The circus came to town for a week once a year. The people of the small town were never quite sure where else the circus went as their town was far away from any other. But no matter where it came from or where it went after, it always came once a year for a magical week. And, finally, thatweek was here.
The warm, buttery smell of popcorn wafts through the air. The guests are thankful for this as it is a welcome distraction from the grassy smell of animals. Soon popcorn morphs to the sugary sweet smell of cotton candy, making many a mouth water. These were the smells and tastes of the local circus.
The sounds could be overwhelming. There are gleeful children squealing, various announcers voices booming, animals moving about, and music blaring. While it could be cacophonous to those who didn't already enjoy the circus, it was a wonderful chorus to those who did. The various parts blend together to declare that, indeed, the circus has arrived and it is marvelous.
The seats are nothing to write home about. They are worn wood with some small grooves carved into them by previous performers and some naughty guests. The grooves themselves aren't splintery anymore, but rather are smooth as though hundreds of hands had soothed the angry points over time (perhaps they had). Yet the feel of the seats was soon forgotten as soon as the performances begun.
Children in the seats clutch fluffy stuffed animals that their parents bought them or that they won at the carnival games that accompany the circus. Some of these are fated to be forgotten, sticky from the circus sweets and gritty from the dirt floor. But these forgotten ones will be tenderly restored by the circus and put back on sale and no one ever said no to a crying child asking for a replacement toy.
The sights, oh the sights of the circus are the most spectacular. The flexible acrobats twist and turn and flip their bodies into all sorts of contortions and shapes. Their bright colored outfits flash in the lights and make a dazzling display. The trained horses march in formations--now an elephant--now a star--now a flower and their hooves follow the beat of the live music. Soon the clowns come out in their garish colors and makeup, somehow pleasant to the eyes. They act out various accidents in humorous ways making the audience giggle or out right roar with laughter. The tightrope walkers perform feats of unbelievable balance and skill making the audience gasp with fear and delight.
Soon it is time for the circus to move out of town. The people of the small town are sad to see it go, but something about it appearing and disappearing each year lends magic to it. They know though, that they will experience it again one day.
(Prompt by Kimisha Cassidy)
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