Chapter five: Finding curiosities-Come alive

The next day, Buzz set out to the countryside, stumbling upon a small house. He knocked twice on the door and a woman opened it.

"Good morning, you must be Bonnie Anderson. Buzz said. I'm looking for your son." The woman, Bonnie, looked at him.

"I don't have a son, Mr. Lightyear." Bonnie said. She began to shut the door when Buzz stopped it.

"Not according to the hospital record. Mason, age twenty two, is that right?" Bonnie looked at the paper in his hand, and sighed. She allowed him inside and went to knock on a closed door.

"Mason, there's a man here to see you." The door opened and Buzz saw the same young man he remembered from the bank.

"Barnabas Lightyear at your service. Buzz said, extending his hand for Mason to shake it. I'm putting on a show, and I need a star."

"You want people to laugh at me." Mason said quietly.

"Well they're laughing now, kid, might as well get paid for it." Mason rolled his eyes, turned, and closed the door to his bedroom. Buzz cursed to himself, moved to get up, and stepped down on something. Picking it up, he saw it was a toy soldier. That gave him an idea. "I see a soldier in you, nay. A general, riding across the stage in the most amazing uniform ever seen." The door slowly opened and Mason peered out. "People will come from near and far, and when they see him, they won't laugh, they will salute." This made Mason smile wide, making Buzz smile as well.

"Wanted! Unique persons, Curiosities!" Buzz shouted in the square that afternoon. "Daring acts, wonders of the world! Come one, come all!" He enlisted the help of his daughters to put up banners and posters. "Looking great, girls!" They put up the last few flyers when someone shouted behind them.

"Hey, I know where you can find a freak!" A worker said. The man gave them an address and they walked down the street to a small shop. They heard the most amazing sound coming from inside, the glorious sound of a woman singing. Buzz took both his daughters hands and went inside. A woman stopped him immediately.

"Sir, I'm sorry, you can't be here." The woman said.

"Who is that singing?" Buzz asked. He looked over and saw another woman hiding behind a sheet. "It's you, isn't it? So talented, blessed..." He pulled back the sheet and saw a woman, but with the beard of a man. It was an amazing sight. "Extraordinary, unique, I would even say beautiful." The other women burst into laughter. The bearded woman lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Please sir, you need to leave. She said. Please, just leave me alone."

"They don't understand, but they will. Trust me." Evelyn handed her a flyer. Eventually, others heard about the show and came to Buzz to show off their talents. First ones were a pair of African American siblings. The girl had long dark brown hair and the boy had short black hair. "Callie and William Walker, brother and sister."

"That's right." Callie said.

"And what do you do?"

"Trapeze."

"Terrific."

"Sir, you know, a lot of people aren't going to like it if you put us on stage." William said.

"Oh, I'm counting on it." Next up, was a young man covered from head to toe in tattoos. Buzz gasped. "So this is all..."

"All over my body, yes." The man said.

"Fantastic. I don't need to see it." Buzz said. Tattoo man. Next was another young man with fur all over his face and hands. He was called Dog boy. Another gentleman came up, a bit on the heavier side. "May I ask how heavy you are sir, do you have a number for that?"

"I prefer not to say." The overweight man said.

"Between you and me then." The man leaned in towards Buzz.

"Five hundred pounds."

"Seven hundred and fifty pounds? Is that what you said? World's heaviest man!" The last man that came in, Buzz had to stand on his chair to see his face because he was so tall. "What is your name sir?"

"Vladimir Petrov."

"Yeah I think we're gonna change that. I think you're Irish. The Irish giant! We have a show!

Posters went up everywhere: carriages, sides of buildings, trolleys, everywhere to get the word out about Barnbas's American Museum. People actually bought tickets and filled the seats Buzz looked on proud as the first show was about to begin.

You stumble through your days, got your head hung low

Your skies a shade of grey. Like a zombie in a maze

you're asleep inside, but you can't shake away

He walks inside the museum and starts to take off his jacket, putting on a fire red and gold ringmaster jacket, with a top hat and cane. He goes over to his crew and begins to help them get ready, stuffing a pillow into Lenny, the overweight man's shirt, handing a sword to Mason, and handing a fan to Paula, the bearded lady. He puts a belt around Vladimir, newly named Seamus, to make him even taller. When he stands up, he struggles. Everyone goes to help him, but gets pushed out to the center of the ring. All the curiosites look around at the faces in the crowd, staring back at them. People are shocked at the sight of them. The curiosites don't know what to do. Paula stands against the curtain, scared to death.

"Paula, come on. They're waiting." Buzz said.

Waiting for what?" Paula said.

"Waiting for you. They are going to love you, trust me." He leads her out into the open. Buzz turns and sees Mason fumbling with his buttons on his uniform. "Mason, you have to get up." Buzz puts him on a white horse and sings.

I see it in your eyes. You believe that lie

that you need to hide your face

As Buzz is singing, kids' faces light up at the sight of Paula and Lenny. They are amazed by them. Lenny smiles big and puffs out his chest. Paula gives a little smile.

Afraid to step outside, so you lock the door

But don't you stay that way

Buzz hits the back of the horse and the horse runs out into the ring with Mason laughing on his back

Paula: No more living in those shadows, you and me, we know how that goes.

Lenny: Cause once you see it, oh you'll never, never be the same

Mason begins to enjoy himself, takes two toy guns out of his pockets and shoots them off. Buzz smiles and continues singing.

Buzz: You can prove there's more to you, you cannot be afraid. The lights dim, and soon enough, everyone comes out, Buzz leading the pack.

Come alive, come alive

Go and light your light, let it burn so bright

reaching up, to the sky

and it's open wide, you're electrified

Everyone is dancing on the floor, doing their tricks while Callie and William fly high above on the trapeze.

And the world becomes a fantasy, and you're more than you can ever be

cause you're dreaming with your eyes wide open

And we know we can't go back again, to the world that we were living in,

cause we're dreaming with our eyes wide open

so come alive!

"Welcome one and all, to the Lightyear Museum!" Buzz said, laughing as the show continued behind him. People jumped out of their seats, amazed, delighted, and overjoyed with laughter. They loved it!