|
By Sharada Mahalingam
Age : 12
Class: Seventh
School: J.B Vachha High School
City: Mumbai
The Rambo Circus is in town!” I exclaimed, eagerly scanning the day’s newspaper. “Let’s go today, please, Mummy!”
Mummy looked at Daddy, who smiled. “All right, I suppose we could get tickets for the six ‘o’ clock show this evening”, she said, sipping her coffee.
It was a Friday and my parents, twin sister Tina and I were eating breakfast.
“Now eat quickly, or you’ll be late for school”, said Daddy.
At school, we could think about nothing but the circus. As soon as we got home, we changed, had our snacks and waited impatiently for Daddy to get home from his office.
“He’d said he’d come early today”, complained Tina to Mummy. Just then, we heard a squeal of tires and our blue family van appeared on the driveway, driven by Daddy.
Soon, we filed inside the van and were off to the circus. Fortunately, we got four seats in the front row. The show began.
The first item was the high wire act performed by famous Russian acrobats. Then a dwarf rode on a tri-cycle. He was marvellous. We clapped hard as he rode his tri-cycle over tall gray elephants. Next, two motor cyclists drove their motor bikes inside a big, round, transparent globe. The noise they made was deafening! After that, a pretty lady came on stage, followed by a lion. She fearlessly put her whole head into the lion’s open mouth! It was terrifying. How the audience applauded! Then came a magnificent black horse with a gymnast sitting on its back. He slowly stood up and cantered about on the stage. He did push-ups and even a few flip-flops!
Soon came the Interval. We bought popcorn and ice cream, talking about the various items that were performed. The Interval ended and the show started.
There were rope ladders hanging about everywhere and on the very top was a huge net. A short joker and a tall joker came on stage and both started climbing up the same ladder. The short clown was the one ahead, and the tall clown was a few steps behind. Just then, the short joker’s shorts slipped down and fell on the stage. After a few moments, quite suddenly, his underwear fell out too, but not on the stage—on the tall joker’s head! It was very funny, and Tina was crying with laughter!
The next item was of a juggler. In he came, carrying burning torches. He began juggling them. I felt scared. “What if he drops one of those torches of fire?” I wondered. Just then, Tina said she was going to the toilet and went.
Suddenly, before I knew what was happening, I saw that the stage was on fire! There was a hullaballoo everywhere after that.
“Hold on tight to my hand!” screamed Mummy, clutching Daddy’s arm. There was a stampede at the fire exit. We were practically carried by the crowd to the exit.
Suddenly, Daddy shouted over the noise, “Where is Tina?” Just then, we saw my sister emerging from the toilet, a look of surprise on her face. I waved at her frantically and at last, she spotted us and came running over, bewildered that so much had happened when she was in the toilet!
At last, we reached home safe and sound. The juggler had escaped with minor injuries and no one was killed in the fire.
I only regret one thing though—I couldn’t see the rest of the show! But Tina didn’t mind that. “I’m angry and disappointed that I was the one that had to miss out on all the excitement!” she grumbled.
Anyway, this was the most exciting evening of my life. Who knew that an ordinary visit to the circus would have such an extraordinary ending?!
|
