Turning at the clear, high-pitched voice behind me, I saw Ryla, wearing a giant birthday crown and rainbow dress, complete with rainbows drawn on her cheeks. I took a look around, but besides the imprisoned baby goats, bleating for their lives, no one else seemed to be out here.
I still took a wide step back from Ryla, making it clear to anyone watching that nothing inappropriate was happening.
“You must be the birthday girl! Yes! I’m Kent the Clown, here to amaze you with magic and wonder!”
Unconvinced, the tiny birthday girl in front of me narrowed her eyes. “Prove it.”
I attempted to swallow, though my mouth was already bone-dry after the interaction with her momma earlier.
“Your wish is my command.” I kneeled down as I tried to hide the tiny adjustment I made to my sleeve. “But first, a little present for the birthday girl!” I made a faux flower bouquet appear from my sleeve. I looked at the bouquet, then to Ryla, like,ta-da!
She’d jumped back when the bouquet first appeared, then hesitantly took a step forward to accept it. Tilting her head, she assessed me dubiously, correctly sizing me up as the clown imposter I was.
“Not bad. But can you do real magic?”
I put a hand over my heart. “That was real magic, of course! But yes, only the best tricks for you today. But first, hey! What’s that?”
As soon as I pulled the coin from behind her ear, the next trick in my arsenal, I remembered that I’d done this for her a few days ago. But it was too late. Ryla’s face lit when she first saw the coin, but then her expression turned quickly from suspicious toelated.Her mouth fell open and her eyes went comically wide, like my makeup and wig were stripped off.
“Mr. Jace?” she whispered.
Nervously, I ducked down, darting my head back and forth to check around us, and decided to come clean.
“Yeah, it’s me. I wanted to surprise you on your big day,” I whispered, thankful no one else was around when she launched herself at me, hugging me. She was sturdy for a little thing. I was kneeling and almost fell over. Hugging her back, more to help steady us both, I quickly set her away from me.
“But no one else knows it’s me. I’m tryin’ to break into the clown business,” I lied, feeling horrible. “So if you wouldn’t mindnottelling your momma?—”
I heard the patio door open, and my eyes locked with Leah Michaels, who taught third grade at the elementary school. And boy oh boy did she eye mehard.Ryla looked over and waved at Leah, whose face instantly transformed into a sweet smile.
“—or your Auntie Leah,” I added under my breath, “I’d appreciate it.”
Ryla shook her head, laughing. “That’s mommy’s friend, Leah. She’s not my aunt!”
I kept my tone hushed. “Still, if you could keep this between you and me, just for now, I promise I’ll make this the best show ever!”
She made a zipping motion of her lips then ran up the stairs and into the house. Leah gave Ryla a warm smile as she ran past her, then looked at me, her smile dropping instantly. She pointed two fingers to her eyes, then pointed them to me; theI’m watching youmessage was received loud and clear.
If my mouth hadn’t already been bone-dry, I’d have gulped. I was definitely going to jail.
* * *
“Hiya, kids! I’m Kent the Clown! And I hear there’s a very special birthday today, and I’m here to celebrate with you!”
Crickets.
No wait, bleating. All I could hear was the bleating of the tiny goats who were all staring at me from inside their pen on the lawn.
Shaving his head. Gluing his socks together. Putting water in his gas tank.
All of these retribution options were too tame for my former best friend, the one I texted quickly after finding Sam was missing from the party.
The kids sat silently on the stone stairs in front of me, their parents behind them. All of whom were staring blankly at me. Because people, as a rule, do not like clowns. When Polly first led me through the house to the backyard, one girl screamed and ran away, crying for her momma.
Polly was standing in the back, arms crossed. Her daddy stood to her left, arms also crossed. I stood up straighter. I had a job to do. And I didn’t want to ruin Ryla’s birthday. The show must go on.
“What do I have here?” I held up three raw eggs. The two prop eggs I’d need later were hidden safely in the pouch at my waist. Two hands shot up.
“What do you think, little lady?” I pointed to a girl in a green dress.
