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The hooded woman felt uncomfortable being packed in the circus tent, shoulder to shoulder, she could feel the air growing stale. Or perhaps it was the weather, she forgot that the temperature was so different here than where she was from. As the woman began to have second thoughts about being there, the lights went out and the audience was silent in one quick collective gasp of air. In sharp contrast to the lights and commotion previously, the silence and darkness compressed itself into every space. A nervous cough and a child began to cry when suddenly a glowing red projectile whistled loudly as it fell from the top of the tent and landed into center ring with a bright flash. The lights all came on again, slowly so as not to blind the audience, and then the woman saw the two people she was looking for. They were carrying a young girl wearing black and red on their shoulders. “Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight you have all witnessed a major event, a fallen heavenly body. Let us meet this miraculous being together. I, your host, Liatris Parasseaux, welcome you all to Circus Prima!” The crowd got to it’s feet and roared it’s approval. ---
After the show was over, the woman slowly followed the surge of people out of the tent. When she finally freed herself from the crowd, Rian leaned against a tent wall. She pulled off her hood and put a wrinkled hand to her chest, trying to catch her breath. At her age, she knew she needed to move slower, but the excitement of the show and seeing her grandchildren made her forget and now her body punished her for it.
“Excuse me, are you alright miss?” The strong male voice made Rian look up and she nodded. “Grand-mere Rian? What are you doing here?” Liama stepped out of the shadows where he was smoking. He put the cigarette in his mouth and wrapped his arms around Rian. Letting go, he stepped back, holding her small hand in both of his. “Nana, it’s been so long. How did you get here? How are you feeling? Is your health good? Did you see me today? Wasn’t I cool?” The young man fired questions like a little child until Rian held up her hand.
“Slow down, one question at a time.” She chuckled as she patted his hand. “It’s good to see you too, boy.”
“I’m not a boy, I’m all grown up now.” Liama puffed up his chest.
“Grown up enough to be smoking eh?” Rian smiled.
Liama threw the cigarette down and ground it underfoot with a guilty look. “Uh, yes. Don’t tell La Nouba though. Oh! Have you seen him yet? Come, I’ll take you to our tent.”
Holding firmly to Rian’s hand, he led her down past colorful tents until Rian pleaded for another rest. She leaned against another wall and breathed deeply.
“Nana? Are you ok? Do you want something to drink? I’ll go get something to drink, soda? Lemonade? Water! I’ll go… you just wait right here ok?” Liama told her worriedly.
“Water will be fine.” Rian smiled to ease Liama’s anxiety and he flew towards brightly lit stands. She closed her eyes and let the solid wall support her tired body. When did she get so old? There was a time when she could keep up with Liama’s enthusiasm, but that was in a different time and place.
“Oh! It’s way too big, Liatris! It won’t fit!”, she could heard voices on the other side of the wall.
“Don’t say those kinds of things!” Rian heard a different voice. A moment later, the tent’s flap flew open and a handsome man Rian recognized as the host stepped out, bleeding from his nose. He glared at Rian through his dark glasses. She reached into her purse and pulled out a handkerchief, offering it to the man. But he didn’t accept it, instead pulling one from his pocket. Taking off his glasses, he put it over his nose. Glancing once more at Rian, he nodded curtly before turning to leave. Rian gasped at his profile and those unmistakable eyes, he looked exactly like that person from her past. Rian dropped the handkerchief and squeezed her eyes shut to impede the painful memories. When she opened them again, the man was gone, instead replaced by Liama.
“Nana, are you feeling better?” the young man asked as he offered the cup to her.
“Yes, thank you.” Rian sipped the cool water before returning it to Liama.
“Do you want to rest some more? Our tent isn't too far away.” Liama smiled hesitantly.
“I feel fine now. Come, show me the way. I would much like to see that brother of yours before I die.” She said as she started to follow Liama.
Liama stopped and turned, his face pale with anxiety. “Nana’s going to die?”
“No no, it’s just a saying. Lead on, boy.” Rian waved him forward. ---
“Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight you will see a major event. I, Liama, your host, welcome you to our tents!” Liama said with a wave of his hand. He pointed to a tent, “This one is for La Nouba, me and most of the guys and that one there is where some of the girls stay.”
Rian saw La Nouba juggling sticks with a pretty female between the tents.
“Hey brother! Look who I found!” Liama called out to him.
La Nouba turned his head and to Rian’s amazement, continued juggling. In fact, the two jugglers were beginning to walk towards each other. However, when La Nouba saw Rian, he stopped. Unfortunately, the girl didn’t and La Nouba got a stick to the head. As he wobbled to regain his footing, he stumbled forward and grabbed the first solid thing he could see with his blurred vision; it happened to be the girl.
“What are you doing!” She yelled as La Nouba grabbed a handful of breast. She slapped his arm away, causing him to complete his fall, and started stomping on him for good measure.
“Nana? Is that really you?” La Nouba groaned from the ground.
“Boy, you never change. Always were one to make the girls cry back home too.” Rian chuckled as she searched for her handkerchief.
La Nouba smiled and got to his feet. Shaking his head, he jumped forward, rolled into a handstand, spun and pushed off the ground back onto his feet.
“Pssh. Show off and a pervert.” Liama remarked as he turned to look at La Nouba embrace Rian.
“Per… pervert! Who’s a pervert?” La Nouba gasped in feigned shock.
“You are, stupid.” A female voice from behind La Nouba. He shrieked as he was slapped lightly on the back of his head.
