Young and Hungry - For Life - 16. The Circus

While making preparations for Alex’s eighteenth birthday the family originally planned just a small affair, because lockdown rules prohibited more than five visitors to a home and restaurants were still closed. It was a relief when lockdown was lifted just one week before Alex’s celebration. The family hastily put new plans together to have a big party at home.

A few days before the party, Justin saw an advert for a circus, and thought it was a great opportunity to take his cousins out for a day. He checked with Julia and Hannah, who were pleased with the suggestion, then at the party he set a date with the boys.

He planned to pick them up early in the day, take them shopping first, then lunch and a matinee performance of the circus.

James was excited about going to the circus, but also concerned about the animals that were kept in small cages and had to travel continuously. Alex was excited to be spending time with Justin and away from their mothers. He was now eighteen, working part-time and felt he should have more independence.

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Shopping was the usual boy stuff, runners, shirts and a new circus themed game for their console.

After lunch, they piled back into the car and headed west to Parramatta for the circus. When they arrived at the circus lot, Justin said “We should get our tickets first and then we can look around.”

At the ticket van he was asked by a young woman “How many Sir?”

“What is your age limit for student price?”

“Under eighteen Sir”

“Then, I’ll have two adults and one student please, as close to the ring as possible.”

The young woman printed the tickets and processed the payment. As she pushed the tickets and receipt towards Justin, her eyes were focussed on Alex, who picked up on that and smiled at her.

“Thank you Miss” said Justin

“Um...oh yes of course” replied the distracted cashier, but automatically continued “Enjoy the show”

As Justin and James walked away, Justin turned back and called “Are you coming Alex?”

“Yes...soon”

“I think he’s coming in his jeans” added James.

“Don’t tease” replied Justin “I think they just made eye contact. We’ll wait here for him”

Alex quickly caught up, and with a broad smile on his face said “Sorry guys, got distracted by all the colour and activity around here”

“Is that what you call it?” asked James “It wouldn’t have anything to do with the pretty cashier, would it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Ok guys, what do you want to do before the show starts?” asked Justin

“I want to check out the animals and make sure they’re being taken care of properly” replied James

“Seems reasonable” suggested Justin “There’s a sign pointing to ZOO that must be the way”

James raced ahead to the animal display and by the time Justin and Alex arrived, he was already pacing up and down in front of the lion’s cage.

“What are you doing?” asked Alex

“Trying to imagine how I would feel if all I could do all day was pace up and down in a confined space”

“Why?”

“Are you blind or just insensitive to the plight of these animals? Can’t you see the lions are stressed by being locked in that small cage?”

“You’d prefer them to be roaming around the circus lot?”

“I’d prefer them to roaming around the jungle, where they belong”

Justin then added “But these lions were probably born in captivity and have never seen a jungle”

“That’s my very point. They’ve never seen a jungle, only the inside of that cage and the circus tent. But do you really think millions of years of evolution were wiped from that lions DNA and instincts in one generation. Nature never intended lions to jump through hoops, roar on demand and be poked at by a chair and a whip”

“No need to get so worked up about it” said Alex, and Justin added “I’m sorry I brought you here. This is not how I intended the day to go. It was supposed to be a fun day”

As they walked along the hay strewn path, James said “Oh my god, look at those poor monkeys swinging on the cage bars, instead of swinging from tree to tree”

“Do you think they know the difference?” asked Alex

“Just the sort of attitude I’d expect from you”

“I’m just asking”

“No you’re not, you’re just showing your ignorance and indifference to the suffering of these animals”

“Enough, you two!” shouted Justin, in a manner the boys had not before heard from him.

“Sorry Cuz” answered James, I’m just trying to point out the injustice of all this animal suffering.

“And I get that, but what can we do about it now. Can’t we just have a fun day, like we came here for and maybe you can do something some other time to support the animals”

James was quiet and thoughtful, for a few moments, then said “Yes, you’re right, I have an idea, but for now let’s enjoy ourselves”

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They took their seats just before the speakers boomed out loud music for a few minutes, then a commanding voice announced “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, be prepared to be amazed by the spectacle and feats of human excellence in the next two hours”

As soon as the uplifting announcement finished, the mood was changed by two bumbling clowns who entered the ring and had the crowd in fits of laughter.

