IF LOVE WERE A FLOWER

The King is Dead - Long Live the King (cont.)

The audience noticed the change in the park immediately. Erik's mood showed in his shows and in the additions to the various attractions he had build. He actually liked what he was doing now because he was doing it for his family - and not only for them but with them. His assistant on the stage was Meg in most shows and she was still his lead dancer - he even made sure to add real ballet music and real ballet at least for a few minutes to the shows so she could show what she really could do. Who said entertainment seeking audience wouldn't like classical music and classical ballet if it wasn't for hours but for three to maximum five minutes?

And Tony loved what he was doing. He loved sitting in his wooden cage in Erik's office when Erik was doing paperwork. Tony would sit in his cage and do paperwork too - in his case he tried to copy something his father gave him. Erik used this to teach the child to write by letting him copy some papers or even newspaper articles. When Erik was discussing with the bookkeepers he had Tony with him, Tony too got some "bookkeeping" to do to teach him maths. Tony's "bookkeeping" was just Erik giving him a handful of coins letting the child count them and take the number down. Or he let Tony count his pencils or something unimportant. But Tony was convinced he was doing the same work as his father and was very proud of himself. Erik spend some hours with his child each day and he found that he loved it. He loved every minute, he loved when Tony finally was able to count to ten, later to twenty, when Tony proudly informed him that he had 87 Cents in his purse or seven pencils on his desk, one of them nearly used up.

Erik began to love the applause and the admiration he got from the audience. People loved him, especially children and women loved the masked magician. When he went though the park, they would not point or stare rudely but in admiration, they marveled at his genius for creating such formidable automatons. And when Tony was playing in the "Men's playground" he usually pointed out to other boys that "this is MY daddy!" and Erik felt like he would burst with pride whenever Tony called him daddy.

Soon he realized that Tony himself became some sort of attraction when the child was riding the old mare. Tony was sitting on the horse and playing with the lasso while Squelch led the mare by the reins. Before summer Tony could ride alone without any help, tiny as he was, on the old mare and he proved himself skillful with the lasso.

The audience applauded him when he showed his little tricks and Tony was happy. He was four years old and already a magician like his father showing rope-tricks Erik had taught him. The additional fun for the audience was that they never knew when the child would appear where in the park to show a few tricks before he rode away again. Especially the ladies loved the boy.

And suddenly there was something else between Erik and Meg on stage. There was more than just the playact flirting to capture the audience, there was something very real when they bowed to the applause and Erik kissed her hand or when she proudly cheered for him when he did a dangerous trick. There was a genuine warmth between them that just could not be faked.

Meg was simply happy. Now that the worst pressure was gone Erik turned out to be an acceptable husband. He expected to be served by the women in his household but that was his right as a man but now his mood was much lighter and he managed to stay away from any drugs, alcohol and smoking. Instead he preferred mild herbal tea that helped him relax: a tea made from valerian, balm leaves, passion flower herb and peppermint leaves. Quite harmless. Meg suspected the tea to have no other effect than any other hot tea, but as long as he didn't try something stronger, there was no problem.


It was a wonderful summer evening when Meg went along the beach. She saw Tony riding the old mare, doing his rope tricks while Squelch and Irene were busy collecting the coins from the audience who appreciated to see the child doing his tricks. The rope tricks were simple but since they were presented by a small child on a large horse they were spectacular enough for the people to amuse them.

Meg smiled proudly. Her child, Tony, was certainly coming after his father. Such a talented, clever child! A genius! Never had there been a more talented child! He surely would become the greatest artist in the world - a stunt rider, a circus artist, a musician, a writer, a painter and whatever else he wanted to be.

Then she saw something. Erik was there too, almost hidden in the long shadow of the generator building. He stood there, dressed in his light grey suit, almost silver, with the white mask and his black wig. When she approached him, she saw what he was doing: He silently put up white lilacs. Seven white lilacs.

"Erik?" Meg said softly.

He looked up sadly. "I just watched Tony. He's good, isn't he? In a few years he'll surpass me with ease," Erik replied, trying to distract himself from the task at hand.

"I've seen him. And now I see what you are doing."

He sighed. "I wish... I could undo it. I'm free from the law, but not... not from... knowing. This morning Tony asked why there are flowers and candles here at the generator. I... told him it was a terrible accident that cost seven men their lives..." he trailed off, swallowing hard, trying to contain his tears. "I had to lie to my son." That he had to lie to his child troubled him deeply. He sighed and touched the wall as if he could somehow talk to the souls of the dead men through it.

Erik stood there, leaning against the wall with both hands as if he was just tired after a long workday in summer, but Meg knew better. It was the anniversary of his terrible crime. She had already put up flowers and candles for she knew no one else would remember these men and they deserved that at least someone remembered them eventually. And now Erik had put up white lilacs. "Forgive me," he mumbled, "Have mercy on my soul. One day, when Tony is old enough, I'll tell him the truth. I can only hope he won't disown me then."

"You could do something to honor their names," Meg suggested, "Maybe found a charity helping immigrants?"

Erik's head snapped to the side so he could see her. He stared at her for a long moment, considering what she had just said. Then his glance drifted to where Tony turned his horse and left, he was done with his surprise show and urged the mare to a slow trod - she wouldn't go faster - to leave. Squelch ran after him, the strongman was his bodyguard for now and most likely his best riding teacher.

"The orphanage. I could take over financing the orphanage," he whispered, "Children are the future."

