Clowning around (unfinished)

chapter 2

It's been two years since my mother died and a lot has changed. For one the glow started becoming less and less funded which caused some of the performers to quit cause they can't get the wages they were promised. However because of our shortage of performers,Ivy and I now officially work as clowns. The problem with that is that we slave away in the tent everyday for hour on end. So to say The least it's just not fun any more.

Papa changed a lot to. He's not the fun man he used to be, no, he is strict and cruel and forces us to work longer than we should. He say that " he has to provide for the family" but he spends most of me and Ivy's wages on liquor. Me and Ivy are ten years old and we do more than most grown woman do at twenty.

I woke up with a sting in my lower back, caused by sleeping on the floor. I didn't have a bed because papa kicked my sister and I out of the house when we refused to do a bunched of chore he asked us to do. We know sleep in the back room with the lions because they have cushions in there to keep the animals warm. The animals are caged but just in case, Agatha, our friend who is the peanut vendor comes to check on us every morning when she gives us nuts. I was mid yawn when Ivy woke up "good morning Vines, sleep well?"

I contemplated give a snarky answer that no I feel like I slept on a bed of needles but that would just spark an argument and the day tends to go by a lot slower when we're fighting."fine"was all I choose to say.

"Well I feel like crap. But what do you expect when you sleep on pillow that have been embraced by beasts for seven year and only been cleaned twice."

"You must not use such vulgar language like that, its highly improper. Do you want people to declare you a masculine miscreant?" I scolded her on acting more lady like so it's easier to please the crowd but it just won't stick in her brain.

"What ever Madame" she said, mocking me" we have school to prepare for so get yourself up and at it."

Me and Ivy were moved to this school mid-forth grade year but it doesn't make a difference. Know one in there right mind would dare to approach the carnies. But at least we had each other, that was the good about twins, you can never leave because God won't let you. Just like God won't us leave this jail of a place but life isn't fair.

We got to the bus stop last as always but early enough to still have to wait twenty minutes for the bus."Want to practice our act" asked Ivy when we were sitting there for only five minutes. Usually I would tell no and that she should learn how to sit still for longer than five minutes but I knew she asked because the other kids at the stop were freaking her out. I could feel there heated stares like they thought they could make us go away just by glaring hard enough.

"Sure." I said" I need to practice my juggling any ways."

We got up and took our ball out of our circus bags. We starting doing just basic juggling but then slowly started  doing more  advanced stuff  until all the kids were staring at us. One of my balls fell right on top of my face I toppled over in surprise. Ivy help me up but all the other kids just started to sniffing as if to hold in laughter, but it wasn't till the biggest bully of them all - Olivia Vennis- started laughing that they exploded and were pointing fingers and all that rude stuff that showed quite frankly their lack of proper education in the topic of manners.

Ivy pulled me away and started to bandage my palms. " those stupid ass kids, I swear I'm gonna punch there faces in " she mumbled.

"Now,sister you know violence is never the answer and what did I tell you about language, plus there not worth it"

Yeah but your worth it so stop bellowing all that bullshit" she said. The bus pulled up around the corner before I could reprimanded her for her profanity.

We got on the bus and were  greeted with stares and giggled no doubt that the news of my accident spread fast. Ivy and I sat in the front, near the bus driver Ms. Ever like we always do. " 'ello ladies" she said in her downtown Abby voice that she swears is all natural. "Hello" Ivy and said In union. We looked at each other and sighed. I saw a murder of crow fly past our bus window and realized that was a bad omen.

This was gonna be a long day.