Send in the Clowns Page 3

  “We can do them all over again,” said Roger. “I can do an encore anytime!”

  During the break, Sonny practiced on his unicycle.

  “That’s the smallest unicycle I ever saw,” said Rachel. “Sonny can reach out and put his feet on the ground if he loses his balance.”

  But Sonny was not doing well. As soon as he got on and began to pedal, the bike fell over. It landed on top of him.

  “Rat’s knees, didn’t he practice?” muttered Molly.

  Sonny’s dad tried to help out. He ran along, holding the bike up. But as soon as he let go, Sonny toppled over.

  “I’ll bet his dad has to hold him up during the act,” said Lisa. “What do you think?”

  But suddenly Sonny and his dad left the park with the cycle.

  “Where are they going?” asked Roger. “He’s on next!”

  “He’s probably scared,” said Rachel. “I would be if I were him. He’s going to make a fool of himself on that thing. I’ll bet he’s running away.”

  “There’s supposed to be a helper,” said Kevin. “The circus people are supposed to teach us this stuff.”

  But when Max walked by with a can of soda, he said he had no idea how to ride a unicycle. “That’s too hard for me,” he said. “My specialty is the trapeze act.”

  “The break is almost over,” said Mary Beth. “Where is Sonny?”

  Even Mrs. Peters looked worried. Maybe he did run away, thought Molly.

  Finally two women started making music with some homemade instruments that looked like large cooking pots. Another woman beat a drum to indicate that things were going to start again. The break was over.

  But where in the world was the next act?

  CHAPTER

  6

  “In the Center Ring …”

  Max must not have noticed that Sonny was missing, because he announced in a loud voice that in the center ring (the only ring) Sea Bee Sonny Stoke would ride his unicycle.

  The Pee Wees giggled. “Sonny Stoke!” roared Roger. “Hey, where’s Sonny Stoke? Stoke the bloke!”

  Just as Max finished the introduction, Sonny arrived on his unicycle—alone.

  Molly saw that his father was seated in the front row of the audience.

  Sonny was riding into the center ring without falling off!

  The Pee Wees stared.

  “I don’t believe it,” said Kevin.

  The Pee Wees were all surprised to see Sonny on the unicyle, but not because he had finally learned to ride it successfully.

  “Rat’s knees!” Molly shouted to Mary Beth. “Sonny has training wheels!”

  “So that’s what Sonny and his dad were doing,” said Jody. “That’s pretty smart!”

  Leave it to Jody to say something positive, thought Molly. Jody always saw the good side of everything.

  All the other Pee Wees were booing and laughing at Sonny.

  “Hey, Stoke, you bloke!” Roger yelled. “I’ll bet you’ll put training wheels on your car when you get one!”

  “What a baby,” said Rachel in disgust.

  Sonny rode around and around the ring. He raised one hand in the air and waved at the audience. There was no way he could fall over because there were two small wheels on each side of the big wheel.

  “He could ride that thing in his sleep,” said Tracy.

  “Anyone could ride it, even a baby,” said Lisa.

  When Sonny had ridden around many times, he turned and rode the other way. He rode down the aisle waving to the audience and smiling. Then he rode out the door of the tent. His act was over.

  People were laughing, but they were also clapping and cheering. Sonny was a hit. Sonny was a star. The audience loved him. They seemed to like all the acts so far! Molly hoped they would like her too.

  Molly wanted to go next. She hoped Max would call her name. First she would do her scarf act, then the rabbit act, and last of all she would have to sit on Roger’s knee and be the ventriloquist’s dummy. Roger had better be ready, Molly thought. He was a big part of her act. That made her a little nervous.

  But Max didn’t call Molly’s name. He called Rachel’s.

  Rachel was ready to dance. Recorded music began playing. Rachel glided into the center ring. She didn’t make any mistakes. At least, thought Molly, no mistakes anyone could see.

  Rachel looked wonderful. She whirled and twirled and stood on her toes and leaped across the ring gracefully. At the end she bowed in a big sweeping curtsey all the way to the floor. The audience did not laugh. They did not boo. They clapped and clapped and asked for an encore.

  Rachel did two more dances and bowed again. Someone in the back threw a big bouquet of flowers into the ring.

  Rat’s knees, thought Molly, Rachel is the only one who didn’t goof up at all. She’s a real dancer!

  “Wow!” said Mary Beth. “She’s good. She’s really good!”

  Well, thought Molly, if Mary Beth or I had taken dance lessons since nursery school, we’d be good too. Or maybe we wouldn’t. Maybe Rachel had real talent. Maybe she was a real star!

  “I think the Pee Wees are doing all the work,” grumbled Kenny. “How come none of the circus guys are doing anything?”

  As if someone had heard him, a few performers came out and told jokes. Then one of them danced, but not as well as Rachel. And one rode a unicycle and fell off. The Pee Wees were definitely the best act in town so far. Even with their mistakes!

  After another short break for refreshments, Max announced the next act.

  “In the center ring,” he called, “we have Kevin Moe and his talented dog act!”

  “I wonder who’s talented,” whispered Mary Beth. “Kevin or the dogs!”

  Kevin ran into the ring, waving like a real performer. Three little dogs sat on stools, with white collars around their necks. First Kevin said “Speak” and the three dogs barked. Everyone applauded.

  “Lucky can do that, and he’s not even a show dog,” said Lisa. Lucky was Mrs. Peters’s dog. He was the Pee Wee mascot.

  Next Kevin held up a hoop in front of the dogs. One by one they sailed through it.

  “That’s pretty good,” said Kenny.

  Molly knew Kevin would be good at whatever he chose. He never made a fool of himself the way Sonny did. As she watched his act, Molly decided Kevin was the one she wanted to marry. She was sure Jody was good at feeding the animals and other things, but Kevin had star quality. His act moved along quickly, and the dogs did not run off and hide, or leave the tent, or do anything else embarrassing.

  I wonder how he learned to do the tricks, Molly thought. Someone from the circus must have given Kevin a lesson. I hope they come help me make sure my magic works!

  “Play dead!” Kevin shouted as his act continued, and the three dogs fell to the ground and did not move. The audience cheered.

  Kevin gave another command. The dogs rolled over. They walked on three legs. They did lots of neat tricks. At the end Kevin gave them some dog candy as a reward.

  Kevin left the center ring with the dogs, and Molly’s knees began to shake. There were four Pee Wee acts left. Bareback riding by Lisa, clowning by Tracy, Mary Beth and Patty on the elephant, and Molly with her magic.

  Would the next name Max announced be hers?

  CHAPTER

  7

  Closer and Closer and …

  Max walked to the center of the ring and held up his hand for silence. He was going to announce the next act! Molly knew her name would be called. She looked around for Roger. He had promised Fluffy would be ready.

  But when Molly saw Roger, he didn’t look ready to perform and Fluffy was nowhere to be seen. Roger was trying to get Tracy’s orange wig off. He chased her around and around the seats. Finally he decided to bother Sonny instead. How could Molly have trusted Roger to help with her act? She’d had no choice, that was how. She had been desperate for that rabbit!

  Max opened his mouth to announce the next act. Molly held her breath until he said, “Lisa Ronning wil
l now do a bareback act on our dancing pony, Rochelle.”

  Rochelle did not look happy. Rochelle did not look as if she wanted to dance. Rochelle was the size of a dog.

  And her back was not bare. She had a saddle on. Lisa tried to stand up on the saddle, but she slipped off. Finally Max and one of the clowns held her so she wouldn’t fall. The dancing pony walked very, very slowly around the ring while Lisa wobbled back and forth on top. But she didn’t fall. She smiled and held on to Max and the clown. Music played, and the act was over.

  “I’ll bet you’re next,” said Mary Beth.

  “I’ll bet you are,” said Molly crossly. She was tired of waiting to perform. It was like waiting to get a shot in the doctor’s office. It got worse and worse the more time there was to think about it.

  Molly could see the elephant being led into the ring.

  “You’re right!” said Mary Beth. “I can’t wait!”

