| A TWICE WEEKLY SERIAL OF BIG TOP FOLK BY
SIMON PARKE |
|
EPISODE 25
EYES AND EARS
"I can be your eyes and ears," says Young Lee.
"I have my own, thanks," says GD. "And more acute than yours."
"Yeh, but like, you carn be everywhere."
"You should think less about being a snitch, Lee, and more about learning a craft."
"I'm going to be like one of those old street performers!"
"Really?"
"I've decided!"
GD was wearying of Lee, and wished to get on with his yoga. "Street performers of the late-middle ages were adept at magic, contortion, juggling, puppetry, acrobatics, storytelling, tight rope walking, and frequently, worked with trained animals."
"So?"
"Well, no offence Lee, but to my knowledge, you can do none of those."
"Or perhaps I could learn fire-eating from the Fiery Fernandos?"
"Long gone, thankfully. Now if you don't mind – "
"But what if they're coming back?"
"Coming back here? I hardly think so."
"I 'eard Burt speaking with Ted larz nii! Or check it out wiv Samanfaa. Bin paintin flame, she 'az! Eyes and ears, I am!"
Meanwhile, up in the hills behind Nettleby, Jess pounds the roads, imagining himself a Mohican in the forest, running like the wind, running for truth. Truth! There up ahead, like the bright morning sun, waiting for him. He was never quite at home in the circus; but then he was never at home anywhere, except in his longing. Always running, Jess; even when standing still; running from something he didn't know, towards something he didn't know. Like the Mohican; running like the Mohican, running through the forest, and he must forget about Samantha, because she was just being kind, and had everything anyway...
"Buy yourself some disgusting cider," says GD, giving Young Lee a fiver.
"My first payment?"
"It's not a payment, Lee. Regard it as charity."
"If I 'ear anyfing else – "
"You can go now."
"'Ow about a tenner?"
"You'll have to do much better for a tenner. Now go."
GD lay down on his yoga mat, allowing his personal mantra to settle between his eyes. This could all be very good news; in that it could be a disaster...
More clowning around |
