Every year the residents of the quaint town waited with great anticipation for this time of the year. For this was one of the few occasions where the whole town participated with full gusto. The colorful banners said it all; yes the Circus was in town!!!
What’s so unique about a circus a mere passer by would wonder? Didn’t they come to each town? Yes they did, but this circus was performed by the people of the town itself!!
The people honed their skills all year through, especially the ones doing the risk acts like trapeze. Those who handled the animals had an even tougher job, the tigers, lions and elephants were getting complacent by the day and no amount of cajoling was working.
However no one complained, they just looked forward to their act being watched and appreciated.
The D day finally dawned. It was a frenzy of activity with everyone getting ready for the show. Finally their efforts would be in full view.
The opening ceremony was a frenzy of beating of the drums and a grand parade. The Town Mayor along with his councilors declared the Circus open.
The jugglers walked in showcasing their skills with knifes, balls and a collection of items. Each one trying to outdo the other (as there was a rumor that the best juggler was to be awarded handsomely!!)
Then it was the turn of the lions. The ring master proudly presented his brood to the crowds. After all they were his trump cards, outshining their acts year after year. The crowds watched them with bated breath, but this year the lions were disappointing. Their lackluster display almost drawing boos from the audience.
To placate the crowds, in came the joker!! There was a thunderous applause. The funny man went about his antics. He went among the audience, made his funny gestures, and cracked the local jokes…. Even the mayor wasn’t spared.
The act seemed so natural to the audience, after all he had to just paint himself funny and make the crowds laugh. (Only if they knew, thought the man himself, smiling all the time comes with a price!!).
The trapeze artistes came by next. Their artistry and perfection left the audience spellbound. They were given a standing ovation.
The town mayor felicitated the ring master and had words of praise for the artistes.
The curtains were down on this year’s extravaganza. The show producer looked in glee at the bounty he had managed to collect. The greedy town mayor came in to collect his share as part of the taxes, the ground fees. The show producer, like every year was reluctant to part with a huge share and haggled with the ring master on sharing the booty.
What about the performers you might wonder, they just laugh a knowing laugh. At least their creativity had an audience… what more could they ask for!!
(Dedicated in loving memory of the annual circus we have in our part of town … we call it Appraisals!..
Disclaimer: Resemblance to any anyone alive is purely coincidental!!)
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