Later in the evening, lights were glowing in the sky as many visitors entered the big top to watch the acts. The stars glittered like diamonds in the dark sky and the place was beamed with excitement. All the performers, clowns, and animals were getting ready for their acts.
Inside one of the private train cars of the star attractions, Sandy and her friends were getting ready at their vanity tables, applying on makeup and jewelry, and pulling on their costumes.
The blonde sat at her vanity and was dressed in her usual orange leotard costume and was applying on her red lipstick. She looked around to see Rosie pulling on her costume behind a dressing screen and Paige sat at her vanity in her blue bathrobe and pulled her short hair up in a bun. Sandy admitted it was nice to have friends be in the same room with her to dress up, talk, and get ready together.
"This is going to be some event," Sandy said, applying blush to her cheeks. Esther came in and helped with the costumes.
"How's it going dears?" asked Esther.
"We're doing well Mrs. Larkin," said Rosie, popping her head from behind her dressing screen.
"Doing great thanks," added Sandy, putting on her earrings.
Paige stood up from her vanity, completed with her hair and makeup. She walked to her closet and opened the doors to look for her costume. But she stood there, not moving a muscle. She spun around with her hazel eyes filled with anxiety.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed. "My costume is gone! I thought it was in the closet! I'm doomed!"
"I have it right here sweetheart," Esther said, holding up the girl's costume. It was a strapless navy blue color with a translucent skirt and sky blue trimming on the neckline.
"Oh, thank you Mama." Paige said, giving a sigh of relief and placing a hand to her pounding heart.
"Don't worry, I noticed there was a rip so I sewed it up, and you're good to go."
"Thank you again."
The petite brunette smiled. She gratefully took the costume from her mother and headed to her dressing screen. She removed her robe and hanged it up. She pulled on her costume and slipped it on. Her hands reached to the back to zip it up, but the zipper would not budge and she struggled.
"Mama can you help me with my costume?" Paige asked.
"Of course, Paige," Esther replied.
The woman stood behind her daughter and helped pull the zipper up gently. Paige turned back to her mother and smiled.
"Thank you Mama."
"You're welcome, darling," Esther said, kissing her daughter on the cheek. "Showtime will be starting soon, so good luck to you dears."
"Thank you, Mrs. Larkin," said Sandy.
Rosie came out from behind her dressing screen and was indeed ready. The woman was dressed in a green top with small sleeves that exposed her midriff and a translucent skirt, gold stud earrings, a yellow choker, grey tights, and green slippers. Her black hair was curled up and pulled in the back with a gold ribbon.
Paige headed back to her vanity and placed on silver stud earrings, a light blue choker, her headband, and blue slippers. She came over and pulled out her sky blue parasol. Sandy gave a nod and they headed out of the private car. Dumbo and Timothy arrived and were ready as ever for the show, with Dumbo wearing a pilot's hat and goggles with his yellow and red ruffled clown collar around his neck and Timothy dressed in a blue coat with gold trimming, and his hat was the same color.
Sandy knelt down to her knees, and smiled petting Dumbo's head, "I see you're all set for your act, huh, Dumbo and Timothy?"
"Yes, Sandy," the calf said.
"You said it Sandy," Timothy added. "Dumbo's act with Samson the gorilla is ready. We've been practicin' a lot, and we got it down good."
"Yep, it's gonna be fun!" Dumbo added.
They continued their walk and headed towards the animal tent. Rosie stood a few feet away looking at her horses as they were nibbling on hay. The horses included, a palomino, a brown and white appaloosa, a white albino with black stockings on his legs, and a strawberry roan. They were Rosie's favorite horses and she managed to adopt them to train and care for them as if they were her own.
"Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring," Rosie commanded, holding out her hand to the horses. The horses perked their heads up and they each trotted over to their mistress. Summer went first, Autumn came next, Winter after, and Spring came last. They stopped and lined up in a horizontal row.
Sandy and Paige came up and petted the horses. Dumbo walked up with Timothy in his hat, the calf reached up to pet Spring's muzzle and the mare neighed gently.
"Nice meeting you," said Dumbo.
"Thank you, little one," Spring replied.
Paige came up to Autumn and held out an apple in her palm. The appaloosa reached over and ate the fruit, nickering in satisfaction. Paige smiled as the soft muzzle smothered her palm, and she gently petted his head.
Sandy walked towards Winter, and stroked the gelding's head. She leaned her forehead onto the horse's forehead and smiled. Winter smiled at the gentle moment from the human.
"You're a kind soul Sandy," Winter replied in his tenor voice.
"Thank you Winter," the blonde said. "You're very beautiful and have such wonderful grace."
"Thanks."
The girls continued to groom the horses. In the meantime, Paige did some stretching of her legs to prepare her walk on the tightrope and all was quiet in the tent.
"Good evening girls," a voice said.
The girls turned back and watched Roy entering the animal tent. The man looked over and examined Rosie carefully, and was awestruck by her beauty.
"How are Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring?" he asked.
"It looks like they're doing just fine," Rosie said.
"I'll help you groom them, and maybe decorate them."
"I'd like that very much please."
Rosie headed over to a chest and pulled out gold and green glittering tassels and twisted them into the mane of Winter. Paige decorated Spring with flowers, and Autumn had his mane decorated in leaves the colors of red and gold. While the girls continued to decorate Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Roy was checking over Summer to examine her teeth, patted down her legs and sides. He gave a nod, looking back at the woman combing her mare's mane with a comb.
"Ya know something Rosie, I like to know why you named each of your horses after the seasons?"
Rosie gave a smile, and stroked Summer's forehead, looking at Roy.
"Well, I just felt the seasons match their personalities and their colors, so I felt that each season gives them a special meaning."
"Well, either way, I think they suit them just well," Roy said smiling. "Just as your name suits you."
The two gave each other warm smiles. Chemistry began to build the two as they inched closer to each other. They looked fondly at each other as they inched closer. But their moment was interrupted when a whistle was blow in the distance, with the announcer calling, "Performers to the spec-line, performers to the spec-line!"
"Oh it's time!" Sandy said. "Everyone ready?"
"Yep," Paige said.
Rosie nodded and walked towards Summer, and took her lead rope, and gently pulled, and commanded, "Walk on!" The horses followed her to the big top. "Autumn, move up."
She took a quick look back, and gave an apologetic look to Roy. Roy nodded in understanding. Everyone began to make their way towards the big top, ready to make a memorable performance.
Hello fellow readers, I apologize for the delay of the story. I have been busy with my schoolwork and TEAS exam, and I got accepted into a school for Veterinary Technician, though I'll have to make two choices on what I want to do with my life. Enjoy this story, and I'll post more and the Great Mouse Detective soon. Thank you.
