The Tiny Ringmaster Read online

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2012 by Jennifer L. Clark.

  All rights reserved.

  First electronic publication: May 2011.

  www.jlclark.org

  For my Allen

  Title Page

  Chapter 1: After School

  Chapter 2: The Giants Beyond the Forest

  Chapter 3: The Transformation

  Chapter 4: The Elders

  Chapter 5: The Townspeople on the Hill

  Chapter 6: The Prophecy

  Chapter 7: The Banquet

  Chapter 8: Math Class

  Chapter 9: The Training Begins

  Chapter 10: The Waterfalls

  Chapter 11: The Dress Rehearsals

  Chapter 12: The Tunnel Beyond the Waterfalls

  Chapter 13: The Portals

  Chapter 14: The Tiny Ringmaster

  Chapter 15: The Final Performance

  Chapter 16: The Return

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Ruth hopped off the school bus, missing the last step. The bus driver shook her head as she closed the door. She decided that she wouldn’t waste her voice on Ruth today.

  Ruth didn’t slow down as she ran up the sidewalk, flung the front door open, and threw her backpack on the floor. The backpack slid on the hardwood floor until it hit the wall with a resounding thud. Ruth sprinted up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door shut.

  Her mom yelled, “RUTH! You know you’re not supposed to throw your backpack at the foot of the stairs! You left the front door wide open! And don’t slam that door anymore! You can’t even come down and tell your own mother hello?”

  Ruth sighed as she flung herself onto her bed. She heard her mom continue.

  “Ruth! RUTH! Ruth, honey, you ok? I’m in the kitchen if you need to talk about it!”

  Ruth shut her eyes tightly. She didn’t want to answer a million questions, and she definitely didn’t want to worry about the talent show any more. School was quickly becoming a miserable place to be, and it would only get worse if her band made fools out of themselves. Today, Lindie Meez stopped her in the hallway just to let her know that Lindie’s dance group’s routine was “award-winning.” Ruth responded like a proud peacock, completely un-phased. She even mentioned that her band would “crush” Lindie’s act. Half of Ruth’s grade heard their exchange, and now she wasn’t so convinced that she had the chops to back it up.

  She opened her eyes to peer at the glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to her ceiling. Her dad helped her put them up a few months ago against her mom’s wishes, and Ruth loved them. Even if it only lasted five minutes, they turned her room into a magical space every night. She secretly wished that they would take her away, but she would never admit it.

  Since Ruth had no escape plan, she figured that she could at least practice until dinner. She peeled herself off her comfy bed and looked around on the floor for her backpack. She rolled her eyes as she realized it was at the bottom of the stairs next to the kitchen. She sat for a minute at the edge of her bed, considering her plan of attack. She would just have to go for it. She walked towards her bedroom door and took a deep breath. It was go time.

  Ruth inched her door open and quietly peered out of her bedroom down to the bottom of the stairs where her backpack sat. She huffed – what a rookie mistake. She knew better than to leave her things anywhere but her bedroom. She squeezed out of the small opening in her door and tiptoed towards the stairs. She was confident that she could descend without a sound, so she began bravely.

  Halfway down, she paused. She would have to grab her backpack and run like the wind back up the stairs before her mom noticed. She slumped as she realized how unrealistic her plan had been. It was all a lost cause. She might as well face her mom and get it over with before dinner. She proceeded down the stairs to the kitchen. Darla stared lovingly at her daughter and pursed her lip in concern. The line of questioning began.

  “Ruth? Are you ok?”

  Ruth halted an eye roll. “Yes, mom. I’m fine.”

  “Honey, it’s just not like you to be so upset. Did you have a bad day at school? How’s practice going?”

  Ruth slithered onto the kitchen barstool and cupped her head in her hands. “Terrible. We’ll never win anything.”

  Darla sighed gently and walked over to her. “That bad, huh?”

