The Freak| Jimmy Darling

Chapter Three

I was walking out of my office building when my boss started to follow me. This job was only to raise a few bucks and plus, I could hide my freak pretty easily.

"Hello, Melanie. How's everything going?" He asked.

"I'm doing alright. How about you?" I asked. We continued along with small talk until we got to the lobby.

"How about you and me for dinner tonight at Moira's Diner?" He asked. First of all, this man was twenty seven years older than me. Second, he's my boss. Third, my Freak Show schedule wouldn't allow it.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Alberts. I have plans tonight," I said sweetly.

"What about any night this week?" He asked desperately.

I started walking. "I'm sorry, I'm moving into a new house, and I'm very, very busy," I said. He pushed me against a wall.

"This is how you will get ahead in business, Ms. Oswald," He said.

"I'm happy with being a receptionist, Mr. Alberts. And besides, I could get ahead in business without your help. Have a good day," I said walking out the doors. I looked around until I saw Jimmy on his motorcycle. I walked over and sat on the bike.

"Hey Jimmy," I said.

"Hey. What's going on?" He asked.

"You won't believe what just happened," I said, groaning.

"Was it that Mr. Alberts again?" He asked, starting up his engine.

"Yeah. He asked me out on a date. Can you believe it?" I asked, sounding disgusted.

"Y'know, I don't like you working for that guy, Mells. He's tryna get in your pants," he said.

"And I don't like you putting your hands inside some horny housewives. But we've gotta make more money. This is how we'll get to Orlando," I said.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I just... don't like it when he touches you," he said.

"I know. And I didn't mean to snap at ya, I just... don't want to loose our dream," I said. He nodded. I grabbed onto his waist as he started to drive.

We drove until we reached the tents. "Hey, somethin's going on over there," Jimmy said.

"Huh?" I asked, looking over. Elsa was leading someone into the main tent. Jimmy parked his bike outside our caravan and we both got off quickly. Jimmy and I ran to the tent to see the new person. But it wasn't just one person. It was two. And they were conjoined twins.

"Everyone, this is Bette and Dot Tattler. They are our new additions to our family!" Elsa announced. We gave them a round of applause.

I felt a tug on my dress. I looked down to see Ma Petite. My face lit up as I picked her up. She giggled and started playing with my hair. Bette and Dot turned around and faced Jimmy and I.

"Oh! We're the Lobster Twins. Melanie and Jimmy," I said. One of them smiled and the other was giving me a mean glare.

"It's not so often that we get two new beauties in this joint," he said, winking at them. They both looked towards him and smiled.

"We have an audience of two tomorrow tonight. Mrs. Gloria Mott and her son, Dandy. I want you to be on your best behavior. Put on your best show," she said, cupping Meep's cheeks. Meep started bouncing up and down.

"Jimmy and Melanie. I need you back here for a moment," Elsa said, waving her hand to us. We looked at each other suspiciously.

"Hold on for a second, Ma," I said and put her down. She nodded and ran off.

"So. Bette and Dot are going to be called 'The Siamese Twins' which means you need to change your act's name. We can't have our guests be confused," she said casually, as if it wasn't a big deal.

"You kiddin' me? We've been performing as a group for ten years!" Jimmy exclaimed.

"Yeah! We've made so much money for this show, can we at least keep our names?!" I asked. Elsa slammed her fist against the table.

"I have taken you in as my own, and you ridicule me for making you change your act's name? You must be kidding ME!" She began. Jimmy and I started listening. "Listen to me now! You must know that I'm only taking them in because they, like you, are freaks! And I will not tolerate disrespect in my own show! Now, think of a name and talk to me some time this week," she said, sending us off.

Jimmy and I crossed our arms and stormed off. "This is bullshit," Jimmy said as we walked.

"I know right? Why do we have to change our names? We are KNOWN as the Lobster Twins!" I groaned, opening the door to our caravan. I walked to my side and flopped on my small bed.

"Maybe it's a sign that we need to get outta here," Jimmy said.

"You know we don't got money for that," I said.

"I know. But don't you agree that it's time that we get the hell outta here? Whether we live together or not?" He asked.

"It is, it is. I'm just saying the truth. We don't got enough money. And if we gotta change our name to get away from here, then we gotta change our name," I said.

"Yeah I know you're right. I'm just angry," he said.

"At Elsa or the Twins?" I asked, picking up a book.

"Is it bad to say both?" Jimmy asked.

"Well I mean... You know what? It's not. They seem nice, but we gotta change our names cause of them. A decade after we founded our act. It's all bullshit," I said.

"What do you wanna change our name to anyway?" He asked.

"I dunno. We can think of it later," I said. He nodded. We stayed inside for awhile before the dinner bell rung. Jimmy and I headed out to the tables. Jimmy and I sat down next to each other and ate dinner with our family. Ma Petite, Paul, Suzi, Salty, Pepper and Eve sat down with us.

"What did Elsa want?" Eve asked me.

"Get this. She wants us to change our name cause of the twins," I said.

Eve's mouth fell open. "Bullshit," she said, putting butter on the bread she was gonna eat.

"I know. We haven't come up with one yet," I said, shoving a spoonful of mashed potatoes in my mouth.

"Where are the twins?" Ma Petite asked.

"I think they're still in their tent. Ethel said they weren't eating," Paul said. I rolled my eyes.

"Should be grateful for that food. Ethel works so hard," Suzi said.

After dinner, we walked to our caravan again. And after about thirty minutes, Jimmy started talking.

"What do you wanna do for the show tomorrow?" He asked.

"Uh... Well we could do the normal thing. You wear the gloves, I wear the makeup. Ethel introduces us and we start with our backs together. Then we break off and you start juggling and I do the gymnastics. Then we reveal why they call us-" I began before hearing a car door slam. I looked to the window to see a man. He had a suit and tie. And a police car.

"Shit, Jimmy. A cop is here. And he's going into the twins' tent," I exclaimed, looking at him with wide eyes.