Chapter Seven

Oliver

It was as if time slowed on its axis as she turned around.  The star's light twinkled in her eyes blue eyes, turning them into pools of constellations.  Her hair caught the moonlight, making her look like a mythical creature...or maybe even an angel.

"Jules, honey, you know I like my quiet time after the show."  Elsie's voice wasn't like anything I had ever heard before.  There was a strength in her tone but, at the same time, something soft.

"I know; I am sorry."  Jules tucked his chin down and looked at the train car.  He was like a puppy being scolded; I almost felt bad for the guy.  "This is my new friend Oliver Graham.  He seemed so mesmerized by your act.  I thought he would like to meet you."

"Ah, a new friend..."  She repeated his words, but she seemed genuinely curious.  She walked towards us, her bare feet dully thudding against the metal of the train.  "The name is Elsie, Elsie Mackenzie.  It's nice a meet anyone new."

Elise stuck her hand out to me, and I took it.  I was expecting a gentle ladylike handshake, but I swear she was trying to break my hand.  Elsie was making sure I knew she was the one in charge of this interaction.  Elsie didn't need to show her dominance; I was putty in her hand already.

"It's nice to meet you.  Your act was absolutely amazing, a gasser for sure.  I've never seen anything like it before."  I hoped I wasn't drooling.

"Most people haven't."  She beamed; clearly, she was proud of her craft.  I couldn't blame her for it.  "Jules taught it to me.  He saw it at a circus in the countryside of France before he came over to the states."

"Ah, she gives me too much credit.  She is the one who made my words come to life.  Without her, it would just be fabric dangling from the tent."  I swear I saw a tinge of pink stain his cheeks as he spoke.  His accent seemed to become thicker the longer we were in Elsie's presence.  "The girl I saw do it before couldn't hold a candle to my angel.  No one can."

"We aren't in the ring; drop the angel, Jules."  Elsie rolled her eyes at Jules and shook her head.  Was this a typical discussion between them?

"I can't help it, Elsie."  Jules grinned at her.  "You look like an angel in and out of the ring."

Elsie's face contorted into an irritated grimace; she looked like she was ready to fire back at him.  However, the sound of someone stumbling up the metal ladder interrupted her.  All of our eyes fell to the edge waiting for whoever the person was to appear.

I silently jumped out of my skin as the man with the creepy clown makeup head eerily appeared.  His facial makeup had faded, but the red smears still were disturbing.

"Jules, you are needed."  The man's voice was gruff and sounded like he swallowed a gallon of rocks.

"Oh, yes.  Of course, I will be right there."  Jules took Elsie's hand in his and raised it to his lips. Jules kissed it, letting his lips linger for an awkward amount of time.  "Elsie, doll, will you entertain Oliver for me for a little while?"

"Sure."  Her answer was short but full of annoyance.  Elsie snatched her hand away from Jules, causing him to chuckle.

"I'll be back in a little while,"  Jules called over his shoulder before disappearing down the ladder following the creepy clown stilt walker.

"Ugh, he can be so vexing,"  Elsie grumbled after an uncomfortable moment of silence.  "I hate all the pet names, but he knows better than that one."

I didn't know what I could say or do to offer her any type of support, but I tried my best to talk to her.  "You don't like pet names?"

"Definitely not.  I get calling me an angel in the show, but it should stop when we walk out of the ring.  I pray to the Moon Goddess all the time that one day he understands the concept of boundaries."

"You do look like an angel up there."  I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair.  Moon Goddess?  Was that a circus thing?  "Sorry, that probably isn't helping."

Elsie looked at me, searching for something in my face.  I didn't know what she thought she would see, but I had always been an open book.

"So, how did you meet Jules?"  She finally asked.  I guess my face didn't give anything away.

"I met him last night."  I scratched the back of my head as I tried to not make eye contact with Elsie.  I knew if I did look into her eyes, I would lose my train of thought and just babble like an idiot.  "I was rinsing off in the river and got spooked.  I ran into him as soon I got out of the woods."

"Why were you in the forest?"  I felt her eyes searching for answers on my face again.  I would answer her faster if she wasn't trying to bore holes into my skin.

"Yeah, there isn't a shower at my place, so I take a dip in the river or pray that someone lets me use their shower."  I offered her a sheepish smile.  "I ran into him again this morning when I went back to the river to find something I left when I made tracks.  He actually found the key I was looking for."

"He helped you?"  She raised her eyebrow at the thought.

