Standing in a country field, my memories take me back to the day the circus came to town. We knew the day they would come because they had plastered big signs all over the town telling of their arrival. I was eleven years old when the circus got into my blood and never left. The sound of the circus trains whistle was heard in the distance as town folk gathered in this very field to witness what would be the highlight of their day for some time to come.

The smell of the animals filled the air as the train slowed to a stop with screeching brakes and a few sharp blasts of the whistle announcing it had arrived. Not a second was wasted as the workers got busy unloading everything needed to erect the tents while others guided the cramped animals to a waiting field that had been fenced in prior to the train’s arrival. Further down the cars filled with circus people opened its doors and out they came dressed in costumes to colorful to imagine. Clowns in every shape and size greeted the crowd with honks from their horns as they passed out balloons to the kids. Wives in the crowd covered their husband’s eyes as the most beautiful women in the world wearing hardly anything, passed by waving and blowing kisses.

Soon they were all lined up and making their way to town in a parade that captured my attention and made me realize I belonged there with them not just as a spectator, but really with them. Times were hard back then. The great recession took away even the simplest of pleasure except for when the circus came to town. Moms hid away small coins in a soda tin far back in a cupboard never letting on to anybody where it was. She knew Dad would be angry but what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, or her.

The first evening performance lit the night sky with lights of every color and the smell of cotton candy, peanuts and popcorn almost brought you to tears. Waiting in the ticket line I saw dad pull a piece of cloth out of his pocket that contained a few coins. After adding the cost for four tickets he realized he was short by a single dime. Mom smiled and opened her purse reaching inside and pulling out a handful of coins that she handed to dad who squeezed her arm and smiled as he bought our tickets. Back then the price of admission was all you needed to ride the rides, The games of chance each cost a nickel and we didn’t have many of those so, we would walk through the games and carefully choose the ones we thought were our best bet at winning something.

My sister thought the hoop throw was her ticket to a giant stuffed bear that she said would share her room with her forever and ever. She never did win one. I was a fair shot back then. My dad taught me to shoot and my first time hunting I got a turkey that was served that thanksgiving. The shooting gallery was my game for sure. My first shot was way off to the left, so I adjusted my sites and tried again. that time it was too far to the right. With only one shot left I adjusted my sites but this time I shot a little lower and a hair above center. Bullseye, I won. I had my choice of all sorts of neat things but eventually picked a wooden toy boat in a bottle. That prize stayed with me through my younger year and eventually was handed down to my son who treasured it as much as I did.

Our night at the circus was a family affair that we carried on for many years. The sights and smells remain with me and always will. In between graduating from high school and looking for a job, I joined up with the circus as a grunt which meant shoveling animal poop and any other nasty jobs, they told me to do. I didn’t mind the work and soon gained the respect of the other workers who became good friends. I had thought this was just temporary until something better came along but, one day I opened my eyes and I had been with the circus for eight years. I eventually became a barker wooing people into the various attractions and as it turned out, I was pretty good at it. I fell in love with the star of the main attraction an equestrian who could ride a horse like no one I had ever seen. She had a bond with her animals that was special to anyone who saw her perform. Eventually, we were married, and our first child was born in our wagon between shows. The second child came two years later, and we were officially a circus family. We saw good times and bad but all those years in the circus gave us more memories than one could hope for. It was during winter in Florida that both my wife and I decided our time was drawing to an end. The circus was hard. Two shows a day seven days a week can tear a body apart. Our children were grown each with their own acts and would not change it for the world. Saying goodbye was difficult but after settling down in a house without wheels we bid them and the circus Farwell. OH, we still go to the circus every time it comes even close to where we live. Walking up to the ticket counter I reach into my pocket and pay by credit card. A far cry from mom and dads’ pieces of cloth containing a few coins. My wife smiles as I take her hand and softly say, “WELCOME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH”