Cooger And Dark

“The dust was antique spice, burnt maple leaves, a prickling blue that teemed and sifted to earth. Swarming its own shadows, the dust filtered over the tents.” “The train skimmed on softly, slithering, black pennants fluttering, black confetti lost on its own sick-sweet candy wind, down the hill, with two boys pursuing, the air was so cold they ate ice cream with each breath.” “Dark. And my friend with the red hair there is Mr Cooger— he handed the card to Jim. It now read: Our specialty: to examine, oil, polish, and repair Death-Watch Beetles.” Many things come to mind when I think of Cooger and Dark. “Yikes, these guys are weird… and kinda cool… but man, aren't they awful?” We have Mr.Dark, the temptation and the dark side of humanity, a real jerk who preys on regrets and longing, trading wishes for souls. Then Mr. Cooger who is kind of a tragic symbol (? Not really?) but just as sinister or even embodying more of that “pure evil” vibe because he operates a carousel to lure victims who wish to escape aging and time. Both exploitative fiends, both in no shortage of people looking to turn back time. Don’t fall for the seduction, friends! Get old, and saggy, read all of the books, then haunt a library when you become a ghost sans Cooger and Dark! Those guys are killjoys!! Real autumn people! But they also probably smell good, in fact I know they do, because I bottled their scent :) They arrive with the first breath of carnival wind, cool yet hellfire, electric and perhaps a little “wrong”. Fir and bergamot. Lightning splits the sky, and the nocturnal darkness whispers while the boys run through the trees that something strange has followed them home. Warmth soon rises, roasted chestnut and smooth tonka bean, like the golden, promising glow of Cooger’s carousel— a comfort and sweetness that cannot last. Deeper. Clove, cinnamon bark, patchouli. The carousel spins faster as ancient, resinous myrrh calls out to Mr. Dark, ambrette seed and musk settling into the stolen souls on his tattooed skin. “Such are the autumn people. Beware of them.”