Manny's Big Surprise

NEW PROMPT: Here's the scene: At the circus, the performers are celebrating Manny the Clown's birthday. Suddenly, the lights go out. When the Ringmaster finally gets them back on they find.... Write a short story or poem about what they find.

Word count: 431

Tomorrow would be the big day for Manny. The circus was going to put on a special performance in honor of Manny's birthday. It would be both a birthday celebration and a commemoration of his twenty years of loyal service to the circus since his fifteenth birthday when he had joined the Danangan Bros. circus. It was truly a day to celebrate.

Tonight the performers were having their private celebration. A huge cake had been set up in the center ring and all the performers were there wishing Manny a wonderful birthday and reminding him to make a good wish when he blew out the candles. Manny was thrilled at the attention even though he was really quite shy. The time for the singing and candles arrived. Manny blushed and laughed when his best friend Louie, who was also a clown, told him "Wish for a girl, Manny!"

Manny waited for everyone to finish singing and took a huge breath and blew. Just as he extinguished the candles, all the other lights in the arena suddenly went out. Gasps of surprise sounded, and one silly trapeze artist screamed. Then a lot of scrambling noises were heard as someone fumbled for the light boxes.

When the lights came back, there were even more gasps. Aline, the pretty dog trainer, had her arms wrapped around Manny's neck, and she was kissing him quite soundly. When everyone realized what was going on, cheers and hoots went up all over the place.

The couple pulled apart somewhat reluctantly. Aline nodded and whispered in Manny's ear, then gestured to him encouragingly.

He said loudly for all to hear. "Everyone, I have some wonderful news. My birthday wish was granted. I asked Aline to marry me this morning and she told me she had to think about it for a while. When the lights went out, she said yes!"

The cheers and applause were near deafening. The ringmaster was pleased, since Aline was his daughter, and he knew Manny was a good man as well as a talented clown. He thought Manny would make a good circus owner one day.

The next day, when the birthday celebration performance was finished, Manny and Aline were married in the center ring, with all their friends and the circus patrons as cheerful witnesses. Manny couldn't have been happier.