| A TWICE WEEKLY SERIAL OF BIG TOP FOLK BY
SIMON PARKE |
|
EPISODE 24
DROP THE ELEPHANT
"So what do you think, Ted?"
"You'll do what you want to do, Burt."
"That's not helping me."
"You'll do what you do, until you can no longer do it. Until then, whatever and whoever, you'll carry on doing it. You're as stubborn as a barnacle."
"Still not helping."
"Why ask me? You know you've already made up your mind."
"They bring in the punters."
"They bring in the punters. There! Mind made up! What else is there to say?"
"Teresa isn't happy."
"Well, there's a surprise."
"It wasn't so bad last time. I mean, they're not the easiest – "
"Not the easiest?! The Fiery Fernandos are shits. They're thieving little shits, and who knows what they would have done to that girl if Jess hadn't been wandering late."
"They're young men, Ted! Why all the judgment?"
"They suit you, Burt. That's all you see."
"They'll save the circus."
"So do what you must do. Do what you do, until you can no longer do it."
"They're knife throwers as well now; decent act, apparently."
"I'm sure that reassures us all."
Later that day, Burt speaks with Samantha. Not only an acrobat; she also has an art degree from St Martins and is responsible for the colourful circus hoardings.
"We're going for a change, Sam," he says.
"Oh yes?"
"Slight change on the hoarding."
"I was looking at some old ones recently. In 1900, Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth hoarding announced: "Wonderful performing Geese, Roosters and Musical Donkey!"
Burt is unimpressed.
"Well, just an idea!" says Samantha.
"Keep the roundabout," says an oblivious Burt. "But drop the elephant, and bring in two fire eaters. Make them the centre piece."
"Fire eaters? What, the Fiery Fernandos?"
"And a couple of dwarves, Sam. Put in a couple of dancing dwarves. I want people curious; and perhaps a little appalled."
More clowning around |
