Thank you to all my dear reviewers. I tried to answer each of you back, so i hope you all got the responces i sent out. If i missed anyone i'm very sorry. I hope you enjoy this chapter. thank you all again.
Mana spent most of the trolley ride trying to answer Allen's never ending barrage of questions. "The lines above the car are electric lines… I think" he paused to readjust his hat. I love this hat. "The lines run power down into the car and into the conductor's controls. Then, I think, the power is stored up until he pulls the lever. That releases the power and makes the car move along the tracks." He wasn't sure that was right, but it was the best explanation of how the streetcar system worked that he could think of.
As the car filled more with each stop, Allen slid closer and closer to him. His little gloved hand discreetly seeking out Mana's own. The boy was starting to get embarrassed by holding Mana's hand in public. He's getting to old for this kind of thing Mana figured. He let his hand rest on the seat where it was out of view. Allen gratefully laced their fingers together.
Mana could hear the circus before he could see it. The gentle breeze carried the joyful sounds of the pipe organ and the smell of fried food. The large city park had been transformed into a small city of brightly colored tents and lights. Banners and hand painted posters boasted amazing acts of skill and daring and warned the faint of heart to stay away from the freak show. Grotesque pictures advertised human displays like the Lizard Man, Block Head and the Tattooed Woman.
Allen stared in awe and forced Mana to drag him to the main ticket booth. "Um Hello…" Mana said to the garishly dressed man in the booth. "I'm a friend of Nicholas Fezeni… he said there would be tickets waiting for me…" He prayed they were there. If there were no tickets, he might not be able to afford it.
The man frowned and thumbed through the papers on his desk. "Friend of Nick huh?" He examined Mana. "You Walker?" He nodded yes. "Yeah Nicky said you might be showing up…" he passed him two tickets to the main show. A black 'N. F.' was written on the back. "Just show these to any vender and he'll let you into any of the shows… you can help yourself to the grub too…"
Allen squealed at the mention of food. The man leaned over the desk to peer at the boy before looking back to Mana. "… cute kid. Look, the Tattooed woman is an adults only show. Just letting ya know, so you don't have to go explaining a bunch of adult woman stuff to the kid…yeah, so have a good time, I'll let Nick know you're here. Ya probably won't be able to see him till after the show."
"That's fine. I'm sure we can find plenty of things to do until then. Come on Allen." They joined the bustling throng of people meandering along the midway. He took the boy's hand without protest. He figured Allen was a little unnerved by the crowd and didn't want to get separated. There was so much to see.
Allen pulled him over to the tent where the Amazing Blockhead was performing. A red coated promoter shouted about the one of a kind abilities and danger that awaited guests as they entered the tent. The poster showed a man with nails driven into his head. "Wanna see this first ok." Mana gave a nervous chuckle and showed the man his tickets. The promoter pulled back the cloth to let them enter and continued collecting money and tickets from the rest of the crowd.
It was startlingly dark in the tent making Mana stumble while his eyes adjusted. A low wooden stage had been constructed and lined with electric lights. They settled on one of the long benches in the audience. A spot light went on, bathing the stage in light; a man confidently walked out to the center, followed out by an assistant.
The Amazing Blockhead wore black pants and boots; he was nude from the waist up. His assistant, a shapely young lady, wore something that would be grossly inappropriate anywhere else. She pushed a cart. With a flourish the man took up a hammer and a long nail and displayed them to the audience.
"What's he gonna do with that Manah?" Allen whispered to him. Mana put a finger to his lips and pointed back to the stage. The Blockhead tilted his head back and positioned the nail at his nose. Everyone gasped in unison as he hammered the nail into his head.
For the next fifteen minutes, the Amazing Blockhead pounded nails into his head, pushed long thin needles through the meat of his arms and the skin of his chest, all the while he grinned and showed no sign of discomfort. The same could not be said for the audience; Mana worked hard to hold back his nausea. Allen sat wide eyed and applauded wildly.
