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"This has been great fun," Ian
sighed, leaning back against a willow tree. "I’ll be glad to get back home
though to the quietness of the woods."
The two raccoons had woken up from a
long nap and had decided to take a walk before the last show that night.
Mac was lying in the tall grass near Ian’s paws. "It’s been quite the
experience and a lot of fun, I agree, but I’m like you; I’ll be glad to
get back home tomorrow. I can’t wait to swim in the stream and catch a
fish and around the crofts, sneaking corn on the cob and cucumbers from
their gardens."
Ian and Mac sighed. "But, Mac,
tonight we’ve got one more show. At least we don’t have to wear those
awful pink tutus again. That was down right embarrassing," Ian laughed.
"No more frills and lace for me.
Tonight we get to be clowns. We get to wear costumes and a red rubber nose
and do all kinds of fun things like spray the audience with water. Won’t
that be fun?" Mac chuckled.
"Aye," Ian agreed. A lark sat on a
branch in the willow tree. It began to sing. Ian and Mac looked up. "You’d
never hear anything like that in the circus. All you hear is blaring horns
and elephants screeching and tigers roaring. I still don’t like that
tiger," Ian said.
"Well, Ian, as much as I’m enjoying
the shade and the peace, it’s time to head over to the costume trailer.
The sun will be setting soon. Come on," Mac said and stood up. They walked
to the costume trailer and opened the door.
"There you are, lads. Come on
inside. It’s time for you to get into your clown costumes," the costume
lady told them. "Be careful when you walk with those big shoes on," she
said, pointing to some long red shoes. "You’ll find everything you need
over there, including your rubber noses. Cheerio then for now." She walked
out, leaving the two raccoons to get dressed.
"You look like a clown," Ian
laughed, seeing Mac in his outfit. "I love the baggy clothes. I didn’t
realize I looked so good in bright yellow with purple, green and blue
spots. And look at you. You look dandy in your dark blue with orange,
yellow and red spots. We’re quite the clowns."
Mac started to laugh. "You sound
funny talking with that rubber nose on. It makes you sound nasally."
"You sound like you just swallowed a
frog and look at that wig. You’re quite pretty with red hair," Ian teased.
He pulled his hat on. It had a big pom pom on top. "Off we go," he said.
They walked towards the big tent.
"It’s very difficult to walk in these shoes, just like she said," Mac
agreed. "I’ll have to be careful not to trip. You too, Ian."
Just as the Circus Master announced
the beginning of the last show for the night, Ian and Mac came into the
tent. "And now, while we bring in the tiger for his grand finale
performance, the clowns will entertain you. Bring on the clowns!" he
shouted and the audience began to clap.
"Time to put on the act," Mac said
and the two ran into the tent. Mac walked back and forth in front of the
crowd, making faces and tickling children. Ian squirted some big boys and
laughed when they wiped their faces off. Mac did handstands and cartwheels
and Ian jumped high in the air and kicked his feet out. What a great time
they had. The children laughed and even the grownups did too.
The tiger began to roar and did its
act and the trapeze artists swung overhead. Ian and Mac threw handfuls of
sweeties out into the audience and tooted some toy horns. Jock walked into
the ring and waved to Mac to come there. Mac ran over. "This is for you,"
Jock said and showed Mac a wee car. "Climb in and drive it around."
Mac was very excited. He’d never
driven a car before. He climbed in and turned it on. When it started to
move he quickly grabbed the wheel. With a little instruction from Jock,
Mac was soon whizzing around the tent. When he came near Ian, he jumped on
and sat on the front of it as Mac drove around. Ian waved to everyone.
"This is great!" Mac said.
And so it went for several hours.
When the Circus Master announced the end of the show, he had Ian and Mac
come out and take a bow, along with all the other performers. The raccoons
headed back to the costume trailer and took off their clown suits. When
they walked out of the trailer, Jock, the costume lady and the Circus
Master stood there, along with Sheena, the elephant. "We just wanted to
say goodbye and tell you thanks for helping out. The dogs are feeling much
better now and will be able to do the shows tomorrow."
Ian and Mac said goodbye to their
new friends and headed home to their tree in the woods. They climbed up to
the top, found a comfortable branch and lay down. "Good night Ian," Mac
said.
"Good night, Mac," Ian replied and
the two fell asleep, exhausted after their day at the circus. |
