It was a Sunday. Autumn was making itself seen in the scarlet lining of the trees, but Summer was hanging on with golden-hued tenacity. It's the day you remind yourself to remember because that was when things were perfect. 

The Watersheds, arm in arm with their sweethearts, the slowly cooling sun still making them squint, walked across the gravel parking lot toward the deep-fat fried, mildewey- tarpaulin covered Delaware County Fair. Not to be confused with the majestic Ohio State Fair, the County Fair is strictly second tier. The rides are a little creakier, the caramel apples soft and brown in spots, and the Carny folk seedy as can be. Everything from the Tilt-A-Whirl to the "guess your weight" girl has been ridden hard all summer, and is worse for the wear. 

As he waltzed down the midway Herb Schupp, known for his skill and finesse at skee-ball, the ring toss, the frog catapult, and parlor tricks of all kinds, realized what many a red-blooded young man has discovered: win your date a kewpie doll, and she'll melt in your arms. Herb took his fresh-faced beauty by the hand and they practically skipped to his game of choice, The Baseball and the Three Milk Jugs. Herb's lass went wide-eyed at the prize buffet. Each stuffed animal bigger and more plush than the last, and easily worth the paltry one dollar per throw. Herb opened his wallet and fingered the only dollar he would need. As the Carny handed Herb the ball, he looked the girl up and down and flashed a serpentine grin. A strangely chilly breeze blew her blonde hair into her eyes and she did another button on her cardigan. Herb didn't take his eyes from the milk jugs. 

He palmed the worn white leather and placed his fingers along the fraying seams. As he started his wind-up the girl blew him a kiss for luck. The Carny watched how she moved under her sweater. Herb released the ball and cringed. He knew he'd missed even before he heard the thud of the ball hitting the back-drop. The Carny shook his head and held up a single greasy index finger. The price for another chance. Herb's date said she didn't really want that cheap stuff anyway and that they really should start looking for everyone else; its getting late after all, but Herb pulled out his wallet. Nothing. 

Damn Honey. That was it. We spent it all on Dumbo Ears and Steak-on-a-Stick. And I really shouldn't have tried "Guess Your Weight" so many times. I mean big deal if I carry my 148 pounds like I'm 140. Those prizes weren't any good anyway.
It's OK Herb. I'm getting kinda cold. Let's just go.
Come on son. Don't ya wanna impress the liddle lady?  
Yeah but...  
Tell ya what I'm gonna do. Here's three balls. Now just fire em at them jugs. If you knock em all over she'll get her choice of any of these mediums over here and you don't havta pay. Now if ya miss, we'll just havta work somethin' out.  
He winked at the girl. 

Herb remembered a hundred fairs, County and State. He remembered a thousand milk jugs. All toppled over and spinning around. Some even knocked clear to the straw and mud floor. He knew what had to be done. 

Gimme just one ball and I'll try for a large. Her choice.  
C'mon Herb, let's...  
Just gimme the ball.  
You got balls boy. Heh Heh. No wait, just one ball. Heh Heh. I like that. Now fire when ready. 
Wink 

The ball felt heavy in his hand. Just Relax. Just like you've done a million times. C'mon Herb. Aim about half way up those bottom jugs. Wait. A little higher than you think. Oh Yeah. You got it Herb. 

The ball hit the front edge of the table and bounced to the ground. The table shook just enough for the top jug to wobble and fall. One out of three. 

Heh Heh Heh. That's not gonna do it boy. Looks like you owe me.  
He smiled at Herb's date just as wide and pretty as his less-than-perfect teeth would allow. She shuddered. 

Herrrrb!  
No. Not the girl. I'll find a way to pay. Honest. But you can't touch the girl...  
Whoa. Stand Down Boy. Take it Easy. I'd never hurt yer lady friend here. You two make such a nice couple. No Sir. I'm a perfect gennleman and more romannick than Wayne Newton. Shit boy. What ARE you thinkin'?  
Well I...  
You do owe me though. Nobody tosses free. Other Carnys would ring my neck if they knew I gave a free...  
But you...  
Look here's what you're gonna do. Yer in some band right? Water somethin' Yeah but.. Yeah. Watershed. I saw you fellas play with Cheap Trick outside-a some pool hall. I was puttin' up the tent in case it rained. Damn it came down that day. Damn stakes almost gave.  
But you said I owe you, so what...  
Look. I got me two boys. Joe and Joey. They kinda hep me out around here. Ya know, puttin' cement in the jugs, keepin' the stuffed animals here compn'y. Heh Heh. Well anyways they went and stole some damn face paint from the midget clowns and they been workin' up some act. Guess its like that damn rap music or somethin'. Insane Clown Posse they're callin' themselves. Posse. And there's just two of em. Playin' like they done deputized each other. Of all the stupid ... Well anyways they say they're doin' OK. Ya know. Not starving or nuthin'. But I doan know. They ain't playin' any a the damn fairs I ever heard of. I mean House of Blues. What county is that in? Sounds like a whorehouse where ya might git roughed up a liddle, House of Bruise. Heh Heh. Well what I want you Waterboys ta do is just follow em around a bit. Kinda look after.

...and that's how Watershed came to open for the Insane Clown Posse. The End.