As the performers took their bows, Mana rushed outside and breathed deeply of the fresh air hoping to settle his stomach. The rest of the crowd filed out and, with horror, he realized Allen wasn't by his side. He frantically scanned the crowd with no luck, then darted back into the tent. Relief washed through him. Allen was seated on the edge of the stage and talking with the Amazing Blockhead.
"Hey Manah. It's not a trick; he really does put nails up his nose!" Mana swallowed hard. The Blockhead grinned at him and waved. "I gotta go now… Bye Ernie!" Allen called as he ran to Mana's side. "That was really neat wasn't it Manah?"
"It made me a little sick…" Mana told him honestly.
Allen giggled. "I'm gonna learn how to do that just to gross you out…"
"You better not Allen. I mean it. You'll poke your brain or something." He mumbled.
"Let's get some food ok!" Mana blanched, how can he think of food after that?! He went to one of the food stands anyways. Allen jumped to look over the counter. "Mana, I want that."
Mana showed his ticket and ordered an elephant ear. "Do you even know what it is you ordered?" Allen shook his head.
"But I want it…it looks good."
Mana carried the treat to a nearby picnic table, pulled a piece free and handed it to Allen. He loved the buttered and fried dough; he liked it so much he pulled off his right glove to eat with his fingers. He licked the cinnamon and sugar off them. Mana gave in and tore off a piece for himself. Between the two of them, they finished off the entire elephant ear.
They spent another hour looking at the other sideshows. Mana did manage to sneak a look at the Tattooed Woman while she was on her break. She was bare save a girdle around her hips. It gave her a little bit of modesty. Her entire body was covered in colorful ink. He tried to make out all the images but it was difficult from the entrance where he was looking in.
"Wow… she's really pretty…" Mana started at the voice. Looking down he spied Allen.
"ALLEN!" Mana grabbed him by the collar and put his hand over his eyes. The Tattooed Woman saw him and laughed. Mana flushed bright red. She stood and walked over to the entrance, hips swaying seductively. He stared blankly and suddenly mortified averted his gaze. He tried to back out of the tent. Bare feet and legs appeared in his vision. A slender hand grabbed his shirt and pulled him inside.
Mana tried so hard not to stare, especially as she climbed up onto the low stage giving him a truly glorious view. His stomach fluttered. Since Allen came into his life, he never really had time to enjoy the fair sex to the extent he wanted, nor did he have any length of time alone. Three years of forced celibacy and a beautiful girl was revealed in all her glory right before him. He would have to have been made of stone to not be affected by it. It's been so long since I've been with a girl, since I've even seen a… is that a tattoo of a snail?
"Manaaah…" Allen whined and tried to move his hand from his eyes. The woman lounged on the couch that decorated the stage.
She gave a languid stretch that made Mana blush and rolled onto her stomach, obscuring her breasts. "Better?" she asked sweetly. "I have a shirt around here somewhere, if this is making you uncomfortable…"
It was. "Please, if you don't mind…" He averted his gaze while she dressed. When it was safe he released Allen. The boy fussed with his hair and mumbled something incoherent.
"So, you must be Mana… Nick hasn't shut up about you. I'm glad you dropped by to see us." She smiled and the patterns on her face changed. "This will be good for Nicky and Isabella; they've had a really rough time recently. I'll let him tell you about it, it's not my place. I just wanted to meet you and see what's so great about you… your kid?" She gestured to Allen.
"Yeah, this is Allen." As if on cue, Allen scrambled onto the stage and bowed. He kissed her tattooed hand. Even at such a young age, Allen was good at charming the ladies with his sweet and gentle demeanor. He's going to be trouble someday…
"Why hello, Allen! You are just precious… I'm Madeline, but you can call me Maddie… " Allen kept her hand and stared intently at the dark red roses that covered it. He traced them with an almost reverent awe. Maddie looked like she was used to such treatment. "It's alright, you can look… that's what they're there for…" she laughed, it was a musical sound.
"Red…" Allen whispered softly. He looked up hopefully at her; his brown eyes wide and pleading. "Are you like me?" he whispered. Oh God… this isn't good.
"What honey? I'm not sure I understand…"
"Allen…" Mana warned.