  “We just can’t get the song right. We picked a song that was too hard.” Ruth paused when she felt her eyes watering. “We’re going to make a fool out of ourselves.”

  Darla shook her head. “No, you aren’t. You are going to be wonderful. You guys just need a little more practice, that’s all. You still have a week, don’t you?” Ruth nodded, but she remained unconvinced. Her mom continued. “Well, then, you’ll be fine, as long as none of you give up.” Ruth didn’t appreciate the way her mom’s eyebrows lifted when she said this. Luckily, Darla didn’t notice her daughter’s ungratefulness. “You just have to practice all week long. Now, do you want a snack?”

  Ruth shook her head, which suddenly felt like it had become one hundred pounds. “No, I need to go practice.”

  Darla nodded in agreement. “Only until dinner. Then you have to do your homework. I don’t want your grades slipping because you decided that this talent show was more important.”

  Ruth hopped off the barstool. She mustered a “yes, mom” with as little attitude as possible.

  She walked backed into the foyer and stooped to grab her backpack. Luckily, she only had a few more math problems to do since she finished most of them on the bus. She knew that she’d have to commit ninety percent of her free time to this song and the talent show, so she didn’t goof off like normal.

  Ruth climbed the stairs to her bedroom. She found herself counting them - one, two, three, four. She just kept trying to get her mind off how terrible the practice had gone. Not everyone in the band practiced as hard. How were they ever going to win the trophy and the chance to play at homecoming if their lead singer couldn’t even remember all the words?

  Ruth kicked her door open and threw her backpack on the bed. She peered around her room. Posters covered all her walls. She had stolen a few from her dad - The Beatles, U2. Her mom had also contributed - The Mamas and the Papas, Janis Joplin. She stood, gazing at all of these great bands, and she knew that she was bound to be famous just like them. Right now, though, she was stuck in a middle school gym with a lead singer who didn’t know the words.

  She unzipped her backpack and stared in. There, in all of their glory, were her lucky drumsticks, even though they didn’t feel very lucky these days. They were black with little white stars on them. Her dad picked them up for her on a vacation. He taught her to play the drums, and she was never very far away from her lucky sticks. She shuttered to think if they ever went missing or were broken. She knew that they were the reason she could play well.

  She sat down behind her drums. Her brother would come in soon to annoy her. He hated when she played the same song over and over and louder and louder. Sometimes she got in trouble for being too loud. Her mom usually won the argument, which always ended in silencing pads. She hated when that happened, but she really couldn’t do anything about it.

  She got up to press play on her iPod. She made sure the play list was on repeat and sat down again at her drum set. She’d play until dinner.

  “RUTH!! RUUUUUUUTTTTHHHHH!!! David, will you go get your daughter so she can eat something? She is a toothpick.”

  He kissed her forehead, “You and your food. You are a mom.�
��

  She winked back at him. “Don’t tell anyone.”

  David ran up the stairs and opened the door. Ruth looked up in shock and horror.

  “DAD! You have to knock!”

  He laughed, “Honey, you wouldn’t have heard the knock.” He gave her a big smile, but she was still annoyed at his entrance. “Everything is sounding great!” Ruth was not impressed. She knew her dad had to say things like that. David knew his daughter well enough to know that she wouldn’t believe him, but he tried to encourage her anyway. “I’m serious! Now, go wash your hands, and come eat dinner.”

  Ruth slumped on her stool. “Alright.”

  “And tell your mom that you liked dinner. She worked hard to make sure you guys had something to eat.”

  Ruth nodded.

  After she washed her hands, she headed down the stairs to the dining room. Her mom looked up from setting the table. “Is your brother on his way?”

  Ruth shrugged. A rumbling came from the top of the stairs. Her brother ran in, almost knocking over the table on his way to the other side. Darla closed her eyes in exasperation. “Charlie, slow down. You know better than to run in the house. Did you wash your hands?” Charlie nodded sheepishly, and Darla shook her head. “Don’t lie to your mother.”