The first half of the show was an assortment of jugglers, balancing acts and a horse show, conducted by a largish woman with a whip. However, to James’ delight, the whip never seemed to touch the horses. They reacted only to the noise and the directions of the handler.

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At interval the three headed for the food van, where Alex recognised the young woman who had previously been selling the tickets. “So you work here as well?” he asked.

“We all wear many hats in the circus. What can I get you?”

“Ahh...I’ll have three hot dogs and three drinks, thanks.”

When the purchase was complete, Alex said “Thank you Wanda” which he read from her name tag “I’m Alex”

“Nice to meet you Alex, but I have lots more customers to serve.”

“Oh yes, of course, bye”

“Here guys” he said as he handed over the snacks and they went back to the tent.

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During interval the caged ring was set up for the lion act. As they entered the tent James saw the structure and new immediately what it was for. Justin, in an effort to jolly things along said “This looks exciting guys. I’ll bet we’re going to see some wild beasts and a brave lion tamer doing their thing now”

“Brave, you say” commented James “I’d call it cruel, making wild animals react on command and do stupid unnatural things for your amusement. More natural and a better show would be for the lions take a bite out of the sadist”

“Oh, leave it be will you James” ordered Justin “We’re here for a fun day”

“Yeah, be quiet or go and play in the traffic, if you don’t like it”

James said no more during the lions’ performance but was quietly seething and occasionally muttering under his breath.

While the caged ring was being dismantled the clowns entertained again. One with a painted-on sad face, noticed James and went up close to him, put his face next to James and gestured to the audience in a way that indicated, we look alike. This had the audience laughing, but nothing the clown did changed the expression on James’ face. The more the audience laughed the more the clown played up to it and the grumpier James became.

It did not help James’ disposition when he saw the next act coming into the ring and the ringmaster announced “Be prepared to be entertained and surprised by the antics of our closest relatives”

Again, everyone enjoyed the monkey show, except James.

Toward the end of the second half the ringmaster announced a short break while the trapeze net was erected. Alex seized the opportunity and made his own announcement “You wait here guys and I’ll get ice cream for us, my treat.”

“Great!” replied James, who was unaware of Alex’s real motive.

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“Hi Wanda, still wearing your servers hat, I see”

“What?....Oh yes I see what you mean. What can I get for you now?”

“Um...ah...” Alex stumbled over his words but finally got it out “Can I have...if you don’t mind, that is...your phone number, please Wanda?”

“But I don’t know you”

“Yes you do, I’m Alex and this is the third time we’ve met. We’re practically old friends”

“Have we met before?”

“Yes, at the ticket van and here at interval”

“Oh, I see what you mean. I suppose it would be alright, on one condition”

“Anything, just name it”

“You give me yours as well”

“Deal”

They swapped phone numbers then Wanda said you had better get back to the big top or you’ll miss the finale and I’ve got to get in there as well. I’m trapeze safety observer today.”

“Another hat? Then let me escort you to the big top, as you people say”

Alex accompanied Wanda to the base of the trapeze ladder then walked around the ring to his seat.

“Where’s the ice cream?” James demanded

“What...oh...they’ve run out, sorry.”

“Bummer!”

***

On the drive home, James could not be kept quiet, continuously talking about the appalling conditions the animals were kept in. Justin tried to placate him, while Alex sat in silence and pondered over what happened at the circus. He was not thinking of the daring do of the performers but his own achievement of asking Wanda for her phone number. ‘Now I have to work up the courage to call her’, he thought.

***

After dropping the boys home Justin went straight to Poppy’s to prepare for the evening service. He gave Craig a kiss and asked “How was lunch service?”

“All went well, pretty quiet but dinner bookings are looking good. How was the circus?”