"Are you like me?" there was a hint of desperation in his voice that made Mana move closer. He was ready to intervene if necessary.
Allen hurriedly released her hand and pulled the top of his left glove down, exposing a strip of the dark red flesh. Her eyes widened. "Are you?" the boy looked ready to cry. "Please…"
"Ah honey… I'm sorry, I'm different…" she said gently as she took his hand in hers. Maddie slid the little glove half off making Allen whimper as half of his cross was exposed.
Mana couldn't watch this. "Stop." He ordered and placed his hands possessively on his son's shoulders. "Allen you don't have to do anything you don't want to. She doesn't have to see…" Maddie looked at him with respect and primly folded her hands in her lap.
"I'm sorry Mana, Allen. Honey, I just wanted to see. I mean, look at me; I'm different… I only wanted to know what makes you different too." Her voice was calm, soothing. Mana felt the boy's muscles relax at the apology.
"Ok."
What?! Allen stepped from his grasp. Using his teeth he pulled the glove off, shutting his eyes and waiting for the scream.
"Oh my…" she gasped. "Charlie! No guests! I'm still on break." She called out to the man stationed outside to collect tickets before returning her focus to Allen. "Well, just look at you…" Mana sat on the stage next to the boy; he was tired.
"How far up does this go?" She spoke like they were talking about the weather rather than a deformity. It's the sideshow; of course this kind of thing must be common.
"Go ahead Allen. This is all up to you; hell, you can show her if you'd like…" Excitement and worry fought for dominance on Allen's face.
The boy unbuttoned his shirt with trembling fingers and shrugged his left arm free. Maddie smiled as he held it out to her. She reached out to touch him, but paused, waiting for permission. "It's ok, it doesn't hurt." He said wiggling his fingers.
Maddie performed the same crude examination of the limb that Mana had done years before. She rubbed her hands over his arm as she spoke. "Allen… it's beautiful… It's not a port wine stain is it? No, I'm sure its not… its something different. I've seen a few with port wine stains before, but you don't have any of the usual structural deformities, just the color… such a perfect color too. Your arm is just beautiful."
Allen gave a soft sob and threw his arms around the surprised woman. Mana inched closer, his pants caught on the rough wood of the stage. He rubbed Allen's back. "You're the only person outside of my house that has seen Allen's… condition. Thank you. Thank you for just accepting him. He's had a … rough time because of it…"
She gazed at him intently, "He's not really yours, is he?"
"In all the ways that matter, I am his father."
"You're a good man. Allen would fit in great here ya know. You ever thing about joining the circus?" she said with a laugh. Mana just smirked. "We always need ticket takers… and Allen could have his own space here, learn to tumble, have his own act even… lots of travel."
"Thanks for the offer…um, I'll keep it in mind." Allen finally pulled away and fixed his shirt. Mana checked his watch, "Come on Allen, let's go find seats for the main show and let Maddie get back to work."
"Seriously though," she said as she walked them to the entrance of the tent. "If he ever needs a job… contact me. I have a lot of pull here, I'm doing the owner; I'll make sure your boy has a place." She tossed her hair, "Charlie! Send in the rubes!"
Mana and Allen threaded their way through the crowd to the red and white striped main tent. Wooden bleachers lined the fabric walls. Allen picked a seat near the center ring. The boy was being clingy, and he sat with his body flush to Mana's side. Mana draped an arm over his shoulders and gave him a reassuring squeeze.
"I just had to know. Hoped I wasn't the only one like this…" Allen stared at his hands clenched tightly in his lap.
Mana couldn't think of anything to say, what could I possibly say to make him better? Is there even any way to make this better? Luck interceded as the lights dimmed and a series of spot lights illuminated the circus ring.
The musicians on the side line struck up an energetic march and the ringmaster lead a parade of all the performers and the trained animals; sequins and feathers decorated the almost painfully colorful costumes of both humans and creatures. An elephant lumbered past with a Mac Brothers Circus banner draped across its back. The cheerful music of the pipe organ permeated the air and filled the audience with enthusiasm.
