Chapter 3

Evan, Elizabeth, and Michael were all sitting at the kitchen table, the eldest two children doing their homework while Evan quietly colored some pictures in his coloring book, just wanting to be next to his siblings. Though he didn't go to school yet, he wasn't sure he liked the idea of it when his siblings came home with homework to do before they could play.

Michael finished writing down the last few words of his essay for Science before putting it away in his folder and packing away his school books for the next school day, which would be Monday since the school was closed tomorrow, so the kids had a three-day weekend. He looked over at his sister, who was finishing up the last few math problems in her math book. Writing down the last number, she closed the book with a sigh. "Done," she said.

Evan looked up. "You guys done your homework?" He asked hopefully.

"I am," Elizabeth said.

"Me too," Michael said. "What game should we play?"

Clara came in just then and she smiled at her children. "Your homework is all done?" She asked.

"Yes, Mom," her eldest child said. "We just finished it."

"Alright then. You three can go play," she said.

"Mommy, is Daddy going to be home soon?" Evan asked.

Clara looked at the clock. "He should be home in another hour," she said to her youngest child.

The three children went to Michael's room to play a few board games. As they were playing, Elizabeth grew thoughtful, which her brother's noticed. "What's up, Liz?" Michael asked.

"I was just thinking," she said. "Maybe we can go somewhere tomorrow if Dad doesn't have to work."

"A family outing?" Evan asked, looking intrigued at the idea.

Michael looked thoughtful. "We haven't had a family outing in a while," he said. "I think last time we did was before Valentine's Day."

"Yeah," Elizabeth said. "Can we ask him at dinner?"

"Sure thing."

William arrived home an hour later, smiling at his wife and hugging her, giving her a loving kiss. "How are you today, my love?" He asked.

"Better now that you're here," she said. "How was work?"

"We had a few rude customers, but overall it was good," he said. "I've got the next three days off and I have a surprise for you and the children."

"Oh?" She asked with a smile. "What's that?"

"I'll tell you and the children at dinner," William promised her before he went to the stairs that led to the second floor of the house. "I'm home!" He called out.

Elizabeth gasped and Michael and Evan jumped in surprise, but that surprise was overidden by glee a moment later as the two youngest children jumped up and ran to the stairs. "Daddy!" Evan called out, jumping into his father's arms.

"Daddy!" Elizabeth echoed her brother, hugging her dad and her younger brother.

Michael hugged his dad and siblings. "Hi, Dad," he said, smiling.

"There's my whole troupe!" William said happily before surprising his children by picking them all up in his arms and spinning them around. Evan and Elizabeth giggled happily while Michael hung on. "Dad!" He protested, but his laughter and the huge smile on his face proved he didn't mind.

Clara peeked out of the kitchen and chuckled at seeing her husband be silly with the kids. "Alright, everyone, it's dinnertime," she said.

Once dinner was served and they started eating, William gently cleared his throat. "I have some good news," he said. "I have the next three days off from work and I know the schools are closed for tomorrow. So what do you all say...we have a family outing?"

Elizabeth and Evan perked up. "Liz said the same thing!" Evan said.

Michael chuckled. "She did," he said with a nod while Elizabeth grinned.

"Where will we go to, Dad?" She asked.

William smiled. "There's a circus in town," he said.

As soon as they heard that, the kids lit up. They loved going to the circus. "When is it?" Evan asked.

"Tomorrow," his father replied.

"Oh, that will be a wonderful treat," Clara said. "I do hope they have the caramel popcorn."

"And caramel apples," Michael said.

William smiled. "We'll go to the circus in the morning after breakfast," he said.

The next day, the three kids were up and ready to go while Clara was making breakfast. She smiled at seeing her children ready. "Now if only you two could be ready for school like that every morning," she said teasingly to her eldest son and daughter.

"Mom," Elizabeth playfully groaned. "The circus is way more fun than school."

"I have to side with my sister on that one," Michael said.

William laughed heartily. "Alright, let's eat up everyone," he said.

It wasn't long before they arrived at the circus grounds and William paid the entrance fee for the family. But just as they went in, Evan suddenly felt his arm grabbed and he turned to see it was a couple of older kids. "Look at this wimp!" One of them said.

"Bet he snuck in," said the other.

"Let go!" Evan said, trying to get away.

The older boy holding him squeezed his arm tighter. "Not a chance, brat!" He said.

Evan then kicked the older boy, making him let go as he howled in pain. The little boy then ran, looking for his family, but he couldn't see them. He then remembered that his parents had told him that if he was ever lost, find a safe place to stay put until they could find him.

Spying some of the tents nearby and were behind the big circus tent, he ran towards those, going through the opening of one tent and diving behind some large trunks in one corner, curling up and hiding there. As he was catching his breath, he heard someone come into the tent. "Arr! Where be me treasure map?" The person asked.

"I imagineth by your clothes closet," another voice said, sounding a bit bored, but not monotone. "I really cannot understandeth why thou is insistent upon having a silly piece of paper."

"A silly piece of paper, you say!" The pirate said with a laugh. "Oh, you wound me so!"

Evan peeked up to see two clowns. One was dressed as a pirate and the other had a puppet dressed like a knight beside him, his gloved hands moving the wooden sticks that controlled the strings attached to the puppet. That drew Evan's attention as he had seen puppets on the television, but never in real life.

