The sounds of Rosie play-fighting with Dim in the ring alerted Slim it was almost time to go on. I bet P.T. will make me be the prop again. It was the obvious thing to do with a walking stick such as himself. The low hanging fruit of slapstick comedy. He sighed and left his trailer.
As soon as he got to the main tent, PT came running in, gasping for breath, "Get out there you clowns! The crowd is flying away!"
Francis and Heimlich ran through the break in the curtain, the latter mumbling something about food, as usual.
"They'll only laugh at me if I go out there PT. It's pointless," Slim postured.
"Of course they'll laugh, that's your job!" the flea yelled.
"But I'm sick of always being a pole or a twig or a shovel. It's humiliating"
"It's comedy! Now get out there!"
With a shrug of acceptance that admittedly looked rather funny on his lanky frame, Slim made his way to the center ring.
It wasn't the worst act they'd ever done, but it was close. He and Francis were decked out in cheap flower costumes while Heimlich chased them around in an even shoddier looking bumble bee outfit. Other than the caterpillar's stomach taking him out of character every time they passed a bit of food, it was going well.
That was until a few of the fly boys in the corner began to catcall Francis. Slim knew this wasn't going to end well. He had met the ladybug when joining the circus and quickly leaned that nothing set that bug off more than being called a girl. He supposed it was similar to the way he felt about constantly being used as a prop, but Slims temperament was much more even. It seemed this day was going to contain a lot of sighing. He headed over to break up the fight before Francis really got himself hurt.
A few calming words to the flys and physically extracting Francis diffused the situation enough for the audience to at least sit through the next act.
"Francis, you cant let them get under your exoskeleton like that. It's not good for your health"
"Shaddup Slim, I could have taken them," He argued. "There was no need to step in."
"Someone has to keep a level head around here. And we know its not going to be you," Slim answered. "If you want, next time I can let them rip off your antennae."
The ladybug chuckled, "Fine. Thanks for lookin' out for me."
Their conversation was interrupted by Gypsy poking her head through the break in the curtain.
"Guys, PT want to do The Flaming Death! We should make sure he doesn't burn down the whole tent."
"Right, lets go Francis," Slim said with gusto.
"Ya, ya," he grumbled following the stick back to the center ring.