Chapter 7: This is Me
Clark was now in the gathering room with Jenny, Charity, and the girls.
"Jenny, this Charity, Caroline, and Helen," Clark said.
"Oh it's nice to meet you," Jenny said. She looked at Caroline. "Your father tells me you're a fan of the ballet."
"I'm studying ballet," Caroline responded.
"You are?" Jenny asked.
"Of course I am," Caroline said.
"Yes of course she is," Clark said.
"And you Helen?" Jenny said.
"You look like a Princess ma'am," Helen said. They laughed.
"I'd like to meet Miss Lind," a random woman said.
"And you will meet Miss Lind," Clark responded.
"Barnum." Clark turned to see Charity's father. "You have done well."
"Thank you," Clark said. "Jenny this is Mr. and Mrs. Hallet. They're Charity's parents."
"Mother, father," Charity said.
"Hello dear," Mrs. Hallet responded. She then saw Caroline and Helen. "Are these...."
"Yes those are your grandchildren," Clark said.
"Phin, not here," Charity said.
"Okay, just saying that they're their grandchildren," Clark responded. "And I'll say that I'm doing rather well considering that I'm just some kid who's never going to accomplish anything in life." Clark frowned.
'Where had THAT come from?' he thought. The Hallets looked at him in horror before leaving. Charity turned away from him.
"Charity I didn't..." Clark started.
"A toast. To Mister Barnum," Jenny said. "That a man's station is only limited by his imagination."
"sTo Barnum," the rest of the people repeated. Jenny then pulled him aside.
"It's hard to understand wealth and privilege when you're born into it," Jenny told him. "I sometimes I feel like I don't belong here." Clark raised his eyebrow.
"Really?" Clark questioned.
"I was born out of wed-lock," Jenny said. "And that brought shame upon my family. And life seems to always find a way of reminding me that I don't belong here. And that leaves a hole that no ovation can heal." Clark then heard Shayera laugh and headed to see her. The troop were all in a passageway and right behind a door. Clark intercepted them right before they could leave.
"Man! She can sing!" Shayera said.
"Yeah she can," Clark responded. "Um, don't you guys have a show?"
"Yes but we've got some time for a few drinks," Shayera told him as she tried to pass him. Clark didn't let her. "Clark, what is it?"
"I'm sorry guys, but you have to stay behind here," Clark responded. "I'll see you later." Clark closed the door and went back to addressing the crowd. "America may not know it yet, Jenny, but it is going to love you." Shayera felt angry, hurt, and betrayed. Then music started playing and she felt a song stir from within her.
"I'm not a stranger to the dark," Shayera sang. "Hide away, they say. Cause we don't want your broken parts. I've learn to be ashamed of all my scars. Run away, they say, no one'll love you as you are. But, I won't let them break me down to dust. I know that there's a place for us. For we are glorious. When the sharpest words want to cut me down, I'm gonna send a flood gonna drown them out. I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I'm meant to be. This is me." She started marching down the passageway and towards the party with the rest of the troop behind her. "Look out cause here I come. And I'm marchin' on to the beat I drum. I'm not scared to be seen, I make no apologizes. This is me!" They walked out into the crowd and were immediately met with disgust. The music continued on and Shayera felt a small hand grip hers. She looked down to see John.
"Another round of bullets hit my skin," John sang. "Well fire away. Cause today I won't let this shame sink it." Shayera smiled.
"We are bursten through the barricade and reachin' for the sun," Shayera sang.
"We are warriors," the entire troop sang.
"Yeah that's what we've become," Shayera sang.
"Yeah that's what we've become," the troop echoed. They were now outside singing to the protesters.
"Won't let them break me down to dust," they all sang. "I know that there's a place for us."
"Go home!" one of the protesters said.
"For we are glorious!" the troop sang. "When the sharpest words wanna cut me down, I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out. I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I'm meant to be." They were now in the circus performing. "This is me. Look out cause here I come." Bruce was looking out of the office window at them, in particular Diana. "And I'm marchin' on to the beat I drum. I'm not scared to be seen. I make no apologies. This is me. Ooooohhhh!"
'I've been a fool,' Bruce thought. 'That's more of place then up here. She deserves better than what I gave her earlier.'
"Oooohhh!" the troop sang. "Oooohhhh! Oooooh! Oooooh! Oooooohhh! This is me! Oooooh! Ooooohhh!"
"And I know that I deserve your love," Shayera sang. "There's nothin' I'm not worth of!"
"Ooooohhhhh!" they all sang. "Ooooohh!"
"When the sharpest words wanna cut me down," Shayera sang quietly. "I'm gonna send a flood. Gonna drown them out. This is brave. This is bruised. This is who I'm meant to be. This is me."
"Look out cause here I come!" the troop sang.
"Look out cause here I come!" Shayera echoed.
"And I'm marchin' on to the beat I drum," the troop sang.
"Marchin' on the beat," some other repeated.
"I'm not scared to be seen I make no apologies," the entire troop sang. "This is me! Whenever the words wanna cut me down. Gonna send a flood gonna drown them out."
"I'm gonna send a flood," Shayera echoed. "Gonna drown them out!"
"Oooohh! Oooohhhh!" the troop sangs. "This is me!" The audience cheered as they finished.