Julius Rosenthal will make candy no more and other short stories by Nicholas Russell (young adult books to read .txt) 📗

sat back up and let out a breath he couldn’t find the chisel and at the moment. Rai realized instantly how the question must have sounded and tried to say something but Thomas stopped her. “You mean till I am completely blind?”

“That didn’t come out right.” Pain oozed from Rai’s voice as she stepped closer sliding her hand across his back. Once she was behind him Rai brought her arms together around his neck and pulled herself closer. “What I mean is, I love you and we will get through this.”

Her breath was warm against the back of his neck. It had been a long while since she held him this close. Thomas reached up and took her hand into his squeezing it just firmly enough to show the love he felt for her. He leaned his head into hers turning to face her, “I’m scared.”

Rai slid her arms free and moved around to face him. She knelt down taking his head into her hands. She looked at him and smiled before leaning in and kissing his lips. He slid his arms around her back and pulled her close. She laid her head on his shoulder and whispered softly “You have nothing to be afraid of my love, because I will always be here to hold your hand.”

Circus People

It had been almost an hour since the last act finished up and people were still milling about. Stragglers had always bothered Frank, Millie his daughter loved them but Frank saw them for what they were People who weren’t going to spend any more money. Frank stepped from the giant circus tent and started towards the ticket booth a near frigid breeze rolled across the field. As the cold seeped into Frank’s small body he tried hard to remember why he kept the ticket booth so far from big top. The big top, Frank chuckled to himself he hadn’t called this place the big top in years at least not since Millie was a little girl.

Tiny shoes made a distinct sound in wet grass, Frank turned to see a little girl no more than nine standing before him. She was a few inches shorter than Frank with a round face framed with strawberry colored ringlets. She smiled and stared for a moment. Frank knew what was coming but smiled and did his best to keep the look of a jolly ringmaster, “What can I do for you young lady?”

“Are you a Hobbit?” Frank tried not to be angry, he tried to remind himself that she was just a kid and more important a customer. He was about to say something when the father, at least he assumed he was the father, grabbed her arm with a terrified look on his face. He mumbled a weak apology before dragging the girl away.

Another gust reminded Frank how cold he was and he continued his trek towards the ticket booth. The booth was locked once the show started and Frank was the only person with the key. He fished it from around his neck - that was one of the problems with flashy stage clothes no pockets and unlocked the door. Normally Frank would have had the money counted by now but the drunken moron that called himself a Ringmaster had passed out before the show.

Stepping inside the ticket booth Frank flipped the light switch and the single bulb flickered on. The booth was wide enough to allow two people side by side to take tickets, of course these days they could only afford one person. He grabbed the lockbox, tucked it under one arm, flicked off the light and stepped out. Outside he looked about for Louis. Louis had been the foreman for about ten years. He had turned breaking down the tents and equipment into a precisely timed science.

“Louis, Usted puede empacar fuera la taquilla.” Frank stood for a moment to make sure he was heard and when Louis waved back he continued on. The wind had died down a bit and Frank was doing his best to hurry before it picked back up.

Tonight was the last show before moving on to the next town. The last night was usually a drunken party, but the cold would probably keep most everybody in tonight. He was halfway to the trailers before the signs of life started again. The clowns had washed off their make-up and were chasing each other around with water bottles, at least he hoped it was water. A few weeks back they had used vodka then passed out in the trailers. It took some ducking but he was able to avoid the revelers and the added chill.

Frank’s trailer was one of the oldest in the fleet if you could call a dozen RV’s and a tractor trailer a fleet. He had thought of getting a new one a few times but always gave it instead to the talent. Now he was barely keeping the place afloat let alone buy some new equipment. The beige paint was peeling and the tan stripe down the side had faded to near the point of invisibility. Light was coming from the frosted plastic window in the side door and Frank got a little nervous. It seemed like these days the only people who came to see him after shows wanted something.

With one foot on the step Frank leaned to the side and turned the door knob and took another step in. The light wasn’t as bright as he thought. Whoever it was had only turned on a small light above the table. They had also turned the heat on giving the room a hearty feeling after the frigid wind outside. Frank pulled the door closed and set the lockbox on the counter before removing his heavy wool coat.

For reasons beyond his explanation Frank reached into the top