Pamber Forest Circus

        Winter crept through the cobblestone streets of Hampshire like a prowling mad dog, ready to bite at anything that it crossed paths with. It was the kind of winter that sent boys to fetch firewood for the house, wives to button up their husbands coats, and children to crawl into their mother's bed, seeking warmth. Snow and mud covered the streets, the steady trot of horses and chatter of common folk filled the city streets.

I sat among the muck of the streets, cold and hungry, huddled with the other children for warmth. The few of us had found each other after the orphanage left us to fend for ourselves since food was running out. The sister nun who looked after us said that god will always take care of us, no matter what so we needn't worry about dying.

"Kai... I'm so cold, I want to go sit by a warm fire like the other children", Mae tugged at my sleeve.
"I know, me too. Come closer, I'll keep you warm", I beckoned to her too. She scooted closer and nestled under the part of my coat I held open for her. Mae was a month younger than me and about the closest thing I've had to family. The days were long and hard. The two of us usually stole what we could to survive.

"Hey, get back here you brat! Someone stop that child!", yelled the baker of which the two of us decided to try our luck with that day.
"Quick, Kai, this way!", Mae grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd of people that were going about their day. After a minute or two, we reached a side street where we stopped to rest.
"I think we lost him", I giggled, "You're getting good at running away!".
"Ya think so?!", Mae's eyes grew wider with excitement.
"No doubt about it, we haven't got close to getting caught this month", I praised her, "Now show me what ya managed to get"
"Awe, but they make me look so mature!", she whined,puffing out her chest.
"C'mon I'm starving!", I urged her to share her findings. Sighing she reached into the bust of her dress and pulled out two corn muffins.

"I thought I looked so appealing and you had to ruin it".
"You're 14 Mae, also it doesn't fit you at all!", I say as I start to eat my slightly squashed corn muffin.
"Yeah, yeah. At least Im not as pale a boy as you", she came back at me with a smirk.We prayed to God to not be hungry one day, but until that happens, this is how we live.
"Hey Kai, did you see the papers plastered up on the walls? It looks like a circus is visiting soon",she hummed, "I've never seen one of them before".
"Me neither but it sounds lovely and magical!", I exclaimed while raising my chilled hands in the air, "Though, I wish we could read so we know when they'll be arriving".
"True, I heard the baker talking about it today so it must be soon!", she smiled. After we finished eating, the two of us made our way towards the main street.

Mae's thin dress and my coat did not provide much warmth but the hope of seeing a circus lit a fire within us. Suddenly, Mae stopped in her tracks, "Do you hear that, Kai?". I paused to listen to the sounds of the city. Wagons, cheering, horse trots, and-, was that the faint trace of music?
"I hear it. Music. We never have music here", she quietly said before turning to me with a grin, "Do you think it's...the circus?".
"Hell, let's find out!", I grabbed her hand and we both ran, following the trail of music that grew and grew the closer we got.

We finally emerged into the main street of Hampshire and we were immediately captivated by the colors of the scene. Ribbons and confetti danced in the air and gently floated down on us. The carriage was decorated with bells and painted wonderful colors, an emblem marked the side of it..
"Woaaah, look at the horses! The feathers and bells are so beautiful!"Mae cried out while bouncing up and down excitedly.
"Amazing! Look, here come the performers!", I said with a squeal in my voice.

The acrobats were twins who flipped and twirled off of one another and down the main street. The girl wore a ballerina tutu that was decorated with purple sparkles while the boy wore baggy pants and a shirt decorated with blue sequins. A big man strode by carrying weights and another lady juggled knives as she walked.