The Boy and the Travelling Circus by Chris Lloyd

Benjamin Witherbread, age 6 and a half, was staring at a rather strange sight from his bedroom window. The room, hence the window, was on the highest and oldest part of his parent’s rickety, rackety house. The house, as any sensible living thing would surmise, looked as if it would fall down if someone or something blew on it with even a small puff of air. However, it had stood at the end of a large wood near a muddy track which seemed to be going nowhere other than to circle the wood, for probably two or maybe sixteen hundreds of days or months or possible years. Nobody knew. Not even Benjamin’s Father or Mother come to that. His grandfather Silas however knew to the day.

            The “Strange Sight” that filled the young Benjamin’s good eye looked very colourful and he was reasonably sure that flags were fluttering although it could be something else. He patiently waited for it to come nearer so that he could see it properly with his good eye. It stopped. Benjamin waited and was willing the “thing” to move again. It did not. This was a quandary for the boy because his parents were not at home and at such times, he was to remain in the house, pointedly, in his bedroom which was …. as you know. He kept willing whatever it was to come nearer but no matter how hard he tried, it stayed where it was. After what seemed like a century to the boy, he noticed something very colourful coming towards him. It was a big yellow bird making a noise. It landed on the wooden window ledge flapping his wings as it tried to get purchase on it. Much to Benjamin’s surprise it started to speak.

 

“Benjamin, Benjamin come to the circus,” it squawked, “we await your presence.”

“I cannot Mr Bird. I am to stay in my bedroom when my mother and father are not at home.”

“Not even to go to the circus, the best place in the whole wide world? You could see all the

animals, jugglers, tightrope walkers, amazing Lions and Tigers. Yet you do not want to.”

“I want to more than anything but I cannot.”

“I could fly you there, it would take just a jiffy.”

“I must not, I must not.”

“What if I could make your wonky eye better, Benjamin – would you like that?”

“How do you know I have a wonky eye, Mr Bird?”

“I know all things, Benjamin,” said the bird, “ask me anything you like and I shall give you the correct answer, anything. But if I somehow fail you will never see me again.”

“I don’t know questiony things, Mr Bird,” said Benjamin, “except one.”

“I know the answer; ask me it.”

“What is my…?”

“Silas,” said the bird.

“How did you know that?” Benjamin asked, feeling slightly wobbly.

“I told you I did. Now Benjamin let’s go to the circus, everyone is waiting to see you.”

“Will you really make my wonky eye better to see through Mr Bird?”

“Yes, I promise I will, come rook or by brook or readable book, that is my promise to you.”

“I will have to be back by teatime, Mr Bird.”

“Splendid – we shall have a grand day out.”

 

The big yellow bird scooped the boy up and sat him between his feathery ears and as they swooped, twisted and turned over houses and woodland, fields and rivers, the wind in their faces. Benjamin held on tight to the bird’s ears as they made their way to the where the circus tents were pitched in a large yellow and red circle of tents, flags, sideshows and cages where animals were pacing around and making their individual noises. To Benjamin, this was his dream come true.

The big yellow bird descended slowly and landed on a large humpy camel who did not seem mind being used as a landy sort of place. Benjamin slid off the big yellow bird and onto one of the camel’s humps. It was wibbly as well as wobbly but very warm. It was a bit smelly too but Benjamin didn’t mind that – he was at the circus, after all. He slid to the floor down the camel’s tail, very smelly, and looked all around. There was movement everywhere and noises that he had never heard in his old house. These were exciting noises, a cacophony of many noises. He walked and poked his head in any gaps he could see through. Lions roaring on top of huge barrels with a man with a long stick tickling their tummies. Acrobats swinging and spinning high in the tent and sliding down ropes. He was astounded. How could all this be going on so near to his bedroom? He looked to where his old house should be but it was nowhere to be seen. The big yellow bird had disappeared too.

He decided to look in two more tents before getting worried. It must surely be teatime because his tummy was feeling awfully empty.

The first tent he looked into was full of costumes for clowns. There were even some big red noses. He put one on. All of a sudden, he could hear music and see people in funny clothes. They seemed to be having a good time and they waved to him as they passed by. He took the nose off and they disappeared.

He went to the second tent and popped his head through a gap. What he saw astounded him. The Big Yellow Bird was perched on a large stick talking to his mother, father and his grandad Silas. And they were talking about his wonky eye. He tried to make them see him but somehow, they could not. Benjamin did not know what to do and was now very hungry indeed.

He decided to make his way back to the place where the big yellow bird landed, on the smelly camel’s back. But first he had to remember where that was. He stood still and thought. As he did an idea occurred to him. If he kept walking round all the tents, he would eventually find the camel. He started but quite soon he realised how big the circus must be – it was like seeing the same tent over and over. He kept walking but was beginning to get very tired. He decided to stop for a sleep, just a few minutes.

“Benjamin it’s school time. Come for breakfast, Grandad is here too.”

He jumped awake, got dressed and went downstairs; he felt very hungry and there was something different today. He could not immediately think what it was. Then he knew. His wonky eye! It wasn’t wonky anymore!

“Benjamin, why have you got a bright yellow feather in your hair?” asked his father.

His Grandad Silas chuckled to himself as he heard the question.

 

The End.