Chapter Five

Oliver

A loud clunk followed by a distinctive hum echoed through the tent before six vibrant spotlights fell on the center ring. There he was. Jules was dressed in white britches, knee-high black books, a crimson tailcoat, and a black top hat. His blonde hair was slicked back in his typical hairstyle.

Of course, he was the ring leader! Why didn't I think of that before? Why else would a random Frenchman be in town?

"Mesdames et Messieurs! I proudly present my wolves!" Jules's voice bounced off of the tent, his last statement catching everyone off guard.

Whispers engulfed the audience. "Wolves?" "What does he mean?" "Are we in danger, mommy?"

Before I made out any other words, the sound of paws hitting the ground radiated from beside me. I instinctively gulped and scooted closer to the older couple I was sitting beside.

"It's okay, son." The old man leaned over his wife and tried to comfort me. "I have been to many of a circus, and they always have their beasts under control."

"Beasts? Have you ever seen wolves, though?" I replied.

Before he could respond, the lights in the tent turned back on. Running around the ring was at least a dozen wolves, all seeming to vary in colors. One thing that they shared....they were huge, except for one. There was one that was strikingly white.

"Do not be scared of my wolves! They will not hurt you!" Jules called to the audience. The white wolf came and laid at his feet.

A black wolf jumped through a ring that was set up behind Jules. The rest of the wolves followed suit. None of them seemed to want to be left behind. It almost seemed like it was a game.

The audience oohed and ahhed at the wolves. The louder the audience cheered, the more the wolves seemed to put their all into the show. It indeed was mesmerizing.

"What do you think? Is it time for something a little more dramatic?" Jules boomed.

The crowd was eating out of his hands. I didn't think they could get any louder, but they proved me wrong.

"Let me introduce you to the one and only Mademoiselle Rosemary!" A girl with flaming red hair glided down from the ceiling, resting on a bar. She wore a tight black leotard with a black tutu and black ballet slippers. Her hair was swept up into a bun with a large feathered hair ornament.

Rosemary curtsied for just a moment before launching herself onto the back of a gray wolf. The wolf seemed completely unfazed as it continued to run around the ring. Rosemary let go of the wolf and stood upon the wolf's back.

The big top went utterly silent as they watched her. Everyone was hanging on her every movement. You could cut the tension in the tent with a knife as she relevéd into an arabesque.

Rosemary looked as if she was dancing on air. Her moves were pure grace throughout her routine. When her dance was over, the gray wolf slowed down to a trot and let her dismount. She nuzzled her face again the wolf's snout before she curtsied one last time.

The crowd erupted into applause and cheers. Rosemary looked unfazed as she climbed back onto the wolf's back and rode it out of the tent past me. A parade of wolves followed after her, with the pure white bringing up the end.

As the wolf walked past me, it seemed to almost throw its chin up in the air. I cocked my head to the side in a confused manner. Did that wolf just give me attitude?

"Wasn't she beautiful?!" Jules's voice commanded the audience to pay attention to him again. Everyone's neck craned back towards the center ring. "Si belle! Now for something a little more lively!"

As soon as the words left his lips, a loud crash of cymbals crashed, causing everyone to jerk their head to look to the opening on the other side of the tent. A five-piece band burst into the tent, followed by jugglers, clowns, and the fire-breather I saw the day before.

The acts were the complete opposite of Rosemary. These guys were loud, crass, and moronic, but they were terrific. My ribs were sore from laughter. Tears threatened to leak from the corners of my eyes.

When was the last time I laughed like this? It had to be years? Maybe even a decade?

The night went by in a blur. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. A whirlwind of emotions whipped around inside of me. What kind of magic did this place hold? How did they do it?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this night has been one for the books! Do not worry; we have one more act!" Jules was standing in the center of the ring as the lights shut off in the tent one by one. "I present to you, my angel."

A soft beam of light clacked on aimed towards the center of the ring, where a tawny wolf stood alone. The sound of a piano vibrated in the tent, followed by a violin.

"Ah! Winter from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi!" The elderly woman beside me hoarsely cried out in a whisper. Her voice seemed to catch in her throat as she grabbed her husband's hand. Her husband grinned and rested his hand on her's.

I turned my attention back to the center ring just to watch a white fabric cascade down from the roof of the tent behind the wolf. The material dragged the ground as it began to slowly coil its way around the wolf until the wolf vanished into a sea of white.

As the silk slowly unwound, the wolf was gone, and in its place was a woman wearing a sparkling white and gold costume. She had honey blonde dripping down in luscious curls. She was gorgeous. I had never seen anyone more beautiful in my life.

At the sight of her, the crowd went wild. She flashed the crowd a wickedly cocky grin as she entangled her hands into the fabric of the silk. Before I could gawk at her for one more second, she took flight in the air.

I had never seen anything like it. My heart hammered in my chest as I watched the girl. I couldn't take my eyes off her as she soared through the air like an angel. She commanded the whole audience, barely letting anyone breathe, let alone think.

The violin and piano encouraged her to go faster. Throwing her body upside down and only hanging on with her legs. Her hair and hands dangling as she spun around the ring.

Something about her made my heart leap into my throat. She was wild with reckless abandonment but, at the time, so poised.

As the music slowed its tempo, her movements became more controlled and graceful. Everything about her seemed to soften.

Every time she climbed that ribbon and dropped, I thought my heart was going to croak.

I didn't realize it until the music stopped and her toes touched the ground that I was holding my breath the whole time. The tent erupted into applause.

I never clapped or cheered so hard in my life. Just to see her, it was worth giving up a meal...it was worth giving up a dozen meals.

"Wasn't my angel the epitome of perfection?" Jules appeared as the white fabric disappeared back into the ceiling of the tent. He grabbed the woman's hand and spun her before she bowed.

As the cheers and screams bounced off the walls, the wolves from earlier slowly entered the tent. They did a leisurely lap around the ring before laying down behind Jules and the woman. No one feared the wolves now. They were a part of a truly magical experience.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Children of all ages! Thank you for coming out to our show tonight!" Jules wrapped his arm around the silk woman's waist. I felt my stomach twist in knots.

"We hope you enjoyed our spectacular spectacle! We hope you have a wonderful night!"

As I watched Jules whisper into her ear, causing her to swat at his chest before stealing his top hat to wear, I knew that I had to meet her. I didn't have many wants or desires in life these days, but I wanted her.