Chapter 12- Cruising for a Bruising
Sadie hangs awkwardly half out Jerome's small window taking drags on a pink cigarette, her bulky army boots hooked around the post of the bunk beds anchor her in place hovering over the small mattress. Jerome is rummaging through a pile of clothes in the bottom of a tiny wardrobe, holding items up to show her.
"That one, that shitty blue granddad cardigan, that's the one. Where'd you even get that lame ass thing, was it Jerim..." Sadie cuts off from finishing as Jerome's eyes pierce into her at the near mention of his absent brother.
Jerome pulls the cardigan over a checked shirt he has buttoned right to the top, he admires himself in the small mirror glued to the back of the door combing his bright red hair into a neat side parting. Taking a last look he kicks the rest of the clothes back into the wardrobe and jumps onto the bed next to Sadie taking the cigarette from her, he takes a few deep drags with no attempt to lean out of the window, Sadie climbs back in and smooths his hair a little more before stealing back the cigarette for a last drag tossing the butt out of the open window.
Jerome pulls out his diary with the bejeweled ice cream cover and starts to scribble away, Sadie kneels beside him straightening his collar and smoothing the shoulders of the cardigan, she begins to laugh sparking Jerome's interest away from his notes.
"What?" He asks with a smile.
"Do you know where clowns came from?" Sadie asks with a broad smile.
"No. Do tell." Jerome smiles broadly at Sadie closing his book to show her she has his full attention.
Sadie sidles down close to Jerome with an excited wriggle.
"Well, the first clowns were in the medieval times and were harlequins and court jesters. People think they were just these silly jokers but really they were powerful men, they had the power to poke fun at Kings and Queens in their own court without fear of beheading or imprisonment."
"Right." Jerome maintains his gaze into Sadie's eyes indulging her with his interest.
"Well this tradition has never changed, clowns you see, they have this power to escape repute, they hide behind this silly identity, by playing the fool they get away with violence and mockery of society and no-one is safe, a King or peasant, all are targets. We wear the costume to hide our true selves, the angry drunk becomes the happy trickster, we hide our sadness and depression with painted smiles and mockery. We get to act out the fantasies of an angry society and ridicule the powers that be with a custard pie to the face."
"And what's so funny?" Jerome asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, all us Lloyds are hiding behind these crazy clown characters and your clown costume is this, a boring old normo, you see you are the true anarchist, your real self is the clown, violent, dangerous and unpredictable I see it deep in your soul. So you hide behind this innocent character to make people feel safe. Just think it's quite funny that no-one but me gets that you are the real Jester. One day no-one will be safe from your bedlam and I can't wait til they all get what's coming to them, when you unleash your true clown self." Sadie looks so deep into Jerome's eyes he can feel her thoughts.
He matches her broad smile grabbing the back of her neck he kisses her hard, he wraps his fingers roughly into her matted blonde mess of hair forcing their faces together even more. Sadie shifts onto Jerome's lap straddling him, her skinny arms weave eagerly around his neck as she moves her mouth over his responsively. Jerome grasps the base of her back with his spare hand pulling her in close scratching his nails a little too aggressively up the smooth skin under her Iron maiden shirt but Sadie responds positively before cheekily biting him mid kiss.
They pull apart, a little blood trickles from Jerome's grinning lips, Sadie flashes her teeth like a Cheshire cat, they are stained crimson.
"I better go, they'll be here soon, same plan as usual yeah? See you later J." Sadie hops off Jerome blowing him a kiss as she dances out of the room. Jerome licks the blood from his lip smiling devilishly as he returns to making notes in his diary.
Later that evening after the main show Jerome watches the crowds disperse until just a few small groups remain, they amble around the side show tents an air of inebriation about them. Jerome spots Sadie across the field at the ring toss stall, her pale legs dangling playfully from her perched position on the stalls counter. She animatedly flicks her hair from side to side laughing and sticking out her chest and bum at every opportunity, she talks to a tall older boy with long greasy dark hair and a biker jacket.
Sadie spots Jerome and jumps off the counter, her sequinned shorts glistening in the fairground lights, she flirtatiously strokes the boys arm as he tosses rings at the bottles taking every opportunity to rub up against him. He misses slamming his angry fists on the counter, he roughly throws an arm around Sadie dragging her away from the stall a defeated rage strewn across his face. Two boys follow the pair a shorter fat lad with a similar leather jacket and a poor attempt at stubble and a thinner boy with a shaved head sporting a trampy hoody.
The boys talk amongst themselves as they wander through the circus, the two other boys hanging on greasy boys every word like a couple of fan boys. Jerome watches them from a distance before sneaking away to the animal pens at the back of the main tent.
Jerome waits in the low lit area, he shakes himself out getting into character, he hunches his shoulders making his tall frame seem smaller and more pathetic, he tucks his arms displaying a weak body positioning and turns his face down with a sorrowful look.
He hears the laughing voices of the boys and the unmistakable high pitched giggle of Sadie and grabs a broom starting to fake sweep in a huddled stance.
The group come round the corner and immediately notice Jerome, the long haired boy reacting first with a laugh and instant disdain.
"Hey Sadie, who's this loser? Thought you were gonna show us the elephants." The boy strokes his greasy hair keeping hold of Sadie as he speaks.
The other two boys instantly mirror their leaders mockery.
"Yeah, who are you freak? You the shit shoveller?" The fat boy pokes Jerome as he jests, Jerome reacts with a convincing flinch of fear.
