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The circus arrived to town
The circus arrived to town
It was the month of August when the circus arrived to Glennsville, we had been expecting it for two weeks because the rains of late July had made their arrival difficult. But it was already here, and the town was full with joy, wonder and amusement. It was the first time the circus came to our town, for we lived in a city of 100 houses and we nearly didn´t have any visitors. Among our people, everyone knew Ms. Gonzalez, who made bread on Sunday mornings outside church; and Mr. Jackson, who used to get grumpy when kids cut flowers out of his garden. It was a small town and surprises were always welcomed.
When the circus arrived, the hill next to the grocery store was a rampage: an enormous red-and-blue tent set on the slope and cages held any kind of animal we could imagine: there were elephants as big as buildings, camels with heads of pelicans and blue dragons rode by daring little men who had to get in groups of three to control one dragon.
On Sunday night the town gathered around the tent. The line to buy the tickets was so long that it took 2 hours for everyone to set in their seats.
The presenter welcomed everyone, he was wearing a black tuxedo over a white-striped shirt, a red bow tie and top hat.
-”Good night ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the magnificent circus Grand Guinol”- his voice lowered -”Prepare to contemplate the most adventurous creations of all times. I warn you, this show is not for sensible hearts. Get ready to witness fantastic acts, incredible deeds and magic.”
As he was saying this, the lights were going off and the trapeze artist was taking her place at the center of the stage.There was a moment of entire quietness. We were all holding our breath. Suddenly, fireworks began to light up the place as the music speeded up. It was, indeed, magnificent. She got up 50ft in a white fabric and landed intact. When she finished her show, the whole crowd got up and applauded. The lights went off again and the clowns appeared. They were wearing rainbow overalls and red balls in in their noses. People laughed of their jokes and, when a mime added to the spectacle, they began to bug him to ruin his performance, until the mime got so upset he chase the clown all the way to the stands. Of course it was all part of the show. When they left, a magician appeared. His moustache was incredibly long, it reached the floor and it was dark, like the costume he was wearing: a violet coat over a brown t-shirt, black pants and formal shoes. He was wearing a top hat too, but his had a skeleton drawn on the brim. He was black and his eyes spitted fire. His froggy eyes looked at us and he asked for silence.
-”Tonight you will witness one the greatest acts of magic of all times!” -he shouted.
Five women in silver suits got out the tent and formed a circle around the magician. All of them were holding a rope in their right hand, while the other part was tied around the neck of an animal: the enormous elephant, a tiny dog, a lion with half of the body of an eagle, a panther with the face of a goldfish and the dragon. We all got up to take a better look at the show. We were all expectant. In a burst, all the animals roared, barked and trumpeted. The magician started to chant. The women began to walk around him, guiding the animals as the music speeded up. They walked and walked and chanted. The sound got louder and it was no longer music that we hear, it was the chant and the cries of the babies that were being hugged by their mothers. It got louder and the animals began to run. When we realized, the women were not there anymore but the animals kept running around the magician. He was lifting his arms reaching toward the sky but never stopped his talk. It was truly amazing. When the chant reached his highest, fireworks began to light up the place once more but now, people were scared and getting off their seats, running to the exits. The singing continued and the magic could be felt on the air. The show kept on for a second more and it ended as suddenly as it began. We realized we were all sitting on the grass of the hill and the tent, the trapeze and the magician were nowhere to be seen.
