"A long time ago, a million years B.C. The best things in life were absolutely free. But no one appreciated a sky that was always blue, and no one congratulated a moon that was always new. So it was planned that they would vanish now and then, and you must pay before you get them back again. That's what storms are made for, and you shouldn't be afraid, for, everytime it rains it rains pennies from Heaven..."
Bing Crosby's voice rang out from the radio of an old, beat up Ford. A small five-year-old boy sat in the back seat. Bing Crosby's music bored him, but his father loved it. He wore a worn purple shirt and shorts with suspenders. Like most children, he was oblivious to the desperation of his parents. His father looked in city after city for a job and found none. His mother sorrowfully left with him. Both had to leave England for America in the year 1930 with higher hopes to make a living. However, they did not know that America suffered economically like England. This young boy, Billy, did not care. He was just happy that he was with his parents.
His mother looked behind her seat at him. "Billy, you need to rest."
"But, I'm not tired, Mama!" Billy retorted.
"Listen to your mother, William," his father ordered. His voice was rough and coarse, which he smoked and chewed tobacco, so that is inevitable.
"Father..."
"Now," he ordered. "Get some rest. You'll need it."
William sighed as he looked out the window. No matter how hard he fought, he grew more tired as he watched the moon and stars pass by. Finally, he drifted off. Noticing this, his mother, Mary turned to his father.
"Where are going, Nigel."
"Salt Lake. It's the one place we haven't tried," he said.
"New York, Chicago, now Salt Lake City? What if you can't find a job there, like all the rest? Where next? California?" A sense of urgency could be heard her voice.
"We'll keep looking."
"Nigel..." Mary trailed off as tears threatened her eyes.
"Mary, listen to me," Nigel said. "We're Aftons. We don't give up."
Billy woke up as they drove through Salt Lake City. Other poor families littered the streets. Factory smoke filled the atmosphere of the otherwise depressing display. They finally arrived at a hotel in the center of town.
"We'll stay here, but only for a little while. You take Billy inside and get a room. I'll look for a job." Nigel handed her five dollars for one night. They did not want to spend money for longer than that until they were sure there was a job in Salt Lake available for Nigel.
"I love you, Nigel."
"Yeah, yeah." After a kiss and when Mary retrieved Billy from the backseat, Nigel popped a wad of tobacco into his mouth and drove off.
There was an oil field on the outskirts of the town that should be hiring. He drove there and saw how desperate they were. Worker morale had plummeted, not that there were many workers anyway. Nigel did not expect there to be a job available for him, but he figured he would ask regardless. To his surprise, they were eager to take on more help, but could only pay him fifty cents a day. Of course, he took it. A low paying job is better than no job, especially for a man with a family to provide for.
On his way back to the car, he glanced at the area beside the oil field. He saw a red and white striped tent. Perhaps it was a Barnum and Bailey show. He popped another wad of tobacco into his mouth and walked over to it.
He saw a small sign by the vacant admission booth. The poster was that of a black and white cartoonish bear listening to music playing on a gramophone. The words The Wonderful Fredbear's Singin' Show were typed beside the character. Below the title was written "50 general admission." Fifty cents. Below it said that included was a show, food, and a beverage. He recalled other circus posters that he has seen throughout their travels. One such poster was that of a Barnum and Bailey show, which costed a dollar for just the show. They could not afford that. At least, not anytime soon. Fifty cents may be a little reasonable for the time being. He smiled to himself, thinking that William would enjoy it.
He spat onto the ground and walked back to the car.
Once he arrived back to the hotel, he payed for six more nights. Once inside their room, he saw that William was asleep, so he crept across the worn carpeted floor. He saw mice scurry across it, but at the moment, he did not care. He was just happy to have a job. He sat down at a small table in the corner and turned toward his wife, who was sweeping.
"I found a job at an oil field. It's just fifty cents a day, but it's better than nothing."
"Wow. Fifty cents..." came Mary's sarcastic response.
"What do you want from me, Mary?" Nigel asked. "I'm trying to provide for my family. Do you think this is easy for me? To watch my family starve, powerless?"
"I know." Mary stopped and put a hand on her face. "I'm sorry. I know you're trying."
A smile crept on his face. A smile that Mary noticed.
"What?" she asked with a small chuckle.
"You're so beautiful," he said.
"What do you want?" Mary continued to sweep. Usually, when Nigel complimented her, he had a mind to do something that she may not support.
"I saw a show right beside the oil field. It's just fifty cents. It said that the fifty cents includes a show, food, and drink."
"Fifty cents, huh? I'll have to see that to believe it."
"It's called 'Fredbear's Singin' Show'. I don't know what it is, but it looks like something William would enjoy."
Mary didn't respond, so Nigel spoke again. "Why not? Life is rubbish right now. We all need to forget, if only for a little while."
With a sigh, Mary responded with a smile, "Of course. Billy needs something to help him forget."
"I wasn't really talking about William. He seems to care less about everything." Nigel laughed. "We'll surprise him this weekend. Don't say anything about it."
Saturday night, they arrived at the show. Families traveling through stopped by the booth and bought tickets. Apparently, most families felt the same way as the Aftons; they needed to forget and their kids needed a distraction from the turmoils of life.
They walked over to the booth and bought three tickets, then went inside. After they got their food and drinks, led by their boy, they went to the main stage. On stage was a domesticated and trained brown bear. It danced and did tricks. It sang to the tunes from the gramophone just offstage.
William ignored his food and stared at the animal in awe. It could dance! It could sing! He had never seen anything like it. Nor, will he ever forget it. His family would remain in Salt Lake City, and eventually, William would launch a franchise in this city. He had formed a dream of entertaining and inspiring future generations the way he was in 1937. However, what he did not anticipate was that this dream would eventually be turned into a nightmare.