Just another day at the circus

The child’s excitement was growing more each hour.  The anticipation growing so that he could barely keep still.  The circus was coming to town and he at last was old enough to go into town on his own and see it in all its magnificence!  “You’re gonna wear a hole in my carpet if you don’t sit down” says his mother.  “I can’t wait!” he said excitedly.  His deep green eyes shown with a light of energy “When is Dad gettin’ home?” he asked.  “Soon” said his mother not looking up from her darning.  “He said he will be here in plenty of time”. The boy turned to once more look out at nothingness beyond the window pane.  His thoughts went back to previous visits to town with his parents.  The side glances from the townsfolk, the whispers.  His family didn’t have much to do with the town people and they pretty much left his family alone as well. The door opened and the boy flung himself from the window at his father.  “Dad!” he cried.  His father laughed as he caught the boy in mid-air.  “Nice greeting”, he said as he sat his son down.  “Now what did I do to deserve such?”.  The boy laughed.  “You know”, he said,  “You said I can walk to the circus in town on my own”.  His parents looked at each other.  “Son”, said his father.  “Things in town are not so calm”, he began.  “Are you going back on your word?” he asked, tears beginning to well in his eyes.  His father sighed.  “I just don’t want you to be hurt”, he said.  “I’ll be fine”, the boy said.  “I will take Boz with me.” At his name the huge black dog lifted his head and thumped his tail where he laid by the fire.  His dad shook his head and smiled.  Then he reached into his pocket and pulled some money out.  “I don’t supposed this is what you’ve been waitin’ on?” he asked.  The boy grinned and took the money from his father.  “Thanks Dad”, he said.  He turned and kissed his mother good by.  As he looked into her eyes filled with doubt and worry, he told her,”I will be fine Ma”.  The he turned and whistled for the dog.  “C’mon Boz,let’s go see the circus”.  With that he and the dog left, closing the door softly behind them.  His parents stood and watched him leave.  “He will be fine”, said the man placing an arm around his wife’s shoulders.  “We’ve taught him well, and he knows how to protect himself”.  “I know”, she said.  “I just worry”.  With that they turned and busied themselves with the preparations of dinner and talk of the day’s affairs.

The boy and his dog began the walk into town.  The sun was just going down behind the hills, casting its last embers across the wheat fields.  The boy took in a deep breath.  “Smell that earth Boz?” he asked.  “That is home.  As long as we can feel, touch and smell the earth, we are home”, he said.  Soon the boy begins to come to evidence of urban environment.  More houses clustered together.  people walking, some riding in wagons as they too, went into town to see the show.  The boy was careful to stay to the side of the road so as not to impede others and draw attention to himself.  But a tall, gangly kid with parents who lived on the fringe of civilization with a huge black dog is a little hard to miss.  “Hey Boy!”, a voice called.  He looked around.  In the wagon was an older woman with a girl about his age.  “Want a ride the rest of the way into town?” she asked.  The boy was a little startled.  Nobody talked to his family…EVER, and they sure didn’t offer to do anything nice for them.  They were all afraid of them since that night long ago.  “I ain’t a gonna sit here and wait all night boy” said the woman.  “Do you wish the ride or not?”. The boy nodded and began to climb onto the wagon.  He stopped.  “What about Boz?” he asked.  “He kin rid in the back”, she said.  “Thank you ma’am”, said the boy.  So he and the dog settled themselves into the wagon.  “The name is Wyrna”, said the woman.  “That there is Emmie”, she said as she nodded to the girl.  “I’m Chance”, said the boy.  “I know who ya are”, said the woman.  “I’ve known your parents since they were little.  Damn shame all these fine uppity people look down their nose publicly then hit your ma’s back door when they’re in trouble”.  “It weren’t her fault she could not save the child.  They came too late for help”.  The boy looked dumbfounded.  ..stunned into silence that someone outside of the family would even bring up the old history.  “Keepin’ things inside ain’t good boy”, said the woman.  “It’s time that people admit the truth and move on and stop trying to punish those who had no fault”.  