It's All Part Of The Show 'The Carnival Of Glass'

Chapter XIII 🎪Glowing Embers Dying Fires

I delicately placed Madison back on her feet and then pulled of my gloves holding the pair in one hand.

"Let me shed some light here, huh Tiger?"

I put my hands behind my back holding one with the other.

"Those people took you when you were just six and a half years old! You were so young. Our small family was only together for under seventy months. I can't remake all that time for you. I wish I could. If this cane could do that, I'd do it right now! Six years of your life they took! Six years that they treated you badly and I couldn't get to you because at first, I didn't know where you were. All I knew was that you weren't safe." I paused to inhale. "Those eight years that I frantically tried to find you, and it pains me deeply that I was unable to be the father you needed."

I ran a hand through my hair before taking another breath.

"It still bothers me that some think I'm unfit to parent a child... my own child." My voice was shaky. "I don't need to say I, but I'll emphasize it -Alphie, Eia, Kate, Dusty... even Taylor Greens -They all thought the same of me. While it didn't matter so much at the fact that Kate, Dusty, Alphie, and Eia thought I was a madman, it seems to rub me the wrong way in regards, that Taylor thought that. However, it wasn't just Taylor. My Carnival staff included -How could they think that?"

"I want you to know, I would never abandon you, Madison. Whatever those people told you, whatever they said to you that made you feel small -I would say that their words are nonsense. They do not see the potential or the dreams you hold. Madison, I know you probably had a piece of something that no doubt made you feel small again, but I'm not a stranger to that and I know how you feel." I emphasized that word by outstretching my index finger to make my gesture to my child.

I continued:

"I need you to understand, that I believe in you more than anything! You're not a bad child." My voice cracked. "And you can do anything your heart can dream up. Don't hesitate to come to me to hear me remind you of it because I want you to feel happy. I want you to feel understood and loved. -Like you have someone to lean on."

I knelt down in front of her -One knee facing towards the sky and the other kneeling on the ground.

"Please know, Madison that you have me to lean on if you ever need anything. We're a family, and if that means staying up till this four AM when you're needing words of encouragement and comfort, then that's what we shall do." I paused to take a breath. "That's what we'll do! Might I let you know, that if anyone at all tries to harm you again, or if they do, these nights will end with their dangling heels at daylight? Until then, we can lay here in the quiet of the Carnival and smoke our monsters out. What do you say, eh?"

We looked fiercely at one another, but still no movement or speech out of Madison.

"I have no doubt that you, Madison had a bite of something that made you feel small again. And you shouldn't have to feel small. You shouldn't. You have big dreams and wishes and huge potential! And no stranger to the hollow are we to the drunken midnight. I know I've had far more whiskey than I would have liked."

My eyes never left her face.

" I gather you're not alone in this Wonderland."

I hastily felt my voice unintentionally drop an octave. I had spoken in a low tone -It reminded me of Bartholomew's own voice.

" I am you're someone. You see, I know I'm one of the few" -my voice cracked. "Who doesn't make you flood the room with grief when you're too far gone off the potion. Because I think you, Madison a wildflower."