The pirate clown spotted the boy out of the corner of his eye. "Ah, seems we have us a stowaway," he said, turning his head to look at the boy, who ducked down in fear.

The puppeter rolled his eyes. "If thou continue to speaketh that way, thou with frighten the child," he said as he walked over to the boy, the knight puppet walking beside him. The puppeter paused by the trunks and made the puppet walk closer.

"What ails thee, young one?" A new voice asked.

Confused, Evan glanced around to find out where the new voice was coming from. "Over here, young boy," the voice spoke again and Evan turned to see the knight waving. "Is thou in some sort of danger?"

His small mind thinking the puppet was talking to him, Evan took a deep breath. "Kind of," he said.

"Ye be rather young to be in danger," the pirate clown said. "What danger do ye speak of?"

The concerned tone he took was comforting to the boy. "There's these two big kids that grabbed me and dragged me away from my family," he said. "I kicked one of them to get away, but I don't know where my family is."

"A couple of sea bullies, eh?" The pirate asked.

"Well, how very uncouth," the puppeter said, looking displeased. "Scaring a young lad. Have those children forgotten their manner the parents teacheth them?"

Evan couldn't help giggling. "You talk funny," he said.

The pirate roared with laughter. "I be telling him the same thing, lad!" He said, slapping his knee as he continued laughing.

"Oh, why must I suffer?" The puppeter said woefully, but without heat.

"Cheer up, my good man," the knight puppet said. "At least the youth is happy again."

Evan giggled again, feeling more at ease with the two clowns. The pirate one looked at the boy. "Well, lad, ye are more than welcome to stay aboard until ye parents are found," he said.

"Yes," the puppeter said with a nod. "I shall informeth the ringmaster of the situation. Perhaps I might findeth the child's parents too."

The little boy felt hopeful at that. "My mommy and daddy will be with my older brother and sister," he said. "My sister's wearing a red shirt and my big brother is wearing a green shirt."

"That does helpeth greatly," the puppeter clown said. "Thank you, child. Come, Sir David, we go forth."

"Indeed. Onward to find the ringmaster!" The knight puppet said.

Meanwhile, Clara and her husband and children were looking for Evan. "He couldn't have gone far," William said.

"Did someone grab him?" Clara asked, horrified.

"Maybe we should split up," Michael suggested.

"Good idea," William said. "Michael, you're with me and we'll search this side. Clara, you take Liz and go search that side. Liz, stick close to your mother."

"Yes, Dad," she said.

Clara and Elizabeth went to look for Evan. "Oh, I hope he's okay," the older woman fretted.

"I'm sure he is, Mom," Elizabeth said. "Remember how you and Dad always taught us to find a safe spot and stay put until you both could find us?"

"Yes," Clara said with a nod.

"I know Evan's done the same," her daughter said confidently.

That gave her mother some hope as they looked around in the large circus tent. "Pardoneth me, madam and young lady," came a smooth voice and the two turned to see a puppeter clown with a knight puppet. "Would thou both be the mother and sister of a young lad wearing a blue shirt?"

"Yes," Clara said, relief filling her. "You have seen him?"

"We have," said the knight puppet. "The young lad is safe with our pirate friend in the tents. He told us that his sister would be wearing a red shirt."

Elizabeth felt her heart leap with joy that her brother was safe. "Can you take us to him?" She asked.

"It would beeth our greatest pleasure," the puppeter said. "Follow me."

He led them to the tent where they found Evan giggling as the pirate clown was doing a funny skit about his treasure map missing and it was on his arm, but he 'couldn't' find it, making the boy laugh. Clara and Elizabeth watched in amusement too before Evan 'found' the map and the pirate clown laughed heartily. "Ye got sharp eyes, lad," he said, smiling.

The puppeter cleared his throat gently. "I believeth a reunion is due," he said and Evan turned to them, seeing his mother and sister.

"Mommy! Lizzy!" He said, running up to them.

Clara hugged her little one tightly. "Oh, Evan, are you alright? What happened?" She asked as Elizabeth hugged her brother too.

"A couple of scoundrels grabbed him, but he got away," the pirate clown said. "He sought refuge here."

Clara stood up, holding her boy and giving both clowns a grateful look. "Thank you for watching over my little boy," she said.

"Thou is welcome, madam," the puppeter said with a smile. "And do not worry about those two rapscallions. Our kind ringmaster will see that they are dealt with swiftly."

"Yes, they will be rethinking their actions soon," the knight puppet said.

Clara nodded. "Well, let's go find your father and brother, children," she said before looking at the clowns. "Thank you both again."

The two nodded and Evan waved to them as he, his mother, and sister went to find his father and brother, finding them a moment later. When William learned what happened, he was upset, but glad to know that the clowns had informed the ringmaster and had taken good care of Evan.

A moment later, a couple policeman arrived and took the two boys that had grabbed Evan into custody, having gotten a call from the ringmaster. Michael smiled as he saw this. "Serves them right," he said.

"Well, let's not give those boys another thought and go enjoy the circus," William said. "I saw a face-painting booth and a few games."

Elizabeth smiled. "Can we get our faces painted like clowns?" She asked.

Her brothers agreed to that idea and after getting their faces painted, they did a few games before going to find good seats and enjoy the shows under the Big Top.

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GoldGuardian2418