  Imagine being anxious to do your act, thought Molly.

  “Mary Beth Kelly and Patty Baker will now ride atop a giant elephant!” called Max. Then he lowered his voice. “Because of the danger in this act, we ask you once again, audience, to hold your applause until the end. Any sudden noises and the elephant could bolt, causing a nasty accident.”

  Could the elephant really bolt, thought Molly? Or was Max exaggerating? The animal looked as tired as the pony in Lisa’s act. And Mary Beth didn’t look worried.

  “Hey, is the elephant going to lift them up with its trunk?” Tim asked. “I saw a circus on television and that’s how the riders got on top!”

  “They don’t need much help getting up there,” scoffed Kenny. “They could just put their legs over its back if they stood on a little stool.”

  But nothing was that simple in this circus. The band played a drumroll and each girl was hoisted up to the little basket on the elephant’s back by two strong circus workers.

  “Wow, is this ever high!” Patty called out.

  “We’ll be right beside you at all times,” said a worker. “You have nothing to fear.”

  Around and around the ring they went. Plod plod plod. It took a long time. Mary Beth smiled and giggled. But Molly was bored. If the elephant had bolted, at least it would have been exciting. But it didn’t. Plod plod plod. Boring boring boring.

  My act won’t be boring, Molly thought. She herself didn’t even know exactly what would happen! But if Max didn’t announce her next, she would scream. She and Tracy were the only two Pee Wees left.

  The applause for the elephant ride was thunderous. It was so loud, even the elephant looked excited. It lowered its two front legs, and the girls slid down its trunk. Molly thought that was the best part of the act.

  Mary Beth walked over to Molly and said, “That was really scary! I could see everybody in the tent from up there!”

  “You looked like you had lots of fun,” Molly said.

  “I hope I’m next,” said Tracy.

  Mrs. Peters came over and put her arms around Tracy and Molly.

  “I know it’s been a long wait,” she said, looking at her watch. “I wonder if we will have time to get both acts in.”

  The circus clowns were pretending to throw buckets of water at the audience, but the buckets were really filled with confetti. People screamed, and then laughed when they saw they weren’t getting wet.

  Max motioned to Tracy to come and join them!

  “She’s the only clown in a real costume,” Rachel said. She had changed from her dance outfit and now had on jeans and a white blouse. Molly wished her act was over and she could be that relaxed.

  Tracy began throwing pails of confetti with the other clowns and squirting water from the fake flower on her shirt. Her large shoes flopped and her baggy pants went up and down on their elastic suspenders. She was very funny and the crowd liked her.

  Well, at least Molly was sure of one thing. She would be next. Hers was the only act left!

  She put on the magician’s cape her mother had made for her, and picked up her bag with the hat and the scarf and the fake thumb in it. She started to walk forward as Tracy left the ring and all the other clowns ran out of the tent.

  But just as she got to the ring, Max stood up and said, “And that’s it, folks! Let’s hand it to those little Sea Bees for all their hard work and good showmanship! Thanks for coming, and please fold your chair and set it by the door on your way out. Every little bit of help is appreciated! Good-bye and see you next year!”

  Max threw the audience a kiss, and the people rose to leave.

  CHAPTER

  8

  Better Late

  Than Never?

  Molly stood in her cape and stared. People were leaving. Her parents were having a conversation with the Stones. Mrs. Peters was frowning. Mary Beth looked puzzled.

  And then Jody wheeled his chair quickly up to the ring. “Max!” he called. “There’s another act! You forgot Molly Duff!”

  By now Molly didn’t know whether to be glad she did not have to go on or sorry she was left out. It was both a relief and a disappointment!

  When Max heard the news, he stood on one of the stools from the dog act and rang a cowbell that was on a nearby table.

  “Hear! Hear!” he cried. “We’ve made a mistake! We have one more act, folks, Miss Molly Duff!”

  But most of the people had filed out, and even the cowbell did not silence the few that were left.

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to come back tomorrow. We’ll do another show before we leave,” said Max. “You can be the first act, all fresh and bright. The crowd will enjoy it much more than at the end of a day. It’s getting late and everyone is hungry now.”

