Like to join the circus?
View(s):There were signs nailed to the trees at the edge of the woods. One, a big poster with a picture of performing horses, another, with elephants and another, full of clowns. “Wow!” said Shane, “a circus, I love clowns.”
Shane and Anila were spending some time with their aunt in a country town. It was holiday time. Aunt was busy and was away from the house. There were adults to take care of the two children and Anila was able to go with her brother, Shane, anywhere near.
“The clowns,” exclaimed Anila, “sounds like a circus to me. When will it be in town?” “It’s starting tomorrow. Henry the caretaker told me that the circus has arrived and they are already putting up tents and the animals are already being exercised.”
“Come on, what are we waiting for? Let’s go over there now. It’s exciting to see all the animals. Maybe we can see the clowns and the dancers too,” shouted Anila, hopping from one foot to the other.
“Ok, ok, let’s go,” replied Shane. It was early afternoon and they had finished lunch too. They grabbed their caps and told the cook in the house, as aunt was not in and away they ran.
The circus grounds though being on the other side of the little town was close enough for the children. As they were nearing the open grounds, they could hear the commotion of the circus from the edge of town. The big tent was up already. The circus would have arrived at dawn or last night.
“There’s the ferris wheel and the elephants are trumpeting. I don’t think I like the spinning rides.” “Maybe we’ll go on the ferris wheel later.”They saw the horses being groomed and they ran to where the elephants were tethered. Just then two men came out of a small trailer. They were talking. “What do you mean the dancers are not ready?”
“There are three dancers only, the others are not well. They must have had some bad food. They need to rest. Some of the clowns too, haven’t arrived. Their truck has broken down. They need a couple of days to fix it.” The circus manager was angry. “What? Now we need a clown too? The show must go on!”
The circus manager spotted Shane and Anila at that time. He saw their eager and smiling faces. He asked them. “How would you like to have a wee job for a day or two?” Shane and Anila just nodded yes, as they were too excited to speak. The circus manager took them over to the wardrobe lady who was in charge of costumes and asked her to fit them for a clown and a dancer. The circus parade would start soon and they had to be ready.
“Gee, this is fun,” said Shane and Anila had stars in her eyes. They got into the costumes given and the wardrobe lady attended to their make-up. Then she took Anila to the dancers and Shane to the clowns. Anila got on well with the dancers and she knew how to dance. They taught her a few more dance steps. “You’ll have to follow me,” said Jasmine the dancer with a twinkle in her eye.
What was Shane doing? Shane was learning to stumble, tumble and turn somersaults with a couple of other clowns. Shane knew how to juggle.
He adjusted his big red nose and was ready for anything and the parade. The parade began with the circus people and some animals and they walked through the town. The band struck up a merry tune and there was juggling, clowning and dancing while the crowds on either side of the road clapped and cheered amidst much laughter. The elephants walked majestically.
The horses trotted. All in their costumes, the circus people looked grand. Anila too danced well, keeping in step with the others. It was exciting for Shane as he had to do laughable antics and squirt the onlookers with a water pistol.
After the hustle and bustle of the parade, there was a merry party with food and drink inside the big tent. The circus manager spoke and thanked all for a job well done. He specially spoke to Shane and Anila, thanked them and asked whether they could come the next day too if necessary.
The two children thanked him and went to the costume tent to change into their own clothes. Then, they ran all the way home, talking, in such a hurry to tell their aunt of their adventure and how they joined the circus.