It was with relief that the wagon came into town.  The woman parked it out in an open space so her mule could graze and would be easily accessible.  “This here will be where it will sit,” Wyrna told Chance. “If something happens, hightail it back here and git under the tarp”.  “Otherwise, we will leave as soon as the show is over.  I’ll give you ten minutes to come on or we move without you, y’hear?” “Yes’m”, said Chance.  He and Boz walked away towards the tent, and moved to the cages of the animals as they peered back at him.  Soon it was time for the show to begin and Chance found a seat on the end of the bleachers inside the tent with Boz sitting at his feet.  The ringmaster comes to the center of the ring.  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS. WELCOME TO THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.  TONIGHT YOU WILL BE AMAZED BY FEATS OF MAGIC,DEATH DEFYING TRAPEZE ACTS, AND A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY THE WITCH AND HER FLYING MONKEYS”.  At that last statement, a murmur went through the crowd and even Chance gave a small shiver.  “Do ya think its real”, asked a voice behind him.  Chance turned and there was the girl from the wagon.  “I don’t know. …won”t til I see the monkeys”. said Chance.  “My Ma says yorn is a witch”, said the girl.  A flash of anger crossed his face, but Chance said nothing.  “We don’t mind”, said Emmie.  “We believe she is a good woman”.  Chance nodded and turned his attention back to the ring where there was a horse act going on.  He paid no attention to it though as his mind flashed back six years previous on the night  when the back door of his parents home crashed open and a frantic couple came in holding a little girl.  “Help her please”, cried the woman as she held onto her child’s hand.  “Lie her down on the table”, said his mother.  “Chance set the kettle aboilin’ and bring me cloth and my bag of herbs” she said.  He hurried off to do his mother’s bidding and he could hear part of the conversation as he did as he was asked.  “Why did you not bring her when she first got sick”, asked his mother.  “I could not”, said the woman.  “I would not allow it” said the man.  “And yet you are here now”.  His mother shook his head at the ignorance of pride.  Chance brought the things his mother had asked for, placing them at the end of the table.  “I need more light” she said.  So he and his father gathered lanterns and placed them around, filling the room with a brightness that almost hurt the eyes.  The little girl was pale.  so pale, her skin was almost translucent.  “I am not sure if I can help” said his mother sadly.  “She has been sick a long while and the disease has ravaged her body”.  But still his mother began her workings, with the lighting of incense and herbs, making a poultice to apply to the tiny body that laid on the table.  For hours, she worked until she had no more energy left.  She slumped in a chair and spoke quietly.  “I have done all I kin”.  “It is all in the hands of the maker”.  The little girl opened her eyes and took a shallow breath then closed her eyes…she had moved on.  “NO!”, cried her mother.  “You did this!” said the father.  “You would not heal her!” Chance’s mother raised her tear stained face.  “I did all I could.  You would not allow my help when she first became ill.   “.  Chance’s father stood and went to open the door.  “I think it best you leave”, he said”you will have preparations to make, and my wife is tired”.  The parents gathered up their child and mourning her they left.  Soon after that it was talks in the town, whispers of how the witch would not heal the child of the mayor, had let her die.  Nothing was said of the pride that kept them from calling for a healer.  So Chance and his family were essentially ostracized and given wide berth when they came into town.  On the surface, people avoided them, but still there some who came to the back entrance to find some help from his mother.  “Look”, said Emmie.  Chance blinked.  He had sat through the whole show without even seeing an act until now.  Into the ring came a figure, dressed all in black, face as green as an apple from his grandfather’s tree, and on her head sat a pointed hat.  But what fascinated everyone was the figure on her shoulder.  It was a little monkey, dressed all in green, but as he moved there was an appendage on his shoulder.  A wing.  Chance could hardly believe his eyes, nor it seemed could the crowd as a collective murmur went through the crowd.  “I am Elphalba”, said the witch.  “This is my pet Wilbur”.  