Monster Circus

Her tip-toes would push her up no further, leaving only the nose of her tilted-up face to reach past the windowsill. Molly strained, trying her best to pull herself up, but her little hands were just not strong enough.

A snort escaped her as she released her grip and set her weight back on her heels. She ran to the corner of her bedroom, her feet slapping the cold wooden floor. When she reached the desk chair, she wrapped her fingers around the spokes of the backrest and began to pull when she hesitated.

Sister Marybelle scolded her the last time she dragged the chair across the floor. A wicked child, she’d called her, exclaiming Molly had woken the neighbourhood with her racket. The old nun, already angry because Molly neither spoke nor smiled during the afternoon’s visit of potential fosters, Molly did not care to escalate things. So, she let go of her chair and pitter-pattered to her bed.

There, she grabbed her pillow, if one could call it that. Its cushion so thin, a folded skirt would be as comfortable. With the pillow held tight to her chest, she scurried back to the chair.

Tongue sticking out and brow furrowed, Molly tilted the chair forward and pushed the pillow underneath its back legs. Satisfied with her handiwork, she slid the chair across the floor to the window. The corner of her mouth curled up slightly.

A quick tug to lift her nightgown to her knees allowed Molly to climb onto the chair with ease. She held the windowsill for balance, then pushed herself up. Finally, she’d be able to see what cast the light in the narrow alleyway below her second‑floor window.

The source itself was further down the alley, hidden from view, but its glow shone bright enough to expose the narrow street’s overflowing garbage bins, stray cats, and the mice they chased. In the centre of it all stood a boy watching her.

About two years older than herself, he stayed still, smiling softly at her. Molly bit her bottom lip when he raised his hand, inviting her to come with him. He wore brown pants with matching suspenders over his white buttoned-up shirt. His shoulder length golden brown hair topped by an old flat cap.

She wanted to open her window. Unfortunately, the lock rested above the first pane, where she could not reach. She snorted, climbed down from the chair, and ran to the front of her bedroom. Turning the knob with care, she pulled the door open, wincing at its every creak.

Darkness filled the upstairs hallway, and the only light reaching the bottom of the stairs came from the main room’s fireplace. Molly strained her ears as best she could and heard no sound other than the crackling firewood keeping everyone warm.

Sneaking out of her room, she risked big trouble if she were to get caught. After a quick scuttle to the top of the stairs, she dropped on her bum and swung her feet onto the first step. A slight murmur from the old wood brought a slight hesitation. Molly felt her pulse throughout her entire body.

One step at a time, she slid down, holding her breath whenever she moved. Halfway down, a cough sounded from the main room. Molly threw her hands over her mouth. The stillness of the late evening soon returned, and with her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth, Molly continued her slow descent to the ground floor.

She chanced a peek around the edge of the doorway into the main area to confirm Sister Marybelle sat in her favourite chair, eyes closed. She was none the wiser. Molly slunk to the back kitchen on her tip-toes, lucky that part of the house was empty of nuns.

A lock secured the door leading to the alleyway, but its mechanism was simple enough for six-year-old fingers to unlock. This door swung open without protesting. Molly walked out backwards, pulling the door closed as she did, and in that moment, she realised her bedroom door had remained open. She froze, thinking it might be best for her to return right away, else Sister Marybelle would be very cross with her when she found her snuck out after bedtime.

“Hello Molly,” the young boy said, interrupting her thoughts of going back. “I’m glad you came down.”

Still holding the doorknob, Molly twisted to take a quick glance. He smiled at her while holding out his hand. She closed her eyes as tightly as she could, released her grip, and spun around. When she opened her eyes, he stood there still, patient and waiting for her. The cold cement steps gave way to the warm cobblestones of the back alley. They even grew warmer as she reached him and placed her hand in his.

“I’m Abraham,” he said. “Are you ready?”

Molly nodded once.

“Follow me.” Abraham led her towards the light. He took small steps so Molly could keep up. They reached a corner where the light shone bright and full of colour. Hints of blues, reds, pinks and greens, all her favourites.

“Are you really ready?” he asked, bending down slightly to be at her level. He wasn’t much taller than she, though the gesture was nice. Adults had never done that for her.

Molly nodded to Abraham.

“Okay, let’s go then.”

