[A/N] While I was thinking about what to write between publishing chapters of my main story, I came up with this quick little idea. If you can't guess by the first line, this takes place on the same day as Flying Circus. For this one I wanted to show how deep things went with the llama and his show. I hope you enjoy this very short chapter.


Chapter 14 - Pay Day

"Thank you, one and all, for coming to see the show!" A tall llama declared loudly in a bright red overcoat. He swung a crystal topped baton through the air as he placed his faded top hat down on a long table that stood before him. "Me and the ten thousand performers want to thank you for all of your support of Manny's Flying Circus."

The voice that had boomed across the open air market only moments before, now seemed to dwindle and die as the crowd began to slow disperse. A few young mammals plopped various coins and bills into the tall hat before they wandered away. One adult ram even placed a sizable sum into the old hat before he ushered his lambs towards more interesting parts of the market.

While the spectators were thanking him for the show and leaving tips, Manny began to pack up his tiny circus. He first collected the plastic model train car and shoved it into one of the many pockets in his long, red coat. Next, he collected the pawcrafted, model motorbike and canine collar which also disappeared into other pockets. A miniature cannon was the next item to quickly vanish from the table.

As the llama was folding the trapeze wires until they lay flat on the table, a young goat kid approached with a tall, yet empty glass. The kid gave the glass a quick glance before he extended a hoof towards the llama. "Here is your glass back mister." He then curled the fingers on his outstretched hoof and opened them again quickly.

"Thanks for the help, son," Manny replied cheerfully as he placed a twenty in the kid's palm.

Once the twenty had vanished into the kid's own pocket, he passed the glass to the gaudy ringmaster and walked into the nearby alley. "Thanks, mister," he said without so much as a wave.

Back behind the table again, Manny glanced around the thinning crowd to make sure no other mammals were watching. When he was sure that no eyes were pointed in his direction, he knocked on a small square on the side of the table and held open another pocket. After several seconds had passed, a tiny drawer popped open. Two white mice quickly jumped from the drawer into the open pocket.

"Very good job, as always, you two," the llama whispered as he seemed to bend over to examine the circus stage.

"It's our pleasure," came a high pitched squeak from the pocket of the llama's red jacket.

"Today's show was so much fun," another tiny voice squeaked.

"Yeah, the addition of the milk glass was such a great idea," the first voice said before it was followed by a loud burp. "Excuse me."

"Ralph!" the second voice exclaimed. "That is so disgusting."

One of the ringmaster's pockets jiggled violently for a second. "Ouch!"

"Don't ever do that in front of me again. Old milk breath smells terrible."

"Yes, dear," the first voice replied, sounding only slightly ashamed.

Manny ignored the rest of the mice's conversation as he reached for the now slightly heavier hat that sat on the edge of the circus stage. As he shook the hat and listened happily to the sounds it made, a pair of lynx stepped out of the nearby alley and strolled casually towards the ringmaster.

Another shake, and the llama's eyes grew wide with excitement. "Another haul like today and you guys can go on that honeymoon you always wanted."

"Really?" The pocket seemed to sniffle and shake slightly.

"Yes, today's crowd was the biggest one I have seen yet," Manny patted gently at his pocket. "I am really going to miss you guys once you're gone."

"It will only be for two weeks, Manny," Ralph reassured. "Janzine has always wanted to go to the tropics and sleep in one of those edible coconut motels, but we could never stay away forever."

"This job is just too much fun!" Janzine exclaimed as the jacket pocket jumped.

Before any of the circus animals could speak further, a large lynx in a tight fitting tuskball jersey and a gold chain hanging from his neck walked around behind the table. Following closely behind was a shorter and very skinny lynx wearing a black hoodie.

"Gatolli mad," said the larger of felines calmly like he was describing the color of the sky. Despite his outward demeanor, his fist slammed forcefully into the table, smashing a small glass dish.

"Hey, guys," Manny stuttered and backed away from the two tough looking cats. "It's so nice seeing both of you again." He clutched the tophat full of change closely to his chest and as far out of their reach as possible.

