Page 27 of The Wonder of You

“You do say some wonderful things, Lukas.” I hear them both laugh and just like that, I know I am slipping. Their voices become quieter; I think Lukas is saying bye, but I am unsure. With Phoenix’s hand still gently on my head, my mind clouds and I am taken into memories of a different time.

Chapter 19

Immortal Land

Golden Valley

1645

“We’ll need more money soon, the food won’t last for long,” Lydia says as we walk towards the circus. I am excited to see it. I’ve never been to a circus before. It’s free to go in as they haven’t been open for long and want to attract more guests. It must be fun to create your own circus. I wish Lydia wouldn’t ruin the good mood.

“We have enough money, why do you always say that?”

“We don’t have enough for more things, though. Have you seen my friends Jesse and Rosa? They have those statin dresses – so much nicer than these rags we call dresses!”

She sighs at me as if I should know better.

“We don’t need those; we just need food and a place to live. We have enough for that. Why do you want more?” I argue.

“Oh, forget it, you wouldn’t understand! I am getting frustrated with not having these nice things. I won’t sell my body for it. Dad wouldn’t even allow it!”

“Well neither will I,” I say, wanting to throw up at the idea. Lydia looks at me and then turns away. Does she want me to sell myself? She can think again.

“I’m fed up with these damn stupid clothes. Look at them!” Lydia pulls on the sides of her dress collar, as if I haven’t already seen what she’s wearing today. She looks fine. She looks pretty, even. Lydia is the image of our long-gone mother, as our father would say with pride in his eyes.

“They look like bed sheets; how can you not see that? How can you be okay with what you’re wearing?” She scowls at me and aggressively grabs my own dress collar. Its grubby and needs to be washed. Lydia notices this and cringes. She wipes her hand on the side of herself as if I’m disgusting. “You have weird little stripes on yours. Are you not embarrassed?”

“No,” I reply.

She tuts, frustration taking over her features as she continues looking me up and down.

“We should call you Stripey Stipey,” she laughs.

“Let’s just go to this circus already, it was your idea!” I walk faster to get away from her. I’m used to ignoring Lydia’s remarks about lack of money, bad clothing and her friends having more than us. I’m used to her insults too, the attempts at giving me a nickname to tease me with. It still gets me, though. She’s meant to be my sister. Not my bully. I keep walking to try and calm the lump growing in my throat. I don’t want to cry. It’ll only push Lydia to make more comments.

“Yeah, I don’t want to go, but I also want to get out the house,” she huffs. “Anything is better than the four walls of that tiny house. We need to move. To find somewhere bigger, less smelly. It reeks in there.”

I ignore her. This is typical ungrateful Lydia. There is one thing I can agree with though; it’s nice to get outside of the house.

The colourful tents greet us and my body matches my excitement. Goosebumps take over and I feel like a child again. Well, I feel like a child for the first time. I am not sure if I ever got a childhood, really.

We walk in and I spin around, taking in everything in sight; the tents, the spindly acrobats, the stalls full of goodies. There is a man shoutingroll up, roll up!I even see an elephant being petted by a man dressed like a clown.

“This is really something,” I say as I take inThe Golden Valley Circusand all its glory. I want to stay forever. I look around to see what Lydia thinks, but she’s already walking off with some random man, her finger twirling around her hair as she tries flirting with him. It’s typical of her to leave me, but I feel like I might be okay here. The man in the red and white striped suit starts waving frantically in my direction. I look around, but he is indeed trying to get my attention. I walk over, beginning to feel shy.

“Hello,” is all I can muster, but it’s a good enough start.

“Fancy a prize? Everyone is a winner!”

“I just came to look around. I don’t have any money. If my sister thought I was spending money on games, she’d try drowning me,” I chuckle. I know I am babbling, but it’s just what I do. The words either get stuck or come out all at once.

“I think I can give a free try to a pretty lady like you,” he grins. I wave my hand around aimlessly and blush, all embarrassed. No one has ever paid me such a compliment.

“Henry, are you trying to flirt with the customers again?” a voice says behind me. I look back and see a man wearing a three-piece suit. He has pale skin and wavy black hair with curls framing his face. My heart sinks.

I can’t take my eyes off him, and he seems to be in the same position as me.

Is he staring at me like that because he thinks I am weird? Or is he feeling what I am feeling? No, what a silly thought, he can’t possibly like little old me.

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