Flying Through Chains

Chains binding his arms, suspended sixty feet into the air, Ari could feel the expectant glare of the hushed crowds around him. For what would be the last time that night, he once again cast his mind back – trying to remember exactly how he got in this situation.

--26 hours earlier--

The chains hung pitifully around his feet. He looked up to see the moustachioed man with the clipboard watching him with wide eyes. A moment’s pause. “Do I want to know where you learnt to do that?”

“No.” Ari gave a wry smile and stepped free of the pile of recently-shod metal.

“Well, I suppose that’s the reason you kids run here anyway,” sighed the man, shaking himself out of his reverie. He extended a gloved hand. “Welcome to the circus.”

“So, interview over?” asked Ari, meeting the Ringmaster’s hand with his own still-smarting palm. He had to look up to meet his eyes; Ari’s own extensive height still inferior to his employer’s.

“Just the formalities.” The man assumed a professional composure and returned to his seat; offering a stool to Ari, who politely declined. He checked the paper. “Name?”

“Ari,” he replied, with as much decorum as he could manage.

The man glanced up. “Is that your real name?”

He smiled. “No.”

With an amused half-smile, the man returned to his paper. “Ari. An escapologist, obviously, as you’ve kindly just shown me. It’s been a while since we’ve had one of those. Could be interesting.” His eyes darted over the sheet. “What say you to a double act?”

There was an awkward pause. Ari answered, sheepishly. “I don’t really see how that would work.”

“We’ll find a way to make it work, boy!” the man laughed heartily as he handed him a photocopied sheet. “Now, this is your contract. Obviously, as you’re – what, sixteen? Yes? – sixteen, we have some insurance issues there; but this is a circus, we find a way round it. If you’d just sign, we’ll know you agree to all of the terms and conditions-”

“-like setting me on fire?” Ari’s eyes alighted on a phrase in extremely small print.

“Ah, so you’re the type to read all the words, are you?” The man’s laugh was less convincing now as he was handed the signed form. “Haven’t tried that one in years. Your first say at work begins now, Ari!” he proclaimed with a sudden burst of enthusiasm, leaping up to shake his hand. “Welcome to the family. First show tomorrow, and we’ll see what you can do. Yes, you look like one to watch!”

A less observant man might not have noticed the way the Ringmaster’s smile was fixed, or the way he gripped Ari’s hand a little tighter than necessary. But Ari did, and he ignored it; because he knew when he was required to perform, and it wasn’t always in the ring.