When they rounded the corner, the wide entrance of a massive red and white striped circus tent awaited them. Above the drawn-back flaps hung a sign with bright letters. Each lit in a different colour; Molly stared, mesmerised.

Abraham squeezed her hand gently and leaned in close to whisper, “Le Cirque Magique. It means, the magical circus.”

She preferred how he’d said it the first time. It sounded more, well, magical. Molly smiled at Abraham, who nodded towards the entrance, giving her a jolt of excitement as they moved inside.

Blinded by the bright lights, and before Molly’s eyes adjusted, the sounds of the crowd made her jump. Abraham leaned in close and tightened his hold, making her feel safe in the moment.

Slowly, the strange world she had entered came into focus. Endless tents and booths and rides crowded the space in all directions. The attractions didn’t grab her attention like the people wandering about did. Well, not exactly people. They acted like people, but they were all… monsters. Brightly coloured, furry monsters.

Some were big and others were huge, and they were all smiling and laughing while they walked around, juggled, danced, and even rode unicycles. A tiny green monster who had six legs and two tails scampered to Molly and chittered to her in a language she did not understand, but she laughed at the cute critter.

“That’s Mini,” Abraham said. “He’s a very friendly chatterbug.” He bent down and let Mini jump into his hands. Gently, he placed the chatterbug onto Molly’s shoulder, who petted him. His fur was a little prickly.

Abraham offered his hand once more to Molly, who accepted and smiled at him. He led her through the chaos of performers and wanderers until they reached a yellow tent. When they entered, the outside commotion disappeared, as did most of the light. Molly had hidden in her closet before, so she wasn’t scared of the dark, but Mini definitely was scared as his chatter turned into whimpers.

“It’s okay,” Abraham said softly to the little shoulder monster. “Take a seat.” He motioned to Molly to sit in the lone chair at a round table.

Molly sat, letting her feet dangle in the air. Mini hopped off her shoulder and onto the table. Poor little guy was shivering, so she petted her new friend to help calm him down.

A minute later, a fat, snake-like monster slithered from the back and approached the table. He had thick purple fur everywhere except on his four-eyed face. Molly thought he was cute for a big monster. Mini must not have agreed as he jumped onto her shoulder and hid within her long hair, making her giggle.

“Hello, Molly,” the snake monster said in a slow, smoky voice. “My name is Billurybumblebart. I’m happy to finally meet you.” He slowly blinked all four eyes, and to Molly’s surprise, the table disappeared. Billurybumblebart glided towards her, close enough that she saw her own reflection in each of his big, glossy eyes.

Molly scrunched her face and bobbed her head left and right. She laughed. The little mouth beneath his eyes curled up a touch.

“It’s okay. I also find you funny. With your two little legs and wiggly little toes.”

Unsure whether the purple monster snake was being funny or mean, Molly frowned and crossed her arms.

“Abraham chose you,” Billurybumblebart continued. “He believes you. Thinks you deserve a bit of Magique. What say you?”

Molly shrugged.

“Interesting.” He slithered around her, making Mini shift shoulders. “Go now. But keep out of trouble. Understood?”

Molly bit her lip and nodded.

With that, Billurybumblebart slinked away and disappeared. Abraham helped her off her seat, and they walked out of the yellow tent, the sights and noises rushing back to her. Mini stepped out from beyond her locks and chittered happily.

Across from them was a tall lime-green monster spinning cotton candy from a small machine. The cotton string flew high in the air before being spun on a stick.

Pulling Abraham with her, Molly ran to the cotton candy show. How she wished she could have some; she’d only ever seen it on TV. The green monster noticed her and smiled as he spun the pink fur-like candy. After it got bigger than her head, the monster bent down and handed it to her.

Molly released Abraham’s hold and accepted the offering with both hands. Giggles escaped her when she plucked a piece of the candy and let it melt in her mouth. It was so sweet and sticky. And yummy. The candy was shared with both Abraham and Mini.

Leading the way, Molly walked about the grounds wide-eyed, watching the performers while listening to the mix of music coming from every direction. She’d never heard this kind of music at the orphanage.

The thought of home made her pause. She would be in big trouble and Sister Marybelle would be cross with her for the whole week. A gentle hand lay on her shoulder. It was Abraham.

