Chapter 3 The things people do to pay the school tax

The world was a very dark and cold place for a lonely two-year-old without a home. However, he did know where he was going, and that was important. He headed straight for the employment office.

A fat woman with too much lipstick sat at the frot desk. "May I heeeeeeelp you?" she wheezed. She had obviously been smoking. Smokers always wheeze.

"Yes, do you have any job openings for a two-year-old with limited experience, a deformed face, and a knack for music?" Erik asked.

"Uh-huh, buddy-boy, we sure do. The freak show is looking for just such a person. Report at noon to Mr. Seedy's Meretricious Carnival."

Erik didn't want to be in a freak show, but sometimes one has to do what they have to do to pay the bills –not to mention the public school tax- so he accepted.

At noon he trudged to Mr. Seedy's. A big man in a yellow and red checkered tux met him.

"So, yer the freak kid with musical abilities?" the man asked.

"Y, yes." Erik stammered.

"I'm Mr. Seedy. Call me Uncle. Now, let's see if you're ugly enough."

Uncle Seedy led Erik into a tent. There the big man took of Erik's mask and inspected his face. "Yup, yer a sicko." Uncle Seedy said, "Go to cage nine and act gross. Then everyone will through things at you and my assistant and chief-assistant will slap you around for a good five minutes. Any questions?"

"Um, yeah, how much is pay?" Erik asked, not liking the sound of the job at all.

"Well, who's your parents?" Uncle Seedy asked.

"Mr. and Mrs. Edlik of Rue Poo Avenue."

"Uh-huh, well, since you're a minor your parents get the pay. You get... nothing. To the cages."

"But, if I get nothing then I don't want the job!" Erik stated.

"You're getting to be a big boy now. You should know that life isn't just about what you want. Life is about what big people who push worthless little people like you around want." Uncle Seedy said, breathing garlic breath on Erik's face, "Get to the cages or I'll send for my assistants."

Uncle Seedy gestured to two men with clubs.

Erik decided to go to the cage.