Page 20 of The Wonder of You
A girl in the same costume, but with a red jacket runs through the middle of the others and leads the show. They begin dancing and it really is a performance like no other. They spin, they jump and at one point, they even do a backflip. I watch as they twist their bodies in ways that I can’t ever imagine doing. Each move, each whirl and twirl are in time with the music that is playing. When it’s upbeat, they move around like flies. Fast and dramatic. Almost like they don’t know what they’re doing but at the same time, they know every movement and have practised it to perfection for years. Their arms reach into the air with a possessed energy when the music hits a fast tempo. I can’t take my eyes off them. The lights dim and the music slows. It takes my breath away when they start moving in slow motion like creepy broken dolls. If I was any closer, I’d probably be able tohear the cracks in their bones as they twist their necks and arms. I hear excited gasps and the occasional bright light of someone taking a picture.
I glance at Phoenix. His eyes are already on mine. Has he been watching me this whole time?
“They’re really good,” I whisper.
“They should be, they’ve been doing this for a very long time,” he grins and I wonder; how long? How long have they been doing this? Some of the girls look younger than me.
Maudie has been eight for a very long time.
Ignore the thoughts for now, I tell myself.
“Toni looks so proud,” I tell him. Her arms crossed, her head held high, watching the girls with pride.
“She trains them, and some of them are her daughters. Watch this bit,” he says and my eyes shoot to the centre stage. Toni runs into the group of women and they all lift her into the air. Toni is a big lady and my mouth drops. None of the girls look as if they’re struggling. They stand there with the same poker-faced expressions. When they drop her gently back down to the ground, the crowd erupts into clapping and shouting. Some whistle their compliments; some shout out to them in approval.
Toni comes forward and behind her, each girl bows and runs off like delicate birds to the back of the tent. I notice a hand pull a curtain back and they all leave behind it. I take a deep breath as I join in with the clapping. Toni mouths thank you to the crowd as she scans every person. Her eyes meet mine and she winks.
***
“Roll up, roll up! Everyone is a winner!”
Red and white suit man’s croaky voice shouts out to us as we walk towards his stall. I wonder if he is the voice that introduced the circus of horrors in the performance tent. He looks at me and a grin that is impossibly wide takes his face. His teeth are stained yellow. I wonder if it’s real or just make up so he appears a bit creepier.
He grabs my hand and kisses it as we walk by.
“My beautiful Renée, it’s been too long.”
I gulp. His touch didn’t shock me like it usually would, but it startles me into silence. Phoenix grips my other hand tighter and rubs his thumb softly over it. It eases me up a little.
“Hello,” I smile.
“You do not remember me?”
Disappointment takes over his face, and I feel guilty for my lack of memories, my lack of understanding as to what is going on here.
“I have a lot to learn,” I respond, hoping to bring his smile back.
“This is Henry,” Phoenix tells me. “And I’m going to kick his ass at this game.”
“You know the deal when I win, I get to dance with your lady.” Henry smiles at me and my vision blurs.
“You think you can beat me at my own game? Foolish!” Henry jokes. Phoenix stands back, a grumpy pout on his face as he crosses his arms and stands to the side. Henrygrabs my hand and pulls me into the middle of the field. The tents and stalls circle us, but my eyes only linger towards Phoenix. I see a smile take over his face, brightening up his already handsome features as he watches me dance.
Henry spins me, but as he lets go of my hand, I keep going. My dress whirls around me as I spin. I hear Maudie giggle. She runs towards me and copies what I am doing. My head grows dizzy and I stumble, but Phoenix catches me.
“Roll up, roll up, everyone is a winner!” Henry shouts as he walks back to his stall, trying to coax more visitors to play.
Phoenix leans in and kisses me and the rest of the world disappears.
“Are you okay?” Phoenix asks me. I look at him, then at Henry, who smiles as if he knows the memory that has just flashed through my mind.
“Yes, I was just thinking.” My eyes fix back on Henry. “How can everyone be a winner? How does that make it a competition?”
“Well, everyone gets one of these.” Henry holds up a keyring with a clown figure dangling from it. I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing out loud. He looks so proud. “But hardly anyone wins one of them.” He points towards the large animal teddies at the back.
“You see that one,” he points at the elephant. “She was based on our real elephant. We’re not allowed animals anymore. It was a very sad day saying goodbye to our Elle the elephant.”
Grandad slurps his coffee. “They had elephants and everything. A real special one. One of the men let me see her, he did… oh, what was the name? Was it Elle?”