We will put on a show demonstrating the aerial dynamics of flight for mammals”.  At this the witch cackled.  “Go my pretty”, she said and extended her arm.  The monkey took off flying around the tent, swooping and picking hats from one, dropping it on another, taking a cotton candy, tossing it up and smacking with satisfaction as the spun sugar hit his tongue.  The murmuring of the crowd continued to grow.  Chance grinned.  “I think we might oughta start heading for the wagon”, said Emmie.  “This might not end well”.  “I think you’re right” said Chance.   The two kids began to go toward the exit as the monkey continued flying around the tent and picking at people as the witch chanted in the middle, her voice rising as the monkey flew faster.  They reached the wagon at the same time as Wyrna who was relieved to see them.  “Git in”, she said.  “This may get outta control”.  They began to move back toward the outskirts of town as the two kids looked back.  It seemed as if the tent glowed, and grew tighter then out of the blue, a loud BOOM and all was quiet.  The three were silent as they made their way out of town.  “What just happened?” asked chance.  “Wal son, said Wyrna as she bit off a chew of tobacco.  “I think some of those folks are going to be thinking again about how there are some who are healers and some who cause more problems than one can handle”.  she cackled then spit.  “Tell your Ma she can expect some folks tonight”.  All too soon they were at his house and chance and Boz climbed down.  “Thank you for the ride Miz Wyrna”, said Chance.  “More’n welcome” she said.  “Take care now, and we’ll be seeing you round”.  He waved as they moved away and he went inside where his parents waited.  Chance began to explain all that had happened and how he had gotten a ride there and back, and how there might be people coming.  His dad smiled.  “I don’t know what we were worried for.  You seem to have handled yourself well”.  His mother in the mean time after hearing the story of the strange witch, began to gather her herbs, candles and put the kettle on for boiling water.  They did not have long to wait.  A knock at the back door was almost immediate.  A familiar face stood there and this time he held his wife.  “I know I cannot expect you to help me”, he began.  “But please”.  “Bring her in here” Chance’s mother said.  She led the way to a small bedroom off the kitchen.  “Chance, gather the light please”, she said.  She then set to work, and finally she turned and told the man.  “I have done all I can.  we wait”.  Soon others came to the door.  Most only needing something for pain.  Some needing a bone set or a cut stitched.  The man sat alone with his wife in the small room, but he could hear all that was said and done.  Soon the sun began to rise, and Chance’s dad came through the kitchen . Chance had fallen asleep on his arms as he had helped his mother all night.  His father shook his shoulder. “I am going to feed the animals, but if there is need, come find me” he said.  Chance nodded and went to put on the kettle for tea so that his mother would be able to continue her work for he knew she would not leave the woman until whatever was going to happen did so.  The woman opened her eyes and looked at where her husband sat slumped in his chair sleeping softly.  “Wha happened”, she began.  He jerked awake and held her hand.  “You were injured when the tent fell”, he said.  “I brought you for help”.  He looked at Chance’s mother and said “I am sorry for what happened between us.  I know that it was my fault that you could not heal our child.  I am grateful that you did not hold that against us”.  She nodded and told him that his wife would be able to go home later in the day.  She moved out into the kitchen giving them some privacy and saw that chance had made tea and toast for her.  She smiled.  “I am a little saddened.  Not because you did this, but because it appears the events of the previous night has shown me that you, my son have grown.”.  “No longer a child”.  The praise from his mother brought tears to his eyes and he quickly hugged her close.  “I am always your child, and I am proud to be the son of the town witch”.  Together they turned and watched the sun come up over the horizon, each lost in their own thoughts. “I wonder where that circus was going next”, said Chance.  “To another town to smack others, I expect” laughed his mother.  Chance laughed.  Life was a lot like that circus he thought.  Just when you think things are as they seem, you get slapped into reality.