It was another mundane afternoon on Lorene Island. An uneasy lull hung about the air; it always did. There always seemed to be an bothered calm in this small town on an island. It was a calm that seemed like it could be ripped away at any moment, but it never was. Every day, always the same...always the same.
This day was no different than any other one. There were clangs coming from tin man Mike McGee's shop, ringing through out the street with a dull rickity tick that in quiet of the town seemed almost eerie. Old lady Martha was out on the front porch of the Inn gently sweep away at the layers of dirt and dust that had accumulated there since the last time she had done so. The children were at the red schoolhouse, learning impractical things, so the town was especially silent.
However, there was some sound that was completely foreign to the regular routine. It began as a dull thump thump in the distance. Most brushed it off as a figment of there imaginations. But throughout the day, the dull thumping sound grew louder and louder. It was not long after the initial sound was heard before other noises began to arise from the distance as well. First, it was the sound of brassy horns, wailing a tune in a minor key. Next came the Tuba, which was keeping a steadfast rhythm. After that came the sounds of tambourines, cymbols, and other assorted percussion instruments. Finally, just before the source of the sound could come into sight, came the wind of an accordion player.
Through out the day, the townsfolk pretended to ignore it, and openly regarded it as just another part of their regular days. But their curiosity weighed heavily in their minds all day. It wasn't until late in the evening until their inquiring minds would finally be satisfied.
Just about everyone was already in bed, though not even the weariest soul could sleep. How could one with such a foreign sound walking towards their doorstep? The sound came so close now that if they had been slumbering, they would be no where near it now. Everyone stuck their heads out their windows to see who or what the arriving sound was. What they saw a marching band, all dressed in Red, Gold, and Black. Leading them was a short but stout man, much shorter than the average person male or female, who was twirling a baton around in his hands surprisingly nimbly. Behind him were two of the tallest people anyone had ever seen beating on two appropriately sized bass drums. They were easily the size of one of the regular houses in the town. Most of the townsfolk decided immediately that the two people were on stilts. Though something about the way they walked seemed too smoothe for such trickery. Then came the four horn players and the four percussionists, who were all excrutiatingly skinny and appeared to be falling out of their suits. Then, came the tuba player, who had a beard so large and gruffy that only a skilled and nimble person would ever have hope of catching a glimpse of his face. After this came the accordion player, who was shocking in that he was the only person of this marching band who seemed to have no quirk about him what so ever. In fact, he looked completely average, as if he were able to fit in anywhere. Finally, came a man so brightly colored that even in the late hours of the evening he seemed to shine. The musicians played on and on until they reached town square. By this point they had gotten all but the most determined to sleep out of their beds following them. The band stopped, and the brightly colored man stepped forwarded and cleared his throat.
"Come one, come all!" He cried out to the captivated people. "Come see the one and only traveling seven seas circus! You, the lucky people of Lorene Island, have a once in a life time opportunity to come and see things beyond your wildest imagination! Have you been craving some adventure in your life? Well then, come see us today! You, children! Have you ever seen the circus?" The children within sight all simultaneously shook their head no. "Well them don't miss this chance while it's right in front of your nose ready to snatch and enjoy! All you have to do is come down to the Strawberry Field and find the Red and White Striped tent. Walk inside and see things beyond your zaniest deams! So, farewell townsfolk and children (this last word he seemed to put extra emphasis on), and I'll be seeing the better of you tomorrow!" And with that, the music started up again, and the marching band headed towards the direction of Strawberry field, which now supported a huge red and white field that was visible even to the townsfolk, who had somehow not noticed it's erection the entire day.
******
The parents had all scoffed it as tomfoolery. "There are much better things one could do with one's time," they all said, "they could be finishing their work at hand!" The children, however, were completely enticed. The next day, on the way to school, the children seemd to unverisally decide that it would be a much better use of time to go the the circus instead and see the marvels it had to offer. Not a single child showed up to school that day.
All of the parents of the children were boiling with fury when they heard news of this! They waited for the children to return home so they could administer what they thought would be fair punishments. They waited all afternoon, but not a single child came home. Soon worry began to fill the hearts of all of the parents. They all at once went to the mayor. There was such a buzz in the air that the mayor felt it in the air before they were even at his door. After much yelling and exasperation, the mayor said that a town meeting would be held the next day about it, and in the mean time, that they would just have to wait and come up with a plan for the meeting.
******
Not much got done at the meeting, as there was hardly a moment where a disgruntled mother was not sobbing or a infuriated father was not shouting. It seemed ridiculous that they were even holding the meeting, as ever soul on Lorene Island new where the children were: at the circus. No one knew why, but not a single person would dared to go there on their own time. The air about the place had a dark prescence about it, and none of the townsfolk felt brave enough to go there on their own.
After time, the issue was finally adressed. It was Mike McGee who brought it up. "It's obvious where they is, ain't it? They's at the Circus! Why don't we just get us some brave souls and go in and demand as to where are childrens are?" There was a long, uncomfortable silence.
It was the mayor who broke the silence. He nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, yes, that would seem to be the best course of action, wouldn't it? Well, then, who will be our representatives to go down to the circus and find out what has happened to the children?"