"And stop exploiting them as workers in the textile factory?" Meg asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well... the factory has been closed down, but I guess I could buy it quite cheap since the previous owner is in jail. I don't think learning to work will do the children harm, but... I'll add a school. The children should go to school and in the factory they shouldn't be exploited but learn something so when they are grown up they have the necessary skills to support themselves. All the money the factory makes is to go to the children. Is that fair?"

"Well... better than before, I guess," Meg sighed slightly annoyed that he still considered his own profit before thinking of someone else even when he wanted to do something good.

"I cannot do more at this moment," he replied, understanding her better than he cared to admit that moment, "But if the park brings in as much as it does now, maybe in a few years I will be able to finance a scholarship for gifted orphans. Until then, all I can do is using the money from the factory to finance a school for them."

"And how do you buy the factory?" Meg asked, "Another loan?"

He shook his head with a weary smile. The blonde woman wasn't stupid, certainly not. She knew perfectly well what he was planning to do. "Actually... yes and no. I have a bit money for the renovation of the block of flats where we live, you know, I promised bathrooms, toilets and electric light. The factory is quite cheap and we would have to wait only few years longer..." he replied with a sheepish smile.

"Mr. Erik Y, you are the most vile scoundrel!" Meg scolded him, "So the price for your 'good deed' won't be paid by you but by me, mother and everyone else who trusts you!"

"I'm just a charlatan playing the generous benefactor," he replied, "but to these children it won't make much difference - if they are treated well and can attend to school they are better off than before, better off than most working class children in fact." Meg was silent for she knew he was right. Children had to work six to twelve hours a day as soon as they were able to stand on their own feet. So if Erik would use all the money the factory made to finance not only the survival of the orphans but a school for them too then they were really better off than the average working class child. And he would gain nothing form this, but he wouldn't pay anything either! Did he ever intend to pay one Cent to the Vicomte? Obviously Erik didn't consider that debt as a loan he had to pay back eventually.


In September Mr. Singer asked Erik if he wanted to come to the meeting of the businessmen of Coney Island.

"I thought they don't want to have me?" he asked, surprised by the invitation.

"You are the one who took down Bruno Riccy - they are scared of you and don't dare oppose you any longer," Singer informed him, "They asked me to give you their humble apology and most friendly invitation to the next meeting."

"I did nothing to threaten them!" Erik defended himself, "You know this!"

Singer laughed. "I know. And if I had known you'd be the one to take down the Boss I'd have given you the variety for free! You finally avenged all those poor men, women and children! But now... well, the other businessmen have a request. They want you to offer your services as security firm."

Erik's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. "Why?" he asked. He had done nothing, certainly nothing, that they would want to pay him protection money. "This is a misunderstanding! I didn't take Riccy down to replace him, I... I just want to be left in peace!"

Singer laughed even harder. "O my. No! You have guards who keep thieves, beggars and all that scum away that troubles the paying customers. But since you are so very successful in driving them away they tend to gather in the other parks now like grasshoppers. The other businessmen cannot find guards who can deal with them - you already have the guards previously employed by Riccy."

Now Erik too couldn't help laughing. It was just too funny. He had not done anything to get this, he didn't even want this, but then - a security firm isn't something bad, is it? An honest business and he had the knowledge and the men to provide protection like Riccy had done before. Surely the guards in his employ would soon call their friends from the boxing club if he offered jobs. And then he could make some extra money with his security firm providing guards and maybe even more. Being paranoid had its advantage: he was one of the best men to keep unwanted visitors away.

"I accept," he replied with a grin, "Come, Mr. Singer, I want you to witness all these haughty men apologizing to the freak!" What good is a triumph if there are no witnesses to it? And Singer was his consultant and - much to his own dismay - Erik had to admit that he needed him. The park had grown too much, he just could not do all the administration alone, he couldn't even oversee all of the administration done by bookkeepers and secretaries.


Erik went to the meeting together with Mr. Singer and Meg. Women weren't allowed at business meetings but Erik had decided to show off how he had cowed the other men without even trying.

They were greeted with exceptional politeness and immediately someone rushed to bring a chair for Erik - he had gentlemanly offered his seat to Meg - when servants came to offer refreshments and food. They were treated like royalty now and when they were discussing how to make the situation on Coney Island better for all of them Erik's suggestions were taken as seriously as everyone else's. They even managed to pretend to overlook the mask, only secretly staring when they thought neither Erik nor Meg would see it, wondering if this was really the freak they had known years ago. Could it really be the almost dump half-gargoyle, the shameless half-demon turned himself into a sophisticated businessman with good behavior? Was it possible the French dancing girl turned herself into a lady? Their transformation was almost unbelievable.

But of course as they left the others were certainly talking about them behind their backs. What kind of harlot would want a freak like that in her bed? She really must have the strangest tastes!

Erik sighed as he steered the old mare through the nightly traffic. "Does this city never sleep?" he groaned as another cart blocked his path. He had hoped that late at night it would be easier to drive the carriage.

"I don't care," Meg replied happily, "You were wonderful tonight."

"Ahem... don't mind me..." Singer reminded them that they were not alone in the open carriage. He was highly uncomfortable with the married couple flirting. Frenchmen, he thought, they have a different culture. They tend to show their feelings far too openly.

But that didn't spoil Erik's or Meg's mood. They were happy and felt like king and queen of New York now that they finally - finally! - had managed to build up a life for themselves, for their child, and found acceptance in a certain social group that was certainly not at the bottom of society but more or less honorable businessmen. Not the high society, the really rich men, but certainly way above the poor masses. Somewhere upper middle class, but that was enough for them. It was much more than they had ever dared to hope for when they arrived.

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Things are ooking much better for Erik and his family now.

Next chapter will be up next week.