Okay… so I've been over at a friend's for hours and now I really have to study because I got exams tomorrow (It's too late now anyway, but I want to at least try xD). So let's call today's post a lame excuse. I'm sorry!
October 11th: The circus
(rated K+)
It was a day in late October and although it was sunny, it was nippy outside. Children were playing at the small park and their parents were sitting on the benches nearby chatting. Further away from the scene sat a lonely figure on a wooden bench under a tree. Clint had decided to go outside and walk without really going anywhere. It was one of those days and he couldn't ignore it. Everything in the Tower made it even worse.
His bow and arrows leaning in the corner of his bedroom was the first thing he didn't want to see. He didn't want to see his clothes and he couldn't stand the photos hanging on the walls. Nothing that belonged to him was of interest to him today.
In that park, however, it was getting worse again. Two young boys were fighting each other with wooden sticks as if it were a swordfight. Just like him when he was their age – except he had a real sword and he had to fight for his food and shelter. It was his mentor in the circus who was teaching him how to fight and how to practice archery. If he failed too many times he was going to sleep without dinner. If it was a bad day for his teacher he was going to bed outside the trailers, in the field without a blanket.
A cold shiver ran down Clint's back as he was thinking about it. He ran a hand through his hair and spotted two little girls sitting in the grass and playing with plastic horses singing nursery rhymes. Sometimes the leading lady of the animal show used to sing while washing the horses. He used to sneak in and listen to her.
The rattling of the leaves in the trees brought him back. The branches were swinging slightly like the wooden trapeze, except they weren't moved by the wind but by the performers dancing high above at the ceiling of the tent. It almost sounded like the leaves were applauding for the branches.
A drunk homeless man wove by and the stench of cigarettes mixed with cheap whiskey filled the air. It smelled just like the ringmaster who hit the boys for stealing his liquor and bread although he had all consumed it himself. It smelled like their own tent when Barney was getting older and started drinking too much.
Shaking his head and trying to get rid of the memory somehow Clint rose from the bench. He needed to get away from here. He didn't want to continue wandering around cluelessly and aimlessly but there was no use in going back home. It would catch up with him again eventually and when there were walls everywhere he couldn't walk away from it again.