Short Story Friday everyone!
Today's short comes from Christian Terry. Enjoy!
Circus Folks Are People Too
Christian Terry
" They don't pay to see you, Chuck! No one who comes to the circus pays to see some rinky dink clown!" Paul said as saliva flew from his lips nearly landing on Chuck's face paint. "It's all about the danger, getting their hearts pumping, not some sad freak spraying with a seltzer water at people." He continued.
Lauren, the featured trapeze artist stepped in between the two men to end the confrontation. "Leave Chuck alone!" She barked. "If only you knew what it took to make an entire arena laugh and to keep them entertained."
"If it isn't little Lauren, the professional tumbler no one asked for. I wish I had the time to tell you how much you weren't needed, but the show is starting." With that, Paul brushed passed them both exiting the curtain tightening the grip on his leather whip.
"Don't worry about him, babe. The people love you, you're naturally clumsy so that helps. The show needs you."
"Thanks for that coach. I'll see you after the show." Chuck said, his voice low from the encounter.
Lauren, sensing that her boyfriend was upset, tugged him by his checkered handkerchief scarf, pulling him toward her face, planting a deep, intense kiss across Chuck's red colored lips. "Hey, is that my lipstick you're wearing?" Lauren asked.
"Would you look at the time , I have to go on stage now. " Chuck said while running through the curtain.
The show had started like it had done a million times before. Chuck mingling with the crowd, soaking some poor kids with his bottle of seltzer water. Lauren performed her high wire act to an standing ovation. The elephants marched in a circle dancing around the center ring of the three ring circus. To the left of the elephants the jugglers were flinging flaming torches at one another in a frenzy.
A thunderous roar shortly accompanied by sharp cries halted all of the action. Chuck glanced to the third ring and saw Paul lying on his back as the giant lion had him pinned to the ground. Chuck zoomed to the third ring clutching his seltzer bottle. Paul eyed the clown while wrestling with the lion, the lion's teeth inches from his face. Chuck was afraid, but he couldn't let Paul die.
"Hey, Mister lion didn't you know that eating coworkers is bad for digestion, I'm going to write a stern letter to human resources about this." Chuck said nervously. He sprayed his bottle, nearly emptying it unto the beasts back causing the mighty feline to remove himself from on top of Paul and rest his sights on the clown that wet him. Chuck dashed on to the platform behind him as the lion gave chase. Near the edge of the ring Chuck saw familiar highlighted marks in shape of a large rectangle on the ground near his feet which were inside of it.
He then turned to see the lion several feet away. Chuck raised both of his hands. That was the cue. As he raised his arms, the lion launched towards Chuck as he rolled out of the way. What the animal didn't see was an iron cage falling from above him lining up with the highlighted marks on the floor. The beast was captured. Paul glared at the bewildered clown for a moment before starting the slow clap. The entire arena joined in. Chuck took a well deserved bow.
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