“Lala. Hey… You scared me. It's rude to sneak up on people, you know." He said in fake seriousness.
“Stupid.” She said rolling her eyes.
“Hey don’t call me stupid, and stop hitting me in the head. What would you do if I really did become stupid!”
Liama and Lala looked at each other before both saying “You already are!”
“Nana! They’re picking on me!” La Nouba complained.
“Well, boy you are somewhat dull-witted. They’re only trying to help you because a stupid person should always do his best not to prove he’s stupid.” Rian laughed.
“Oh? Well, if you say so, then I guess I should thank you guys. Ha ha!” La Nouba smiled proudly.
“Riiight. Anyway…” Lala turned to Rian and curtsied. “I am pleased to meet you, I’m Lala. I’m one of the acrobats here.”
Rian smiled. “Yes, I saw you, you were very impressive. How nice to meet such a polite and pretty girl.”
“Yay! I got praised. You heard her right?” Lala told La Nouba.
“Whatever. Polite and pretty? Nana, you must be going senile or something.” La Nouba mumbled under his breath.
“What was that! You are going to die tonight, pervo!” Lala growled, glaring at La Nouba and raising her fist menacingly.
“Uh… I have to go and help Soliel. Liama, show Nana around? I’ll catch up with you later.” La Nouba began to run with Lala chasing him.
“You youngsters are quite energetic.” Rian chuckled.
“Yeah well, those two are always fighting and then…” Liama frowned. “Never mind them. Come on Nana, I’ll get some tea ready, it’s been so long and you’ve come from so very far. How are things at home? Did our neighbor’s dog die yet? That dog scared me as a kid…” Liama talked to Rian as he led her into his tent. ---
“… and so that’s how I almost married Isidore but he met Honoria and I fell in love with your grandfather instead.” Rian finished telling Liama over her steaming cup.
La Nouba shivered over what could have been. “Well, I’m glad that you did meet grandpa, otherwise I would be a Parasseaux.”
“Oh? No, that’s incorrect. I met your grandfather after your mother was born.”
“What! Nana, are you saying that you had Mom before you married Grandpa? Wow, that’s so scandalous! You sure are a rebel.” Liama teased.
“No, no.” Rian laughed. “You’re mistaken, I’m not your biological grandmother. I met your grandfather while he was married.” Rian frowned slightly. “You didn’t know? Your mother never mentioned it. I suppose it isn’t something to be discussed casually.”
Liama’s head swam with the new information. “I don’t really get it. But it doesn’t matter. Nana is Nana and I’m not a Parasseaux, that's what’s important, right?”
Rian chuckled, “I guess so.”
“Hello? Liama, are you in there?” Lala asked from outside the tent. Liama told her to come in. The tent flap opened and Lala walked in, face flushed.
“Everything alright?” Liama asked offering his cup to the girl.
Lala took it and sipped the brew. “Ick, it’s bitter. Yeah, I had to throw your brother into the pond though. I hope he drowns. Pervert.”
Liama and Rian laughed. As Liama took the cup back, he whispered to Lala. “Hey, you missed some buttons on your shirt.”
Lala blushed and turned to fix her blouse.
“Perhaps I shall go to the pond and catch a foolish fish?” Liama smiled at his grandmother. He pointed Lala to the chair he vacated and she nodded. As he left the tent, he heard Lala ask “Grand-mere? Can you tell me about La Nouba from when he was a little boy?” Liama chuckled to himself as he thought about the embarrassing stories Nana would probably tell. ---
Despite Liama and La Nouba’s protests, Rian wanted to go back to her hotel when the night grew dark. She explained that she had an early plane trip to go back home. However, she couldn’t convince La Nouba that she didn’t need an escort and so they rode together.
“Boy, your brother said something interesting tonight. Did your mother ever tell you about your grandfather and I?”
“Sure. Something like you aren’t our mother’s biological mother right?” La Nouba smiled confused.
“Yes. Exactly that. However, I loved your mother like she was my own daughter, and you two are the lights of my life.”
“Our mother also said that the reason my biological grandmother divorced grandfather was because he really loved you. What does that mean?”
“It means you can’t choose who you fall in love with. You can try to hold back, but regardless of your decisions, the people involved will get hurt anyway.” Rian said sadly. “So, boy, love. When you find someone who loves you back, hold onto that love. In the end, that’s all the happiness you might end up with. I’ll warn you though; you’re still young; love can be so harsh. A spark of joy born in love could ultimately ignite an inferno of revulsion, tear-filled frustration and even deep hurt and longing of such massive proportions that you almost wish that you never met that person, if only to erase that pain. But still, you must never give up.”
As Rian said that, she kissed La Nouba on top of his head and got out of the stopped vehicle. Paying the driver the fare and some to take La Nouba back, she smiled once more. “I’m headed back home tomorrow. Remember my words boy and treat that nice girlfriend of yours with kindness and respect.” With her image and those words forever imprinted in his mind, La Nouba watched his grandmother vanish into the hotel. He silently prayed that he would have the chance to discuss love and more in the future again with their aging grandmother. He would discuss with Liama going home during the off season of Circus Prima; although the memories of the past were still painful, it was time he and his brother paid their respects to their parents and their hometown again.
Liama, Lala, La Nouba and all the other Circus Prima characters are property of Capn-Nomy, Me-the-anon-one, and EnnaNyltiak
HolyKnightHamster · Mon Mar 05, 2007 @ 01:09am · 1 Comments |
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