At the sight of the pair of muzzled tigers Allen was near beside himself with glee. Clowns somersaulted and tumbled comically while others juggled. Mana spotted Nick and Isabella near the back, they wore matching blue costumes that glittered under the lights. Isabella had feathers braided into her hair making her look like an elegant and exotic bird. She flipped, feet flying gracefully in the air while her hands never touched the ground. God, she is still amazing… Nicky is one lucky little bastard…
Act after act took the ring, each more amazing than the last. The elephant stood on its back legs and trumpeted so loudly that both Mana and Allen covered their ears. Clowns piled out into the ring and chased after the retreating elephant before turning their antics on each other.
"Look Manah! Tigers! Real live tigers!" Allen shouted. The tigers were old and worn animals, but Mana said nothing to disturb the boy's wonder. The trainer put the animals though a set of tricks as if they were over grown dogs. They balanced on chairs, tossed a ball back and forth and jumped through hoops.
The Flying Fezenis' act followed the tightrope walkers. Isabella did an amazing set of handsprings than took her to the center of the ring. Nick flipped as well, but being larger and heavier he was nowhere near the grace of his wife. They met in the center of the ring with their arms outstretched before sprinting to the ladders on either end. Their trapeze act was spectacular. Perched on the swinging bar, Isabella was a graceful bird and Nicolas a daring hawk. It was almost unreal how the couple moved through the air. Swinging, leaping and catching, they moved impossibly fast. The crowd didn't make a sound, watching with baited breath to see Nick's hands catch those of Isabella, gasping as one with each near miss and quick save. Mana didn't dare blink in fear of missing something. When the pair alighted on the ground to take their bows, the audience members jumped to their feet and cheered wildly.
There was another round with the clowns before the entire company emerged to take their final bows. Mana caught Nick's eyes. Nick looked surprised and nudged his wife. Even from the audience, Mana could see their smiles widen. Nice to know their happy to see me… He stayed seated as the rest of the crowd filed out into the slowly fading light of the afternoon.
Nick and Isabella rushed over. Up close he could see the pancake makeup they used, the patches where their costumes had to be repaired and smell the sweat from their performance. It really took some of the magic out of the circus.
"Mana? Is that you, Mana?" Isabella said breathlessly. Her Slavic accent was only barely perceivable; much better than what Mana remembered. She sweetly kissed both cheeks.
"Brother," Nick pulled him into an affectionate but brief embrace. "It's good to see you. I'm so glad you could make it!"
I wouldn't miss it; it's been far too long…" He put a hand on Allen's shoulder and steered him away from his hiding place behind Mana. "This is Allen… my son."
Isabella gave a triumphant laugh, "Nicolas, you owe me dinner! I told you he'd be married by now… and for a long time by the looks of the boy…" She bent to be eye level with Allen, "hello there little man, and did you like the show?" Allen nodded. "Oh good! That means we did our job well."
"Um… sorry Isabella. I'm not married…" He held up his left hand to show the lack of a wedding band.
"So we split dinner… Please, come back to our tent, we have so much to catch up on." Nick led the way them to the back of the large tent and through a winding maze of wagons and smaller tents that housed the performers and other circus personal. They stopped at a good sized tent with a set of chairs set about it. It seemed like a little patio.
There was sawdust coating the ground like a carpet. It made Mana's breath catch in his chest and forced him to cough hard. For a second he couldn't seem to get enough air into his lungs. He gasped and the sudden tightness in his chest released; gratefully he sucked air into his lungs. Damn… stupid dust, stupid sawdust…
"You ok? The sawdust tends to get to some people… guess you're one of them." Nick slapped his back a couple of times. Mana settled into one of the chairs; Allen climbed into his lap and he folded his arms over the little body. He grimaced with the knowledge that Allen's weight was going to cause one or both of his legs to fall asleep.
He waited while the couple changed from their costumes into more reasonable clothes. Soon they were all seated outside the tent and chatting about everything. Nick and Isabella had traveled all over the continent performing in three different circuses. They were making better money with this one. Mana told them about work, about Marie, the café and Allen's adoption.
