One day Caliope happened on a flyer for a Carnival event happening on Saturday March 14th. She wanted to go so bad so she asked her sister Fia if she thought they could go. Well Fia knew they had no money to get in or to see the shows so the only way she could think of was to maybe sneak in. "Let's ask Finola what she thinks."
So they went to see their other sister Finola, the three of them remembering the one and only time they had gone to a carnival circus....when it only cost a penny to get it. They got to wear hats and go on rides and they were so happy. But times had changed and it made them all sad to think they might miss this one.
It was agreed they would have to sneak in and they were all scared.
They got out their bikes and decided no matter what they had to stick together.
When they arrived there was the ticket booth and the line was fairly long. They left their bikes among some trees and bramble so no one would see them. All of them were trembling with fear of getting caught but their desire to see the circus acts overpowered any hesitation.
Caliope looked around acting nonchalant, all the while trying to map out a way to get around the people and the ticket taker. "Ok Fia and Finola, follow me"
They had to climb a wall which wasn't as easy as they thought it would be. Fia skinned her knee and Fiola kept sliding down...........but Caliope prodded them onward, up and over.
"Look, look over there" Caliope said, "I can see the performance tent". Now when I say 3 we have to stay together and run across that area by the tent posts and slide in to the back. It's dark so we shouldn't be noticed." So on the count of three they ran holding hands and made it safely inside the darkened tent.
They stood there frozen and their hearts pounding and then knelt down so they could still see the center but no one could see them.
(My art doll Misha,The Balancer(donated to Life Through Art Foundation Red Art Party)
The music began to play, a hot spotlight came on and there he was.....Mishsa Alexander the guy who could balance anything. The girls had heard of him, he was famous for balancing umbrellas and cakes and all sorts of things. They wanted so badly to clap when his act was over but they couldn't.
"Do you think I could do that?" Fiola whispered.
"shhh, you can't even balance on one foot. Now be quiet" Fia told her.
(My Art doll Equilibre:Roman and Anton)
The tent went dark again but only for a moment when the music swelled to a Romania tune and the lights came on. These were their favorite acts, the acrobats. The audience was on their feet clapping as Anton and Roman, brothers, performed. With golden rings spinning the two would hop up and down and on one anothers shoulders and twist and bend their bodies.
"I want to meet them" Fiola said loudly.
"If you don't keep your voice down we will be caught for sure, now stop talking". Fia and Caliope both glared.
(original illustration)
The next act were three women who levitated and did magic. The girls were awed at how the middle ones dress opened up only to reveal a girl on a swing where legs should have been. The audience was oooohing and awwing as their feet left the ground and there they were suspended in midair.
(Doll I won from Christine in 2008 OWOH)
Now all during the performances a woman in the audience had caught sight of the three wee sisters crouched in the back of the tent. They made her smile and she could see how much they were enjoying all the various acts. She couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy though, like she needed to protect them or see if they were with anyone.
Then during intermission...........
You could hear the rustling of the audience as each person moved about in their seats waiting for the next half to begin. Some stood up to look around. The girls were frozen in place, they saw a spotlight was being maneauvered through the audience and it was only a matter of time it shone on them.
"Should we run?" one of them or all of them asked each other when the light hit them. They heard a voice boom over the crowd at the same moment "hmmm, audience, I think we have some non paying guests".
It was then that the woman who had been keeping an eye on them put up her hand and exclaimed "these girls are with me!"
Everyone stood or craned their necks to see who was talking. The girls were still in shock when they heard someone whisper "she's part owner here".
The woman had the girls follow her out and instead of making them go home..........
She bought them popcorn
and cotton candy
and candied apples
(this is my new painting done on 12x24 birch wood)
They saw the elephants and the fairy lights and musicians and clowns and women dressed for a Tea being held in another tent. It was all so magical.
And then they all watched the final act of the day together....out in the open!
The Tea Dancer.....she moved like a ballerina and twirled about like a court jester, all the while stirring her tea that she kept in a cup attached to her crown. She never spilled a drop. Each time she stirred the cup with a silver spoon she would do a different dance move.
The girls loved her.
The crowd cheered.
As a final momento of their day at the Carnival the woman arranged to have a photo taken of the 4 of them. As they waited for the photo to be developed she lectured the girls on honesty and told them they were never to sneak in anywhere again. They all felt ashamed of themselves and apologized over and over again. They were very grateful for having been saved from certain banishment from Carnivals and circuses forever.
But although they felt ashamed of what they had done it turned out to be one of the best days of their wee lives.
The woman looked at all of them and without realizing what they were thinking felt that this had been one of the best days of her life too.
Exhausted and happy they pulled their bikes from the brambles and rode away..............
THE END
Thank you to the magical Lisa Kettel of Faeire Enchantment for hosting this Soiree!