“Quite an eventful day really. The performances were great, I think Alex met a girl, but James was a bit of a problem”

“That doesn’t sound like James, both boys are generally well behaved”

“Oh it wasn’t like that. But he has this thing about wild animals being kept in circuses. Totally against it and lets you know clearly what he thinks”

“There’s nothing wrong with being passionate about a cause, and I might add, he’s probably right, now I think about it”

“I don’t disagree, but in reality what can one young man do about it?” concluded Justin.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Tim called in sick just before you arrived. I haven’t had time to find a replacement, so you might have to work the floor tonight”

“No problem, it will be nice to be back out among the guests again, serving them instead of just listening to their complaints”

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After closing the restaurant, Justin and Craig went over to Dean’s bar. While waiting for Dean and Andy to join them for a late drink, Craig said “I had a call this afternoon from Pamela. We used to work together at the hospital, but she’s now working at a youth refuge as an in-house carer”

“What does that mean?”

“She takes care of kids who have been removed from their families or homeless for other reasons. Ultimately they will be placed in foster care but before that happens they live in at the refuge”

“That sounds like hard work, taking care of a house full of troublesome kids”

“Hard, but she finds it rewarding”

Just then Dean delivered the drinks and said “Andy and I will be about ten minutes, just finishing the cleaning”

“No problem, see you soon” replied Justin and returned to his discussion with Craig who said “Pamela had a particular reason for calling, other than to catch up”

“She doesn’t want you to go and work with her, does she?”

“No, but she did ask for our assistance. While the kids are in care, it’s a bit of a sterile environment with little emotional support, so she likes to get them out for a few days now and then”

“She wants us to take out her kids?”

“Not as such, but she likes them to spend a few days in a normal household as a break from the group home”

“With us? Are we a normal home?”

“Maybe not the opposite sex couple with 2.2 kids, but a warm and caring home, none the less”

“I think I understand what you’re saying, but are you sure they’d be happy to send kids to a gay household?”

“Pamela knows about us, so I guess she wouldn’t ask if she was not comfortable with it. So what do you think about it?”

“How old would they be?”

“There’d only be one at a time and I guess we could indicate if we don’t want one that was too young. Is that what you’re thinking?”

“Exactly, a young teen might be more manageable”

“OK, I’ll let Pamela know we’re in”

***

Two days after the circus, Alex called Wanda.

“Hello Alex”

“How’d you know it was me?”

“I have your number in my phone, remember?”

“Of course.”

“So did you enjoy the show on Saturday?”

“Yes, it was great”

“What was your favourite part?”

“Um...the hot dogs”

“My family and friends train for years, risk their lives to entertain you and the highlight for you is the hot dogs.”

“Um...I mean meeting you over the hot dogs... well getting your number...oh you know what I mean”

“Well you are a smooth operator aren’t you?”

“Me...no just telling it like it is. Are you pleased I called?”

“Yes, are you pleased I answered?”

Alex laughed nervously and hoped that would break the ice and he could get around his awkwardness.

“I like your laugh” Wanda said and Alex relaxed.

“Thank you, I really like you and wondered if we could arrange a date soon”

“Sure, what did you have in mind?”

“Maybe lunch on the weekend”

“I have to work two shows on Saturday, but we have no performance on Sunday. Dad wants everyone to have a day off.”

“Sounds great, shall I meet you at the circus?”

“Yes, that’s good, come early and I can show you around the big top if you like, before we go to lunch.”

“Wow, I’d love that. Backstage at the circus, is that what you call it?”

“That’ll do”

“Will you show me all the trade secrets?”

“Like what?”

“Oh...I don’t know...maybe how the magician makes an elephant disappear”

“That’s no secret, elephants disappeared from our circus five years ago”

“How come?”

“Dad says they’re expensive to maintain and transport and it was becoming increasingly difficult to get insurance for them”

“I did wonder why we didn’t see any at the performance, they are one of my favourite animals”

“And I suppose you also want to know why the sawed in half lady doesn’t bleed”

“Oh I know that one”

“Really Mr smartypants, why?”

“Because he doesn’t really cut her in half, it’s just a trick.”

“Spot on, can’t fool you, can we? Anyway, I’ve got to go now, Mum’s calling me for dinner”

“Gee, even circus people have mums calling them to dinner”

“Yes, we have mums, we eat and unlike the sawed lady, we bleed also”

“Sorry, I’ve just never known a circus person before”

“Just teasing, looking forward to Sunday.”

“Me too, take care. I’ll be thinking about you.”

Alex hit end call, held the phone to his chest and said “Yes!” as he did an air punch.

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