Freak show
Side story…
He was angry, I could tell just by looking at him.
He drummed his fingers on the table still not making eye contact.
I gulped 'I am so grounded' I thought to myself.
He stopped drumming and stood up.
His bulky seven feet tall silver body towered over my own.
It casted a shadow dipped in guilt and pain.
I let it sink in and seep to my core.
It hurt, but I didn't let it show.
Not in front of him.
He stared at me for a moment, studying me.
Looking me over.
His soul like eyes castled in shade.
After the longest seconds of my life, he motioned for me to follow him outside.
I followed him to the porch like balcony outside and over wooden planks that connected our circus carts.
I followed him all the way to the storage cart.
He slid the door open and let me go in first.
Even when he was mad, he was a gentleman.
I winced when he slid it back into place.
Even the noise hurt.
It almost scared me.
He beckoned me to sit down next to him.
So I did on one of the old crates.
We sat in silence for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"Ed," he began. "I know you feel like you have to protect everybody, and I respect that."
He paused.
I waited.
"But you know people care about you when you get hurt."
He looked at me and waited for me to explain what I thought he already knew.
I sighed and spoke.
"Well I couldn't just let that officer beat that old man to death."
I looked at him thinking I had explained enough.
I didn't.
He crossed his arms and looked at me expectantly.
"Well I couldn't let him die, what did you expect me to do? Let some adult handle it?"
"Yes," he said, "I did expect you to let some adult handle it."
"I could have saved you the trouble of nearly getting yourself killed."
Ouch, that was painful.
"Well I can handle things on my own." I said hiding behind my golden bangs.
He sighed a bit too loud and brought me into a hug.
I guess I forgot what a hug felt like because I froze instantly.
"I know you can, you're a smart kid, Edward." He said stroking my back repeatedly.
I eased into that and settled down a bit.
"But you don't have to anymore. You can count on me to help you in any way I can."
Well, so much for my vow of no crying.
For a twelve year old kid I was pretty hard on myself and knowing that I didn't have to be anymore… well that a big change for me.
His great hands cradled me and massive arms shielded me. I haven't felt so secure in ages. Wet drops fell onto my palms and vision began to get blurry. I remember this its…what crying feels like.