%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| >> Static Item >> Fiction >> Relationship >> ID #503138 |   |
| |||||||||||||
|
CIRCUS MONKEYS
Chapter 10 I wrinkled my nose as I shoveled up yet another pile of elephant poop. Ok, so it wasn't the best way to end helping out Rupert but the smell wasn't as bad as I originally expected. Or maybe I was just getting better at breathing through my mouth. All in all, as dusk began to fall and I was shoveling out the last corner of where the elephants would be staying for the night, I was feeling pretty good. It reminded me of the time I helped out at the food pantry for an entire weekend. I was finally doing something to help just because I wanted to. "I sure hope you're going to wash your hands before you eat supper tonight." I heard a voice say behind me. I smirked, turning around. There was Joshua wearing an unmistakable 'ha-ha-you-had-to-scoop-poop' grin. It was all I could do not to fling some feces at him, but I'm not quite that mean. "Naw, I think I'll just dig right in!" I winked and turned back to my job. Scooping up the last bit of doo-doo, I carried it over to the dump site before leaning the shovel against the wall and turning back to Joshua. "What did you do to get this sort of punishment?" He asked, and I scoffed. "Hey, I volunteered for this job." I said. I stuck out my tongue in the most superior and mature way that I could. He gave me a look. I decided to stop defending myself, it simply wasn't working out to my benefit. "So, what's up? How did your practice go?" I asked him as I made my way out of the pen with him in pursuit. From the corner of my eye, I saw him shrug. "Pretty good, I feel comfortable with my routine. I just need to perfect it." I nodded as I moved over to the faucet. "Well that's good, isn't it?" I made sure to squeeze about triple the amount of disinfecting soap into my palm than was necessary. Once again, he shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose so. I just wish I didn't stall so much on one move. I literally have to sit there and think for a couple of seconds when I should be able to just flip over and roll my body around." I couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter, drying my hands as I turned to look at him. "Josh, do you know how silly that sounds? You said it as if it were as easy as hopping on a bike and riding around the block. What you're doing is really hard to accomplish." I gave him a small smile. He lifted the corners of his lips a little and we started to walk away from the pens. "Yeah, except I'm supposed to make it look that easy to the audience." I thought about that comment as we walked along on the gravel. A couple of ducks waddled quickly across our path on route to the river for the night. It was true what Josh said. There was a lot of pressure put on the performers to be perfect, I learned that and the reason why today. It was odd, sometimes I felt so disconnected from this world I was living in. I was no performer; I had never even been in a school play. I had no idea what kind of pressure these people were under. We trudged on silently for a bit as the sun began to fall down behind the buildings ahead of us. The sun created purple stripes across the horizon and the cool breeze was just strong enough to lift my hair from my shoulders. After a bit, he broke the silence. "I don't know what I'm worried about, I always get really nervous before the first performance but then pull it together." I looked over at his face in the fading sunlight. He's defined cheekbones were highlighted by the final rays and his eyes were focused down at the gravel rock beneath our feet. His hands were shoved into the pockets of the gray hooded sweatshirt he wore and his sneakers scuffed the ground as he walked. I slowed down and turned to him near where they gave out rides on an elephant. "Hey, you have every right to be nervous. Heck, I'm scared to death for you." He rolled his eyes. I could see a glimmer of a smile. "Thanks, that makes me feel so much better." He chuckled and I grinned. I caught eyes with him but held the gaze for only a second before breaking it. I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear nervously. Wait - nervously? Me, Mallory, nervous after catching eyes with a guy? Granted, a very cute guy, but even so that wasn't something that normally happened. I found the feeling to be difficult to cope with; after all, we had only recently really determined that we were going to be friends. This was not the time to develop a crush. I pushed away the thoughts as he started talking. "So, how have you been doing? What provoked you to volunteer to pick up turds?" His eyes glittered, lines creasing at the outside corners. I let him have his laugh. "Well, I didn't actually volunteer for that job. But I did ask to help Rupert out. I knew that everyone was feeling a little pressured and I just thought it would be a better way to pass the time than sitting on my butt all day." The sun had set completely, leaving the sky deep lavender. I felt the chill of the night come up and shivered slightly. We had ended up stopping next to the stand used to climb up on the back of the elephant. I took the opportunity to lower myself to the ground, drawing my knees