"You shouldn't be back here, it's...it's out of bounds." Jerome speaks with a quivering voice keeping his fearful cower.
"Shut up Jerome! These guys are gonna look at the elephants right. This is just Jerome, he's the circus loser, don't worry about him." Sadie spits her lines with a very convincing disgust towards Jerome as she takes her date by the hand leading him towards the animals.
Jerome weakly puts his broom handle to the boys chest stopping him. The boy stops but bats the handle away angrily.
"You can't go back there." Jerome still playing the weakling, fearfully repeats the rule.
"And what are you gonna do about it?" The boy pushes Jerome hard in the chest and he dramatically reacts falling back in a stumble.
The other two boys laugh and jeer.
"Yeah Duke! You tell him!" The boy with the shaven head shouts with a punch to the air.
"Well...well it's my job to stop you, so I... I'm gonna stop you." Jerome holds the broom up shakily his voice still wobbly.
"I'm gonna kick your ass if you don't get out my way!" Duke stands chest puffed out and his side-kicks laugh and jeer, Sadie joins in with them.
"If...if you think you can?" Jerome weakly chats back holding up two limp nonthreatening fists.
The boys all burst out laughing, smacking each other's arms excitedly as they look at the weak boy in front of them.
"I'll destroy you mate! Like kicking a fucking puppy." Duke laughs in Jerome's face.
"I'm tougher than I look, Duke, I bet you twenty dollars you can't kick my ass, not in a fair fight, just you against me." Jerome raises his fists a little higher voice still shaking.
"No Jerome don't, you'll get hurt." Sadie grips onto Duke holding him back a little as she pleads with Jerome.
"Oh, I see, you trying to impress my girl. Well? Think I'm going to have to teach you a lesson freak, and think I'll enjoy taking your money." Duke pushes Sadie away and starts to limber up and dance towards Jerome with his fists raised.
Jerome mirrors him and they dance around for a little while, Sadie murmurs and chortles her contempt for the fight but Duke's friends cheer and chant ready to enjoy the violence. Duke swings first but Jerome avoids it with a swift duck and acts surprised but pleased with himself. Duke swings again and this time lands a hard punch to Jerome's left eye. The ginger boy falls back steadying himself on a tent pole, he catches his breath and winces as he feels for his eye, but drags himself back to face the laughing Duke again.
Duke swings a few more times and Jerome dodges a couple but another lands and he staggers back falling to his knee, Duke swings in with an upper cut to the stomach and Jerome crumples to the floor, spitting blood across the dirt. Duke explodes in loud whoops and throws his fists victoriously to the air cheered on by his two cheerleaders. Sadie frowns and pulls him back from the defeated Jerome.
"Come on baby, let's just go." She frowns and pulls the boy by the hand.
"Wait! Wait!" Jerome stretches an arm out towards Duke, one hand still clutching his gut, he holds out a twenty dollar note.
"Oh yeah, my winnings!" Duke skips back and tries to take the crumpled note from Jerome's hand but the red head holds on tight.
"I need that money...please." He says pathetically.
"So" Duke tugs and takes the note.
"Please, you gotta give me a chance to win it back, I need it." Jerome pleads on his knees in the dirt, he rummages through his pockets and throws crumpled notes on the floor "How about a round two, let me try again, all or nothing."
Duke eyes Jerome's defeated form in the dirt, "If you wanna give me all your money to give you another beating I'm not gonna say no. Guys, what you got between you?" Duke shouts to his fan club, they immediately scramble some notes together.
"Think we can match it Duke, we got ya covered." The fat boy shouts counting the notes.
"No Duke, don't, he's simple, and he's already had enough, just leave him alone now." Sadie pleads with Duke but he just bats her away and puts up his fists again with an egotistical smirk.
"Come on then carrot top! Lets go for round two" Duke bounces from foot to foot ready.
Jerome smiles and snaps up like a lightening bolt thrusting his shoulder hard into Duke's stomach and tackling him hard against the far tent post, his back hits with a thud and he lets out a startled shout of pain. Jerome straightens up to his full confident height, now appearing a similar build to Duke and far more threatening, his opponent shudders a little at Jerome's now beaming smile. Duke pulls himself back into a fight stance and they pad around each other again, Duke swings but the ginger boy now ducks and dives with ease, he catches the last punch knocking Duke's balance before dishing out an onslaught of heavy punches, Duke's face slams from side to side as he is forced back before falling to his knees blood dripping from his bust nose, his eyes look purple and puffy.
Jerome grabs him by the scruff of the neck and delivers a final smack knocking him into a slump before kneeing him hard in the gut, Duke shocked rolls limply into the dust. The two other boys stand open mouthed, they each eye Jerome but decide against any threats and run to help Duke up and try to bundle him away quickly.
Sadie stands blocking the doorway hands on hips. She puts out her hand expectantly and the boys fumble about and place a bunch of screwed up notes in her hand.
"Thank you." She says with squeak and jovial skip away, "Now get lost!"
The boys disappear into the darkness and Sadie skips to Jerome counting the money, handing it to the boy. He stuffs it away into his pocket and places his hands on Sadie's narrow hips, she looks up at his battered face but her concern lifts as he winks his bruised eye at her.
"We make a good team Sadie." He states this factually.
"Yeah J, the best." Sadie strains up and pecks a kiss on his cheek.