EGG and I ran away to join the circus this weekend. After initially thinking that a visit to the circus was l for lame, I have to admit that I was wrong (and I don't do that too often). The circus was brilliant (I can't think of a sufficiently glowing l word to describe it). And the best bit--all we had to do was sit there and be entertained--no singing, no dancing, no death defying feats. Aaah bliss.
However things were not as they seemed, and it was before the performance began that EGG admitted how truly traumatic it was for him to be there at the circus. Holding my hand he revealed the story.
Years ago, when he was only a tiny boy in a tiny Queensland outback town, he had gone to the circus with his family. He was chosen at random from the crowd to be harnessed up to ride the Shetland pony. He galloped around the ring on the pony's back, and no he didn't fall off. It was much, much worse. The horse galloped out of the ring and little EGG was left dangling in the harness. And then it happened. A clown raced over and pulled down poor little EGG's pants. Oh the shame and humiliation that an act like that can do to a four year old EGG's confidence.
I patted his back in sympathy, holding back my tears of laughter while vowing mutual and eternal hatred of all clowns.
Actually I do hate clowns. They wear awful clothes, too much makeup, have stupid haircuts and sing really bad songs. Oh goodness, it sounds like I'm talking about that poor mite Britney Spears, but I'm not. And why do clowns always do that stupid water joke where they throw the bucket of paper into the crowd? And why do people always flinch--like they don't know it isn't water. This is Queensland people. We don't have water to waste, not to mention the circus company's potential dry cleaning bill.
But anyway back to the acts. There were trapeze artists, the wheel of death, a twisty girl and a pole dancer. I've attached her picture. EGG wants me to practice the pose. That is not going to happen.
They had lions (which I didn't like--I actually hoped the cranky boy lion would bite the cranky boy lion tamer). They had a great dog show, alpacas and geese. It must have been a bit of a comedown for Mr Liontamer to be taming the geese, but I've heard they can be ornery little devils.
The audience was tough. They wouldn't clap. EGG and I had red hands trying to make up the deficit. We didn't clap the clowns though. EGG kept muttering that he reckoned the fat clown was the one who pulled his pants down and he was going to get him.
We left right after the show finished. I didn't want EGG calling the clown outside to settle unfinished business.
L is for Lennon Brother's Circus.