"Yeah?"

"If I was you, I would be careful around him.  I know he seems so grandiose and even magical, but keep your distance."

"Why?"  I made the mistake of looking up into her eyes, immediately I was pulled into her pools of the night sky. I felt myself losing my sense of reality, but she turned her face away, forcing me back into the real world.

"Let's just say from personal experience."

Silence fell over us.  It was heavy and thick, clogging the air around us.  I hated it, I wanted it to dissipate, but I didn't know what to say.  I was at this majestic woman's mercy, waiting for her to decide if she would end my suffering or sentence me to the cold, suffocating stillness.

"So, Oliver."  As my name left her perfectly plump lips, my heart lodged itself in my throat.  Every syllable that left her mouth caused my throat to constrict as my vital organ hammered away.  "What is so special about you?"

"Uh, nothing, I guess,"  I answered her honestly. I sure didn't think there was anything special about me.  An orphan with barely a buck to his name.  Why would anyone believe that there was something special about me?

"Come on, honey.  Everyone is special.  Think harder."  Elsie sighed as she sat down on the cold metal and leaned back on her elbows.  Her eyes went up to the sky.  "Sit down already."

"Right, sorry,"  I hastily mumbled as I sat down beside her. "I'm telling the truth; I don't think there is anything special about me.  I'm an orphan, so I have no family, no real home.  I don't have anything that's truly mine.  I work for the town carpenter as his assistant."

"I'm sorry about your family,"  Elsie whispered; her words were soft and warm.  "I know what it's like to lose your loved one.  It hurts in ways you never could imagine."

"Did you lose your family?"  I glanced over at her.  Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears, and she made no effort to hide them.  If I thought her eyes were pools of stars before, they were an endless ocean of galaxies now.

"I lost my guy.  He was a good man.  He never gave up on me."  She offered me a genuine smile.  My stomach knotted and twisted in confusion; she was so nonchalant about it.  "How long has it been since you lost your folks?"

"About a decade."  I tried to avoid thinking about my parents.  It was only throwing salt at an ugly wound that refused to heal.

"You've been on your own since then?"

"Yeah, I did whatever it took to make it by.  I've been working ever since.  I've done a little bit of everything to survive."

"That's how you are special then."  As Elsie finished her sentence, I looked at her like she was crazy.

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't give up.  You didn't let life dictate your fate.  You are fighting.  You are tenacious."

"I guess.  I would ask how you are special, but I saw your act.  I know why you are special."

"Ha, I wouldn't say that's why I am special.  After all, Jules doesn't let people in this troop just for the possibility of your ability.  I'd say he sees something similar in both of us.  I had to fight to survive too."

"What's it like to be in the circus?  It seems like freedom."  I wanted just to hear her voice for as long as I could without her tiring of me.

"It's not.  I wish it was.  I  think that's why I like the silks.  When I'm up there, twisting, flipping, and dropping, it's like nothing can touch me.  That's when I feel the most free."  Elsie pulled her knees to her chest as she looked over at me.  That vulnerability made my soul rush and my walls soften.

"No wonder your act is the best if you love it so much,"  I murmured as I watched what looked like a blush creep across her cheeks.  With a shaky hand, I reached over and placed it on her knee for a brief moment.

"Elsie!  Are you up there?"  A familiar voice hollered from the ground below.

"Yeah, Shirls!"  Elsie clambered to her feet and walked to the edge of the train car.

"Come on, girly!  We are going back down to the river!  It's going to be a riot!"  Shirley's voice ruined my hopes and dreams of spending more quality time with just Elsie.

"I'll meet you guys there!"  Elsie waved down to Shirley before she came and stood in front of me.  Elsie extended her hand to me and helped me stand up.  "It was nice to meet you, Oliver."

"Yeah, it was nice to meet you, Elsie."  I almost whispered.  As Elsie went to take her leave, my hand had a mind of its own and reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Oliver, honey, it's time to let go."  She smiled as she placed her hand on top of mine.

"Can I see you again?"  I pleaded.

"Oliver, we are leaving town in the morning."

"Can I come to see you in the morning then?"

Elsie gnawed on her bottom lip quietly.  "You can come before sunrise, but only for a few minutes."

"Really?" I beamed.  I was so excited. "Thank you!"

"But Oliver...."

"Yeah?"  I was on cloud nine; nothing could damper my spirit.

"That's it.  After that, we say goodbye for good."