Jerome Valeska: Circus Love

Chapter 11- Beautiful Freaks

Jerome and Sadie wait in the shadows across from Alphonse's trailer, they watch as the portly clown staggers back from the mess tent, a bottle shrouded in a brown paper bag hangs loosely from his hand. He is still wearing his black clown suit with the red patches, make-up smeared down his stubbly face, a red wig sits askew on top of his head.

Alphonse slumps himself down on the steps of his trailer lighting a cigarette, he pulls off his wig tossing it to the ground and lowers his head into a shaky hand.

"He's so pathetic." Jerome whispers a hateful stare focused on the clown.

"I know, but he's my Dad J." Sadie pats herself down and takes a deep breath, "You have to promise me, you can never hurt him J, I mean it."

Jerome rolls his eyes dramatically with a huge sigh, "Fine, whatever, scouts honour." He makes a scout salute mockingly.

Sadie touches his face in the darkness just for a second then she marches out towards the clown. Jerome watches from his hiding place as Sadie slowly approaches her father stopping in front of him. He wearily raises his head to take a drunken look at the figure before him, it takes him a moment to realise who it is as he sits there squinting through intoxicated eyes.

Jerome can't hear what the man says but he watches as he throws down his liquor letting it spill on the ground, tentatively he places his hand on Sadie's matted head, tears welling in his eyes as he grabs her tiny frame and pulls her tight to him, his shoulders shudder with sobs. Jerome knows a normal person would feel happy for Sadie at this warm welcome but Jerome can only feel hate towards the cantankerous old clown, and deep down the tiniest shudder of jealousy.

Jerome backs away deeper into the darkness leaving Sadie to her reunion.

A few weeks pass by and Sadie is absorbed back into the Circus like she never left, Alphonse rejoices in her return for a short time but normal life takes hold quickly. Sadie is now part of the Clown troupe and as a trainee can often be seen running around doing the more menial chores, filling the props with fresh foam and sorting costumes back stage.

Jerome waits until all the performers have left the big top and the ring master has been round turning most of the outer lights off. He dances through the shadows towards a warm glow leaking out from behind the backstage curtain. Inside racks of costumes are crammed in amongst dressing tables with those big mirrors bordered with lots of tiny bulbs, Jerome glides through feeling and stroking the sequinned and velvet fabrics dripping from the rails. Sadie sits cross legged on the floor sowing up a rather gaudy looking yellow and green checked jacket.

"Hey, you nearly ready to play?" Jerome asks with a glint in his devilish eyes.

"Yeah, just a sec, gotta finish this for Gonzo." Sadie finishes the last few stitches putting the jacket away on a rack. She is dressed in her clown outfit from the show, a tight red and black leotard with a puffy tutu all topped with an oversized jesters hat complete with bells.

"Looking good Sades" Jerome jests flirtatiously.

"Screw you J, I kinda like it!" Sadie scowls and gives him the finger.

"No, I mean it, I kinda like it too." He gives her cheeky wink and she gives him a dead arm and a smile.

The pair walk out into the ring, Jerome flicks a leaver at the side and the ground illuminates with a clunk, he swipes his briefcase from a hidden area under the wooden seats that encircle the ring and strides into the centre of the performance area with a twirl, Sadie stretches and cartwheels after him, her tutu bouncing comically as she lands with her arms outstretched.

Sadie prances over to the huge wheel and spins it with pointed toes and elaborate hand movements as Jerome lines up his knives on the table. He limbers up and begins to aim one of his blades at the spinning wheel.