the girl selling tickets to the sideshow, but when Hattie overhears a woman call it the “freak” show, she thinks of Adam’s reaction to Nancy’s cruelty and does not buy a ticket. Hattie returns for two more days before she and the girl, Leila, finally connect. Leila’s family works in the carnival: Her mom is Pretzel Woman, her dad runs the Ferris wheel, and her uncle is Fred Carmel, the owner. Hattie is initially overwhelmed by shyness and can hardly speak, but Leila tells her all about life in the carnival—how they travel through the northern states in the summer and the southern states in the winter. Leila and her younger brother Lamar are in correspondence school. Hattie tells Leila about her family and the boardinghouse. Leila gives Hattie a behind-the-scenes tour of a lifetime. Hattie reflects that Leila probably does not have many chances to make friends.