up to my chin. Joshua followed me to get comfortable on the soft grass next to the gravel path, leaning against the wooden posts. "That's how my mom got her position here too. She just started going around and asking people what she could do to help and suddenly she was getting a salary and everything." He chuckled and shook his head. "Would you believe I was only 13 and the one making the salary for the family?" I had an intense curiosity to ask him about his father, and where he was, but decided against it. I didn't like to answer questions about my mother. I wasn't going to pry into his life. For a moment, I felt terrible far from him. He knew my whole life, why I had suffered, and I didn't know a thing about him. A cool wind danced down the path, telling us it was time to retire to the trailers. Everyone seemed to have listened to it, for we were the only ones on the path. "Jeez, once the sun goes down you can tell we're in Wisconsin." I commented, breathing on my legs in a pitiful attempt to warm them. The khaki shorts and green tank top had been almost too warm under the sun earlier, but now they felt like a pitiful attempt at clothing. "Here, do you want my sweatshirt?" Joshua asked. Before I had a chance to protest, he was already taking it off to reveal a thin white t-shirt under it, one that showed off his toned body. Oh, what was I talking about? Everything showed off his toned body. I took a few more seconds than I should have contemplating him. It was amazing; I had never seen someone with such a great body. Before, I had never been able to determine the difference between someone who just lifted weights and someone who developed their body by simply working and staying active. But now the difference was obvious. The results of the latter were heavenly. I almost missed the action of him handing over the sweatshirt and I took it meekly. "You won't be cold?" I asked and he shook his head, pointing to the jeans as if they could keep his entire body warm. But I felt the goose bumps on my arms and slipped the warmth on me. I couldn't help catching the slight scent of cologne on his collar. I buried my head into the neck opening and inhaled deeply, letting my eyes flutter shut. "Mm...this smells really good." I murmured and snuggled in deeper. I could hear him laughing beside me. "Well, that's good. I try my best..." He said but trailed off. He must have noticed I wasn't really listening, too engulfed in the scent. I struggled to find a strong spot instead of the faint tickle of the aroma. "What brand is this?" I asked him, pulling my head out of the shirt collar. He shrugged. "Just the same stuff I've always -" I cut him off as I leaned in and put my nose to his shoulder, breathing deeply. Aha! It was stronger there. I moved closer to his neck and breathed in even deeper. There, that was the perfect strength right there. Suddenly, I realized what I was doing and stopped short. I was practically in his lap, with my head burrowed into his shoulder. I looked up toward him sheepishly. "I have a thing with really good cologne." I said quietly and softly smiled. "That's ok." He whispered as he looked down at me and our eyes locked. A thin chill of wind wisped by us and it only brought out how near to him I was. His body heat warmed my side and I could feel his breath coming from above. My heart was racing in my chest and my breath became shorter, but I hardly noticed. All my thoughts focused in on those brown eyes - the green flecks lighting up in the dark. Those beautiful brown eyes. I felt myself drawing in closer to his eyes, closer to his breath. My palms began to sweat and my eyelids felt heavy as I realized that the air entering my lungs was still warm from his breath. Suddenly, a light snapped on above us and I jerked away from him, looking up. I didn't realize what happened until Joshua said it aloud. "Timed lights." I looked over to him, trying my best not to breathe hard but saw he was in a similar state. I nervously wiped my clammy hands on my shorts and looked back up to the light. Stupid thing, why did it have to come on just as Joshua and I were about to... About to what? I looked over to Joshua again and he caught my eyes for only a second before flickering away. That proved he felt it too. There was an awkward silence and I said the only thing that seemed natural. "We should probably get back. You have a big day tomorrow." I ran my fingers through my hair and Joshua nodded. We walked back to the trailers silently and he dropped me off at my door. "Good night." I said and gave him a smile. He returned it and we held the moment for just a second longer than usual before I turned and went inside. It wasn't until I was in my room that I realized I still wore his sweatshirt. I pulled the collar up to my nose as I flopped down in the bed, inhaling the scent. I let a small smile float onto my face. Unless he asks for it, I think I just might hang onto this for a while. "Circus Monkeys -- Chap 11" 
© Copyright 2002 Madame Lunacy! (UN: xena_12 at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved.
Madame Lunacy! has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
 Log In To Leave Feedback |
Static Items
Books
Forums
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
