Big Top

Chapter 24

Later that same day

"Hey, we're here all day, wanna go into town with me?" I asked Louis after the show was completely over.

"Sure." He nodded and followed me. We walked away from the circus and past all the trees along the dirt road. The feeling that spread through my body seeing that train over my shoulder was pure bliss. I can only imagine how good it will feel to see it behind me and knowing I'll never see it again. We walked further and further until the dirt road ended and we came upon asphalt, that was a good sign we were close to town. We walked further and automobiles started passing us, making us stick to the sides of the road. We walked into town, pretty shocked at the size, it was one of the bigger towns, a city really. Tall buildings outlined the roads, it reminded me of New York when my family took a vacation there once. Dad had some vacation days saved up and decided to take all of us, it was one of my favorite memories. I smiled as Louis looked in awe at the buildings, he looked like a kid in a candy store for the first time. "Wow." He whispered to himself.

"What?" I asked a bit confused, he should be used to stuff like this.

"I've never seen anything this big!" He exclaimed as he spun around taking in every sight around him.

"What? You've traveled all over. What do you mean you've never seen anything like this?" It was amusing how Louis was apparently listening to me but he would not take his eyes off the tall structures. "Would you stop. You're gonna make yourself dizzy!" I laughed, making him put his head down. He stumbled, like I predicted, "Told you." He just gave me a half smile half glare.

"Ok, well, Richard never let me go into the towns we stopped at, I could never travel far from the train." He explained.

"Wow, seriously?" He nodded his head. I was beyond surprised that Louis had never gotten to see any cities.

The buildings were all a grey murky color and the exhaust that came from the cars filled the air, but Louis thought it was the most miraculous thing. A gust of wind blew through the air, cooling us from our long walk. We kept walking and looking for any book shop when I saw Louis's face drop when he looked at something. "What's that?"

I turned to look and saw a soup kitchen with a line of men in suits lined up outside of it, I frowned also when I saw it. "That's a soup kitchen, a business must have laid off a bunch of people today." I guessed by their suits.

"Oh." He mumbled, apparently he understood what it was. "That's sad, I wish we could help somehow."

"Yeah, me too." I said truthfully and we kept walking. The ground clicked beneath our shoes as we continued up the sidewalk until I saw a sign. "Hey, this looks like a nice place." I read "Laura's Bookshop" there were books of all kinds propped on easels with bright colored fabric beneath them. I opened the door, the bell rang above our heads, and let Louis go in first then I followed behind him. This shop was unlike any other I had been in; the yellow walls were lined with wooden bookshelves absolutely stuffed with books, the register center to our left didn't have anyone behind it, instead she was in the back of the store reading to about four kids. The children sat on the floor around the woman, her black hair was put up in a bun to show off her brown eyes as she read to the kids with enthusiasm that would make a scrooge smile.

"While she stood looking eagerly at the strange and beautiful sights, she noticed coming toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen. They were not as big as the grown folk she had always been used to; but neither were they very small. In fact, they seemed about as tall as Dorothy, who was a well-grown child for her age, although they were, so far as looks go, many years older." She read to them what I recognized as L. Frank Baum's, Wizard of Oz. I grabbed Louis's hand and tugged him over to sit behind all the kids. It may have been childish of me but that book was my favorite as a child. Louis quietly giggle as I tugged him down to the floor to sit beside me, but he sat there anyway and listened along with me. The woman reading the book had the most melodic voice, I mean besides Louis's. She told the story so well that I couldn't turn away. I was almost sad when the chapter ended and she closed the book, telling the kids she would read the next chapter tomorrow. After all the kids left Louis and I got up from the floor and the woman who read walked over to us. "Hello, I'm Laura," she outstretched her hand for us to shake, "I noticed you two liked the story, it's nice to know people still enjoy a classic." She spoke, her southern accent was somewhat charming, as she straitened out her blue dress.

"I loved the Wizard of Oz when I was a kid, still do." I said somewhat giddy. "Oh!" I realized I hadn't introduced us, "this is Louis," I motioned to him, "and I'm Harry."

"Nice to meet you both. Can I help you find anything?" She asked, I really had found all the birthing books I needed.

"Erm...do you have any recommendations?"

"Ohh! I love it when people ask that!" She giggled making us laugh. "Well, first I would recommend the book I was just reading." She handed me a copy.

"That'll be great actually since we can't be here tomorrow and I've never heard the story." Louis said, taking the book from my hands and examining it.

"What?!" Laura and I said in unison. "Ok, we're getting it!" I said. We walked around looking at book after book of every kind for about fifteen minutes.

"Okay, do either of you like deep reading?"

"Well..." Louis thought, squinting his eyes.

"Dunno." I spoke for him, "Like, what kind of deep reading." I asked.

"Shakespeare, for instance," she handed me a copy of Macbeth, "it's kind of hard to understand, but definitely worth it when you comprehend what he's trying to say." Louis and I observed the book and read the back.

"Sounds interesting, I'll get it." I smiled, rather excited about getting our books. I pulled my pocket watch out to check the time seeing it was only two hours until we left. "Oh, Louis, we have to go." I showed him the time.

"Oh, yes! We hate to run," he told Laura sincerely, "but, our train leaves soon and we have to get back."

"Oh, that's alright. I'll ring these up." She took the two books over to the register. I saw Louis digging through his pocket, looking for money I assumed.

"I can pay for it." I told him.

"Oh, please let me pay, you pay for everything." He whined.

"But, I like paying for everything as long as it's for you." I whispered to him.

"Then let me treat you for once, darling." He convinced me sweetly.

"Oh, fine." I caved. We walked over to the register so Louis could pay the girl.

"Ok, gentleman, your total is $1.38." Louis handed her two dollar bills, "And here's your change. Thank you so much for visiting and have a good day." She smiled at us before we said our goodbyes and left the store.

That night Louis and I laid in bed to rest from the long day. The dull vibrations from the train and the words of L. Frank Baum lulled us both softly to sleep.

***

Hi, guys! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I wanted to get away from the circus for just a little while. So, I hope you all liked it.

Remember, you're all my favorite peoples! Ily!

~ Jessica