  “Ok, I didn’t.”

  “Well you better hurry! You know what happens if you get back to the table after I start serving!” Charlie ran off to wash his hands. Darla shook her head again. “I don’t know where that boy gets all his energy from.”

  Ruth sat quietly the whole time. This happened every night. Charlie would come crashing into the dining room, get in trouble, go wash his hands, and run back in before mom started serving. It was annoying. “You’d think he’d learn the routine by now. It’s not that hard.”

  David looked across the table at Ruth. “Ruth, that’s not your place. You have to remember that he’s only six.”

  Charlie ran back into the dining room and sat at the table. Darla smiled. “Alright everyone! Time to eat!” She brought out mashed potatoes, peas, and worst of all, meat loaf.

  Ruth did not like what she saw. Her mom was not known to be the best cook, and tonight’s meal didn’t look at all appetizing. School lunches were usually better than her mom’s cooking. She tried hard not to gag. “I’m not that hungry.”

  “Ruthie! You eat like a bird these days! You need some food!”

  Ruth didn’t want to start a fight with her mom while her dad stared straight at her. “Ok, thanks mom.”

  David nodded approvingly.

  Ruth choked down as much dinner as she could stomach. She put down her fork and looked up at the clock - 6:50. Her mom looked at Ruth and Charlie and then down at their plates. “Are you both full?” They both nodded fiercely. Darla looked over at David. “Since it’s a little later than normal, you two can go upstairs and start your homework. I want it done by 8:30.”

  Ruth and Charlie energetically pushed out their chairs.

  “Thanks mom.”

  “Thanks mom.”

  Both ran up the stairs to their bedrooms.

  Ruth hurried in and locked the door. She tried not to make eye contact with Charlie because she didn’t want him following her. She looked up at her clock. She stared over at her math homework. She decided that she could do it in the morning, or after her parents went to bed. She dragged her favorite chair over to the window. Someone knocked loudly at the door, and she knew who it was.

  “Opppeeenn Seeeassammee!”

  “No, Charlie! Go away! Leave me alone!”

  “Opppeeennn Seeasssammme!”

  “CHARLIE, GO AWAY!”

  “OPPPPPEEENNN SEEEAAASSAAMMEE!!!”

  “CHARLIE, I SAID GO AWAY!!”

  “MOOOOOOMMMMMYYYY!!!! RUUTTHHIIEEE IS YELLING AT ME!!!”

  There was a pause. For a moment, Ruth thought that something had distracted Charlie. Her stomach sank when she heard a small knock.

  “Ruth, please open the door.”

  Ruth huffed as she walked toward the door. She opened the door slowly. Charlie and her mom were standing there.

  “Please apologize to your little brother.”

  “But mom! He was banging and yelling at my door!”

  “You could have opened the door and asked him politely to leave.”

  “He was yelling first!”

  Her mom looked at both of them and kneeled down to look at Charlie. “Charlie, you can’t bang on your sister’s door when it’s closed. You have to knock politely and then you have to leave her alone if she asks nicely. You understand?” Charlie nodded. “Apologize to your sister.”

  “I’m sorry sissy.”

  “Ruth, apologize to your brother for yelling.”

  Ruth paused. She looked up at her clock again, contemplating how long she wanted to draw this out. She decided that she didn’t have the energy tonight.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Her mom nodded. “Alright, Charlie. Go to your room. Daddy will come play a game with you.”

  Charlie ran down the hall. “Yaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!”

  “You have to learn to be nicer to your brother. He didn’t choose you for a sibling either.”

  “Mom!”

  Darla chuckled and kissed her on her forehead. “Enjoy your quiet time.”

  Ruth shut the door quickly and locked it. She walked over to her iPod and pressed play. She opened her window so she could feel the quiet night air, and she turned off her light.

  She sat down in her chair and gazed up at her stars. She stretched out her arms and exhaled. She just wanted to listen to music and not think about the drums, her math homework, her annoying brother, or her terrible dinner. She just wanted to be anywhere but here.

