Spring 1959

[fiery_ring]

It's a warm spring evening.

If you follow the lanterns down the path, you'll soon be mingling with the crowd. You may be interested in purchasing a sizzling sausage in a bun for two shillings, or some popcorn for sixpence, or a miniature poster of the Fiery Ring Circus to remind you of what promises to be a spectacular night.

You can hear the music of the organ playing cheerfully in the big top. As you approach the brightly lit tent, a boy of about eight dressed as a clown is selling tickets.

"STEP RIGHT UP, TO SEE THE GREATEST SHOW!

FREDDIE SPARKS THE FIRE-EATER WILL STUN YOU AND SURPRISE,
THE GREAT GONZALO WILL SWALLOW HIS SWORD BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES!
RUFUS DOG OF WONDER WILL PUT ON HIS TRICKS WITH EASE,
MARTINA AND MAURITIO AMAZE ON THE TRAPEZE!
LITTLE MOLLY BROWN PERFORMS HER ACROBATIC FEATS
SO STEP INSIDE, EYES OPEN WIDE, FOR ALL OUR CIRCUS TREATS!

FOUR SHILLINGS FOR ADULTS, HALF A CROWN FOR CHILDREN, UNDER FIVES ARE FREE!"

He rattles the box on a string around his neck, and continues with his sales.

"That'll be eight bob, sir. Yes, the dog is free, miss, so long as he stays out the ring."

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric doesn't take up much room, leaving a space for the twins and their mother. He listens to their chatter with a pleased smile. This all seems very fun.

When the clone comes out, Sinric listens with care, trying to pick the accents and languages in the crowd.

[fiery_ring]

The accents around him are English, Midlands and Nottingham if Sinric can detect this. The little clown, however, has a different accent - half cockney, trace of Spanish.

The lights dim, and a spotlight points at the top of one of the stands. The ringmaster whips off her cloak, and somersaults all the way down the stairs into the ring.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls! Thank you for coming, I can see we have a tremendous crowd here tonight in the Big Top in Nottingham. But first, raise the roof and raise your eyes to the skies for Martina and Mauritio!"

The spotlights shift over to a high platform, where the trapeze artists begin their act.

[thewidewideworld]

His gift for languages makes him particularly fascinated by accents and dialects and he listens with delight.

Sinric gasps at how high they are. His hand flying to his chest. He glances to the children, curious how they're reacting.

[fiery_ring]

The twins clap and cheer, oblivious of the risk of death and serious injury. There is however a loud gasp when Martina lets go, flies through the air, and is caught by her partner. On the next swing, she sprinkles confetti over Sinric's area of the audience.

[thewidewideworld]

The fall of colour makes Sinric smile, catching a little of the confetti in the plan of his hand.

He's fascinated by the acrobats, unable to take his eyes from them. There's a little shine of gold in his eyes, not so bright that it gives him away but joyous.

[fiery_ring]

After the trapese artists, comes the sword swallower, and then the fire eater.

Then a little girl of about eleven comes into the ring, and there is an 'aww' from the audience: until she starts her performance, and then they are held spellbound by her acrobatics.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric watches with a mix of admiration and sadness. As impressed as he is with her performance, he wonders how free she is. If she chose this life.

[fiery_ring]

The girl is certainly smiling now - but that doesn't necessarily back up his theory one way or another. She takes a bow and departs in a puff of smoke.

An older woman takes the stage, with three parrots, and begins to sing. At the end of each couple of lines she pauses, and a parrot fills in the gaps.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric finds himself fretting for her, wondering if he might find her after to show to speak with.

The parrots are charming but Sinric finds he can no longer enjoy the performance. Instead he slips quietly out of the tent, seeking fresh air.

[fiery_ring]

Eventually, crowds mill out of the tent. It looks like you can meet the cast out the back, though.

The little acrobat and the clown are visible talking to the Ringmaster.

"But Matta, we move on in a week, what does it matter if I know my spellings for school?" the clown protests.

"The words will be spelled the same in the next school." the Ringmaster replies. "Now, no more than ten minutes with the audience, then it's bath time Bobbie. I don't want to see you in bed with your make up on like the other night."

She turns to the acrobat, who has apparently already had her bath, and inspects the little girl behind the ears.

"Fifteen minutes, come back sooner if you're getting cold."

The acrobat looks around as the ringmaster departs, spots Sinric, and smiles at him.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric offers the young acrobat a deep bow. "Your performance was most skilful."

[fiery_ring]

"Thanks." the acrobat replies. "I saw you walk out. Did I offend you?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Forgive me, I didn't mean for my exit to cause upset or offence. You've performance was most wonderful, and skillfully done."

"The fault is with me. I was a performance once also. A dancer in the court of a powerful man. I was a slave, however pampered and protected. I confess I was afraid you be too. Be here against your will. But I see you are cared for and loved."

[fiery_ring]

"Oh yes." Molly says. "The ringmaster is my mother. We don't have to perform - actually, if we're naughty, we aren't allowed, and that's an awful punishment."

Her eyes widen. "A slave? In what country?"

[thewidewideworld]

He smiles at that. "I can imagine. It is a terrible thing, to miss out."

He shakes his head sadly. "Long ago and far away. I'm no man's properly anymore."

[fiery_ring]

"I'm glad." Molly says.

"I'm going to boarding school soon, so I'll only perform in the holidays."

[thewidewideworld]

"Are you looking forward to school?" He asks softly.

[fiery_ring]

"I think so." Molly says. "It's the one Matta went to, when she was my age."

[thewidewideworld]

"And she has good memories of her time there?" He watches the little girl's posture. "Are you warm enough? Don't let me keep you out on the cold talking."

[fiery_ring]

"Yes, she says it helped her decide what she wanted to do in life." Molly says. "Whether to stay in the circus or not. And she says it's better to have a good education."

[thewidewideworld]

"That is true. Having an education has helped me very much. I have been able to travel far. I hope it can do the same for you, if that's what you desire."

[fiery_ring]

"I don't know what I want yet, but I hope it'll help me decide." Molly says.

"What do you do now that you don't perform?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I have been an envoy, a translator, a scribe, a musician, a singer, a guide. Whenever my path leads me, I go. My own education has been allowed me to go far and see many corners of the world."

[fiery_ring]

"That sounds smashing." Molly says. "I think I'd like to keep travelling, whatever I do. I don't think I could ever really be settled."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric is tempted to point out what a lonely life it can be, but there is no reason to think hers will be as his has been. "Then I hope you travel far and find much joy." He gives her a deep bow. "Thank you for your performance this evening, it was wonderful."

He steps back, ready to take his leave and return to the bar.