A/N: Thanks for the positive feedback! Enjoy chapter 2!-The Mysterious Wizard
My wee brother is no good,
Chop him up for firewood.
When he's dead
Cut off his head,
Make it into gingerbread.
The carnival music sounded merrily around the grand circus tent as the ring master proudly stood in the center of the floor. The audience watched in great excitement as a ballerina twirled on the back of a running horse, and a band of tall brass musicians blasted their horns.
"And now," beamed the Ring Master, "Our latest attraction," The audience went silent with anticipation. "Introducing the flying furbearer, the amazing, agile ape-man, the Marvelous Airborne Gorilla, performing his Grand Trapeze Routine!"
A spotlight shone upon a high platform, and the people cheered as they beheld the ape in all his glory. He waved and took hold of the trapeze bar. All was silent, and there was a drum roll.
Swinging from the platform, the gorilla somersaulted through the air, performing twists and backflips, creating a grand display. The audience adored him. They applauded his act. He became caught up in the roar of delight, and now began to swing with only one hand, and as he propelled from the one bar, he caught the other mid-flip with one foot. All was well.
But suddenly, the excitement was cut short as the wires snapped abruptly, and he fell from the great height. There was not a net below to catch him. And his heart nearly stopped as he tumbled to his death on the hard ground. A great scream of horror came from the patrons as he struck the floor. The band ceased playing.
"Jimmy!" yelled the Ring Master, as he and some of the crew rushed onto the scene. He removed the mask from the suit. Within, Jimmy Brown lay stone dead. "Someone get a doctor!"
"He loved you, Lilly." Miss Langtree's father had told her at the funeral.
"I know, father." she replied. "I know. He died on the floor of that circus tent, and with him went my heart and spirit alike."
Her father reached into his large overcoat and removed something from the interior pocket. In his hand was a ring.
"He was going to ask for your hand." he said, handing her the small engagement band. She stayed quiet, and she didn't speak another word for the remainder of the mourning day.
At night, she would cry, and cry, and cry. Oh why, why did he leave her so? He was taken so soon, without any kind of warning, and now he was gone for good. Miss Langtree's love for him was all she had. Her spirit could not be lifted, not without her man to lift her up.
They found her the next morning in the bell tower of her own schoolhouse. She wept, sitting on the rafters, when her father walked in.
"Lilly, what are you doing up here?"
"Goodbye, dear father." she spoke. "I simply could not handle it."
"Lilly, don't!" he cried, but his screams were in vain. She came to a stop after falling for a brief moment. There was a sickening snap, and she hung three feet off the floor. She wore Jimmy's ring upon her finger.
The school bell sounded once and echoed out through the trees.