  “Glow-in-the-dark stars, things pretty much suck right now. I don’t guess… can you? I just don’t want to be here.” She shook her head in disgust. “What a stupid thing to ask, Ruth. You’re too old to make wishes on stars. Besides, those aren’t even real.” She closed her eyes as they started to water.

  Ruth took a long, slow breath. It was cold and dark. It was much colder and darker than when she first opened her window. She reached out her hand to grab the chair beneath her, but all she felt was dirt. Her eyes flew open, and she stood straight up. She turned around confused and slightly panicked. Where was she? This wasn’t her room. She looked up. She blinked a few times to make sure she was actually seeing what she thought she was seeing. She was definitely not in her room – there weren’t any gigantic trees in her room. She had to be in a forest. Why was she in a forest? How was she in a forest?

  “I’m dreaming. I’m dreaming right now, and I need to wake up.” She closed her eyes again tightly. “Wake up, Ruth. Wake up… Please, wake up.” She opened her eyes and began to feel scared. She closed her eyes and pinched her arm. “Ow.” She pinched her arm again harder. “OW!” Her eyes flew open. She was still in the dark forest. The trees were thick and very tall with no grass on the ground - only cold, damp dirt.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of Ruth. You’re just having a little dream, and you’ll wake up soon when mom comes to kiss you goodnight.” She tried to convince herself of this. The big trees loomed. She didn’t know what to do. She felt lost and alone. She wished that she were back at home in her pajamas curled up with her mom and dad on the couch eating ice cream. She’d even rather be at school fighting with Lindie.

  She turned to get a good look at things. She had to make a decision. She wasn’t sure which way to go, but she knew she couldn’t stay here. She looked down at her shoes, and she noticed that her right shoelace was untied. She walked over to a log and sat down to tie it. She sat there for a while, trying to look for some sort of sign. There was nothing. It was terribly quiet.

  She put her head in her hands. As she fought back tears, she had an awful thought. “The stars!” She swung her head to gaze at the night sky. It was full of twinkling stars. She began to breathe faster. “No, no, Ruth. There is no way those stupid glow-in-the-da
rk stars brought you here. You are just dreaming. Get a hold of yourself!”

  A trumpet sounded, and Ruth jumped. She sat totally still and held her breath. She could hear a faint noise somewhere in the distance. She stood up at attention. To her right, she noticed a bright, distant light. She paused, reminding herself that she needed to be brave. She decided that her best option was to go towards the light. Her stomach growled loudly. “Great.”

  She walked slowly through the woods, trying not trip on anything. She didn’t want to break an ankle out here alone. She tried everything she could think of to calm herself, but now she was angry. Why did she fall asleep before doing her homework? If she had stayed awake, she would be brushing her teeth right about now. Instead, she was trying to find her way out of a strange forest.

  Ruth was surprised to find a path carved into the ground as the trees became sparser, but she still avoided looking down at her feet for fear of what she might see. She just looked straight ahead. “Just keep moving. You’ll get out of here soon enough.” As she approached the edge of the forest, the light grew brighter, and the noise grew louder. She still couldn’t make out exactly what was going on, but she could hear music and laughing. This reassured her.

  At the forest’s edge, she could see that the light was a circus tent. The doorway was only half pulled back, so she couldn’t see what was going on inside. She figured that it was probably a party. Her stomach growled again. “People at parties usually have food,” she said decidedly.

  There was no point in stopping now. She really didn’t have any other option because she was not going back into the empty forest. She stood at the edge and stared at the tent. She gave herself another pep talk, and she marched towards the doorway. When she reached the doorway, she hesitated. What if the people weren’t friendly? What if they didn’t want her there? What if they asked her questions she couldn’t answer? She wasn’t sure of anything, but curiosity got the best of her. She quietly and timidly opened the doorway.