"You miss payment again," the large thug said again in a tone so flat that a mammal could ice skate on it. He then punched a fist into his palm, "Gatolli tell us to get payment or we can break a circus sheep."

"I'm not a sheep," the gaudy llama huffed indignantly.

"Whatcha got there in that hat, ringmaster?" The skinny lynx asked snidely as he pointed to something green sticking up from the faded, black tophat clenched tightly to the llama's chest. "That sure looks like money, Hank. Take the hat from him."

Quicker than would have been expected from the slow witted lynx, Hank snatched the tall hat from the terrified ringmaster before he could protest. Looking into the bottom of the tophat he whistled, "This a lot of money, Sam."

"Hey, wait," Manny said, reaching for the absconded head covering. "Gatolli agreed on only twenty percent."

Hank turned and held a clenched fist in front of the llama's nose.

"Consider it interest for the late payments, circus mammal," Sam remarked with a heavy snicker.

"And if I call out for those two cops that were watching the show?" Manny asked resolutely with both arms folded across his chest.

A loud chuckle escaped the thinner lynx's muzzle. "Don't make me laugh. We both know that the feds would have you on a slow boat south before they would ever help a mammal like you."

Arms still crossed over his chest, Manny raised his nose and scoffed at the hooded lynx's comment.

"Gatolli tolerates you, only because you make him laugh, and you bring in a great crowd on the weekends."

Hank pulled a huge fist full of coins and bills out of the hat and shoved them into his pant's pockets. Once all the money had been removed he tried to scrunch the hat into a tight ball but it kept popping back into shape like magic. After several moments of trying to crush the hat, he simply tossed it at the feet of the gaudy llama.

Snickering, Sam headed back towards the alley where he had arrived from earlier. Hank followed his shorter companion while his pants continued to jingle. They both stopped to inspect the nearest vendor's table like normal market browsers before vanishing down the alley. Neither of them ever saw the overly excitable bunny and her smarmy fox partner who had taken interest in their recent activities.

Back at the miniature circus display, Manny had fallen into a nearby chair with a grateful sigh. He waved the faded but still very springy hat in front of his face. Flicking a tiny switch inside the brim caused the hat to retract until it was nothing more than a large, flat circle that made for a very useful fan.

Manny fanned the sweat from his brown while a pair of mice climbed out of their secret pocket and into his lap. One of the mice ran to the edge of his knee and swung a tiny fist at the retreating felines while uttering curses in their direction.

"It's alright," Janzine tried to calm the much larger mammal. "Our trip can wait a few more weeks."

"But it will be winter here in the Meadowlands in a couple of months," Manny explained. "I am just glad that they didn't find out how much I am paying you guys under the table."

"I know the crowds will dry up then, but we will still manage. Somehow," the small white mouse leaned in to give the giant llama as much of a hug as she could.

Returning to his new bride, Ralph was still shaking his fist at the two thugs. "Those two no good, flea bitten, ruffians. If live fleas weren't illegal here, I'd let loose some of our performers on their mangy hides."

"Ralph! That is no way to talk," Janzine stated, with both paws on her hips and her tail swishing around like a tiny whip.

"But, they smashed Franky's swimming pool!"

She then pointed a tiny claw at her new husband, "You know better than that. Just, because our green cards were accepted doesn't mean they won't throw us out of the city for releasing a horde of fleas."

Head lowered, the larger of the white mice slowly waddled towards his young bride. "I know, I know. I just spent so much time building that pool, and now it's smashed to bits and laying all over the ground." A large tear welled up in his eye.

Before the tear could fall to soak Manny's pants, Janzine wiped it from her husband's eye and gave him a soft kiss on the side of his snout. "Everything will be ok," she said while pulling him into a hug, "as long as we have each other."

Without releasing from the hug, she looked up at the much larger mammal with the fancy red overcoat. "And that goes for you too, Manny. You're part of our family too."

"Aww, thanks guys." The tall llama reached down and picked up both white mice in a single hoof and held them to the side of his cheek in a huge group hug.

Patting the wool on the side of Manny's cheek, Janzine proclaimed, "Maybe we should take care of your green card first. Ralph and I can always wait for another spring to have our honeymoon."