Isabella coaxed Allen off of Mana's lap. She was wearing slacks, which Mana found surprisingly attractive on a woman, and was teaching Allen how to do handsprings. Both Mana and Nick had to pause in their conversation to watch her do a back bend.
Nick laughed, "Stop eyeing my woman…"
Mana cocked an eyebrow, "she was almost my woman if I recall… little Nicky." They had competed viciously to gain her favor. Their friendship was almost destroyed by it.
"Yeah, almost…" Nick was smirking. Mana felt a pang of jealousy; Nick had a beautiful wife and an exciting job that took him to exotic places and what did he have; a small apartment, a taxed relationship and a child who was… different.
"Hey, you won her fair and square. You're the better man, little brother." They had called each other brother since their first meeting. The difference in their ages and constant companionship made them feel as if they were truly related. It filled some sort of need for a family that both needed at the University.
"God, she's still as beautiful as when I married her…" Nick said softly as they watched the woman play with Allen. The boy did a successful handspring and Isabella clapped, heaping praise on him. Even from where they sat, Mana could see Allen blush. The strong woman lifted the boy with ease and spun him around. They were both laughing.
"She miscarried this year." Nick was looking at the ground. Mana was stunned as Nick continued. "This was the fourth time… I just can't figure it out. Each time we stop performing as soon as we learn she's pregnant. She eats well… we do everything right, but each time she loses it…"
"Nick… I'm so sorry." Mana wished he could think of more to say to comfort the man.
"She wants a child so badly. Each time, she's inconsolable and it just kills me to see her so upset. Look at her out there, she's having so much fun… the last one was far enough along that… it just looked like he, it was a boy, was sleeping."
"God Nick, I'm so sorry…" Mana felt guilty, he found his child but here where his friends who wanted a child and couldn't have one.
Allen came rushing over to where they sat. "Isabella taught me how do flips and stuff! She's really neat too… she wears pants like a man does!"
"I couldn't do that kind of thing in a skirt" she said with a cheerful laugh. When she noticed the morose expression of her husband she bent and kissed him quickly. He brightened a bit at the gesture.
"Allen is a wonderful boy…" the woman said with a sigh, "Talented in tumbling too."
"Yeah, but he tends to get lost if you leave him by himself. It's a good thing that you showed him how to land; he's always falling down or running into things… aren't you?" Mana ruffled his son's hair.
"That's not funny Mana…" Allen pouted and Isabella swooped down and picked him up.
"Would you ever consider letting Allen travel with us sometime? Maybe during the summer or fall, if it won't interfere with his schooling; I promise he'll be well taken care of and you can have some time to yourself…" Isabella sat cross-legged on the ground with the boy snuggled in her lap. She played with strands of his hair; like brown silk running through her fingers.
"Isabelle!" Nick snapped at the woman, "You can ask that of him. We haven't seen him in over ten years and here you are asking him to let you borrow his kid! It's not appropriate…" He turned to Mana, "sorry about that, sometimes she… well…"
"Its fine, I'm not offended or anything. It may be good for him, not right now but maybe in a couple of years." He looked over to Allen, who was completely enjoying the attention he was receiving; it made him smile. As attached as Marie was to him, she was still rather distant to the boy. He made her uncomfortable but she never complained about having to share Mana with him.
"Actually, there was something I wanted to ask of you two," Mana paused wondering if this was the right thing to do. "You are my best friends and I thought about this long and hard; I want you to be Allen's godparents, if that's alright with you."
"We love to!" Isabella shouted quickly, as if Mana would change his mind if she hesitated.
"Thank you, I trust you both and I couldn't think of anyone else I'd want to be a part of Allen's life. I'm glad to know that if I was ever unable to care for him, that he would go to a family who would love him like he was their own." The boy in question had dozed off in his newly appointed godmother's lap, bored by the adult talk.
Mana was glad he asked them, the subject had weighed heavily on him as his birthday approached. He wasn't going to be around forever, neither was Rivka. Nick and Isabella were young, healthy and they would take care of the boy, just in case. With that taken care of, Mana was able to relax fully and enjoy the evening. This was a wonderful birthday.