“Let me turn that frown upside down,” he said, taking the empty cotton candy stick from her. He tossed it into the air, waving his hands to make it hover in place before turning it into a white bird that flew away.

Molly laughed and clapped her hands. She ran, following the bird, squealing as she did. Mini’s chitter became panicked as he held on for his life. When she stopped as the bird flew through the hole in the tent top, she stood in front of a massive orange and red dragon.

“And who might you be, young lady?” the dragon asked, lowering his head to meet her. The dragon was at least a million times bigger than Molly.

She reached out and touched his big leathery snout between his two large nostrils.

“Ah, Molly. How wonderful to have you here.” He brought his head a touch closer and whispered, “You are fairer than any princess I have ever seen.” He pulled back and stood at his full height, and Molly laughed, reaching her hands up at the dragon.

“That’s Clyde,” Abraham said from behind her. “He’s a bit of a show-off.”

Past Clyde, the stars in the sky shone brightly, reminding her of home, and she worried once again about the sisters. Her eyelids were also getting a bit heavy. She faced Abraham and reached for his hand.

“Do you think it’s time we took you home?” he asked.

Molly nodded. As much as she loved the circus, she knew she’d be in trouble if she didn’t return. Abraham signalled to Clyde, and the dragon’s big head came down.

“Help me take Molly home?” he asked him.

“For this lady, anything,” he replied. The dragon shook his wings and began to shrink. Soon, he was no bigger than a small horse.

Molly clapped once more, and Abraham held out his hand. As she reached for it, Mini hopped to the ground, blurted out nonsense, and skittered away. Molly laughed, then let Abraham guide her onto Clyde’s back.

The roof of the circus tent opened wide without warning; Clyde pushed off and they were airborne. A squeal escaped Molly as Abraham held her tight and laughed.

They flew high over the city, eventually swooping down towards the orphanage, and directly in front of her bedroom window where Clyde kept a steady hover with his wings spread wide. Abraham stood and led Molly across Clyde’s wing up to the window.

A wave of his hand made the lock move to its unlocked position, and slowly, the window pane raised just enough for Molly to squeeze through. The chair, with its back legs resting on her pillow, waited for her. As she scrambled down, she heard the window close and lock. Once safely on the floor, she waved to Abraham, who returned the gesture. Clyde winked before flying off into the distance.

With her door propped ajar, the commotion flowed from downstairs. Molly’s little feet hurried across her bedroom, down the stairs, and into the main room. Sisters Marybelle and Bethany stood, with their fake smiles, behind a row of the other little boys and girls who stayed at the orphanage. All were younger than Molly. Also prettier and better-behaved and smarter, according to Sister Marybelle.

Two grown-ups, holding hands, stood before them. They appeared much younger than the cranky sisters. Sister Marybelle’s smile vanished when she spotted Molly. This alerted the young woman to glance her way, revealing a green pin on her jacket.

“Mini,” Molly murmured, pointing at the little monster pin.

The woman smiled and tilted her head. “What was that, honey?” she asked her.

“Oh, don’t bother with that one,” Sister Marybelle said, pushing through the children. “She doesn’t talk.”

The woman ignored the nun and took a step towards Molly and bent down to meet her eye to eye. Molly was able to reach the pin, so she touched it. It was cool to the touch, and the prickly finish made her smile.

“It’s Mini.”

“That’s right. How do you know that?” The young woman reached out and took Molly’s hands in hers. They were warm and comforting.

“Please, Dr. Winston, I believe you’ll find the other children are…” Sister Marybelle was interrupted by the young man who needed no words to quiet the room.

“He’s my friend,” Molly answered.

The woman’s eyes wavered, and she swallowed hard. “He’s my friend too,” she said. “I’m Amanda. What’s your name?”

“Molly.”

“That’s a beautiful name, Molly. Do you think we could be friends?”

Molly only nodded, but her smile grew large and wide.

“Maybe someday we can visit the circus together. Would you like that?” Amanda opened her arms, and without hesitation, Molly wrapped her own little arms around her neck as she was scooped up into the air.

“Yes,” Molly whispered, laying her head on Amanda’s shoulder. She closed her eyes and soon she was fast asleep in the grasp of a motherly embrace.