The Circus

            Excitement filled the air as the little boy sat down in the seat next to his mother. It was his first trip to the circus, and as the beginning approached, he thought about all that he would see. There would be dancers on horseback; clowns and magicians; animals and acrobats; and, of course, the elephants. The lights dimmed, and the boy shook with anticipation.

            Suddenly, the lights flashed! Different hues of red, green, and blue shone through the thick smoke. The ringmaster took center stage, his voice booming over the speakers. Dancers flew in a graceful circle, their gold dresses sparkling with each step. The horses galloped into their rings, their soft, luscious mane tamed with ribbons and bows. Their riders performed tricks, first standing, and then flipping onto the horse behind them.

            As they left, a little green car rolled in. The door opened, and the clowns rolled out one by one. Their painted smiles were big and red, the blue around their eyes as bright as the sky. They asked for volunteers, and the boys hand shot up, like the performers that had been shot out of a cannon. The head clown’s eyes fell on the boy. He waved him over. The boy jumped up and ran down the steps to join the other children that were selected. The clowns handed out pies to each child. Some smelled like fresh strawberries, while others smelled like ripened bananas. When the clowns turned to face the audience, the boy tasted his pie. Immediately, he was overwhelmed by the tart taste of blueberries. He licked his lips, and the clowns turned around. Instructions were given; the clowns would run and hide, and the children would have to search for them. If they found one, they had to smash their pie in his face. The first one to finish would win a prize.

            The children closed their eyes, and the clowns hid. A bell rang, and the search began. One girl spotted a clown with big ears and a purple hat hiding behind the car. She threw her pie and missed. Her chance was done. The boy moved carefully, so that he didn’t drop the pie. He spotted another clown with orange hair and a yellow nose. He snuck up behind him and smashed the pie in his face. Blueberry juice fell in streams down the clowns face, and the boy yelled in triumph. He had won. His prize was a special cup shaped like a clown head. He walked down to his mom and sat down, grinning.

            Suddenly, there was a drum roll, and the elephants paraded out, their head held high. Their thick, grey skin was covered in multi-colored cloth, their tusks polished until they resembled mirrors. The boy was mesmerized. The elephants balanced balls on their noses. They then stood on their hind legs, their forelegs resting on the back of the animal in front of them, and the audience responded with thunderous applause. They were followed by a lion tamer. The boy watched the lions jump through hoops and across gaps, and he began to feel drowsy. When the show was completed, his mother carried him to the car, and placed him in his soft, green car seat. He fell asleep and descended into Dreamland. He dreamt that he was the ringmaster, and that he rode on the horses and elephants. The effect was permanent. He would never forget his trip to Barnum and Bailey Circus, the Greatest Show on Earth.