  “But how will we get people to come back?” asked Mrs. Peters.

  “We’ll announce it on the radio tonight,” said Max. “On the ten o’clock news.”

  On the way home, Mary Beth said, “I think the announcement should be on TV. Who listens to the radio news?”

  “My grandma does,” said Molly. “But she doesn’t live here, and she’s not coming to the circus.”

  That night the Pee Wees all were allowed to stay up to hear the announcement on the radio.

  “And the weather should be a bit stormy tomorrow,” the weatherman said, “so take those umbrellas. Better yet, stay home where it’s dry!”

  “Well, that’s not the thing to tell people!” said Mr. Duff.

  “Oh, this announcement is just in,” said the news reader. “Before leaving town tomorrow morning, the circus will have one final act at ten o’clock. Max Appel urges you to go. No additional ticket is needed if you attended the circus today. And now I’ll say good night, and good news!”

  “Well, that should get them there!” said Molly’s mother, turning off the radio. She started getting ready for bed.

  Get them there? thought Molly. Most people probably had switched their radios off before they heard. Like Molly’s act, the announcement was almost forgotten! And the advice to stay home during the rain wasn’t helpful either.

  But if no one came, Molly wouldn’t have to do her act! That would be great.

  But if she didn’t do her act, she wouldn’t get her circus badge! She didn’t want to be the only Pee Wee without a badge! How awful to have a blank spot on her shirt where the circus badge should be!

  She pictured Mrs. Peters feeling sorry for her and giving her a badge anyway. A pity badge! Molly didn’t want a pity badge. A badge for doing nothing. She wanted to earn her badge like everyone else! She had to be in that center ring tomorrow no matter what! And she would be. Even if she was the only one there!

  And that was just about what happened. In the morning the thunder clapped and the lightning lit up the sky. Her dad yelled, “Run between the drops!”

  When Molly and her parents arrived, no one was in the tent, not even Max. At least the tent is still up, thought Molly. At least the circus is still in town.

  “People will come soon,” said her mother. “It’s early.”

&n
bsp; But it wasn’t early. It was right on time. Ten o’clock.

  Soon Mrs. Peters came in, dripping wet and sneezing. “Mr. Peters is home with the baby,” she said. “We didn’t think we should take him out on a day like this.”

  The five of them listened to the water pound on the canvas overhead. There was a little leak in the roof, and Molly noticed a small stream of water flowing through the center ring. She knew Fluffy did not like water. She wouldn’t like it dripping on her head!

  At last Max came in, and then Mary Beth.

  “Where is everyone?” asked Molly’s friend.

  “I don’t know where anybody is. Including Roger,” Molly worried. “I can’t do my act without Roger and Fluffy!”

  At eleven o’clock, no one else had come. Molly thought any minute Mrs. Peters would say, “Let’s all go home where it’s nice and dry and forget this act. Molly deserves the badge for getting this far.”

  But she didn’t say that. And neither did Molly’s parents. Max looked doubtful.

  “I’m afraid no one is coming,” he said. “Maybe we should close up shop.”

  “No way!” said Jody and Kevin, bursting into the tent.

  “It took my dad a long time to get here because of the mud on Main Street,” said Jody. “Where is everyone else?”

  Molly knew she could depend on Jody and Kevin! Both of them had fought the rain and wind and mud for her! What a problem to decide which one of them she should marry!

  “Why don’t we proceed with just us?” said Mrs. Peters. “Seven people is a fine crowd!”

  “But I can’t go on without Roger and Fluffy!” said Molly.

  “Who is Fluffy?” asked Mr. Duff.

  Molly couldn’t answer that without revealing the surprise ending of her trick! She felt like crying. Fluffy was supposed to be pulled out of a hat, not walk in with Roger!

  “I’ll run over to Roger’s house and get them,” said Kevin, bounding out of the tent into the rain.

  What a friend, thought Molly. And what a traitor Roger was! He was probably in bed right now snoring away and forgetting all about Molly’s magic act.