Shrugging, I pour myself a glass of white wine then join her. “It’s just what I said. I have family, and they own a circus. My grandfathers, and there’s got to be some kind of story behind the plural part ofthat, want to retire, and they’d like me to run the business.” I wish I could offer her more than that, but I’m still trying to process what I’m now entangled with. She just stares at me for a moment, taking her own chance to sort through it all, so I sit patiently and enjoy my wine, the cool tart flavor refreshing on my tastebuds. God, I need it after the day I had.
She pulls herself together quickly. Susie, unlike me, is quick to anger but just as quick to get over it. Both of us are easily adaptable, and I think that’s part of why our friendship works. We like to just roll with the flow. “But doesn’t it seem strange that they’re contacting you so suddenly and out of the blue?”
“Maybe it does, but you know me. I’m not one to back down from a challenge, and this has got to be the ultimate challenge.” I’m starting to feel quite excited, my skin already prickling with goosebumps. “I have only a year to learn both the practical and legal sides of the circus, from being the ringmaster, to rigging the trapeze acts, and training the animals.” Wincing, I realize I’ve just broken the confidentiality clause already. God, I hope that’s information I was allowed to share, though I guess there’s really no way of them knowing I spilled some of the details.
“So, you’re going to run off and join the circus, just like that?” she asks incredulously, her face screwed up in surprise, before she shakes her head. “I don't know why I’m so surprised. You’ve always wanted adventure. I guess now that you’ve actually got a chance to do it, I’m a little jealous. Not to mention going to miss you like crazy.”
“It’s not like I have got much going on in my life,” I tell her, looking around our small apartment. It has a little living area where we have the god-awful couch we’re sitting on, a small coffee table, and the tv. A tiny kitchen, two small bedrooms, and one bathroom, make up the rest of the space. It’s not much, but it’s currently ours.
“I have a job that I don’t really care for. I mean, I certainly don’t want to do that for the rest of my life, but I’m not sure what I want to do. You have Mark, and let’s face it, it won’t be long before you two are moving in together. After that, what do I have?” I shrug like I don't care, but deep down the answer to that question is terrifying.
“I thought you liked working at the bar, meeting all those people?” she asks, taking a big sip of her own wine. “As for Mark and me, if we did move in together, we’d give you plenty of notice.” She looks a bit guilty when saying this, not knowing I overheard her and Mark talking about it a couple of nights ago.
“Don’t stress,” I tell her, “I knew it had to be coming soon. You two are perfect for each other.” They really are a perfect match. She works as a nurse at the local hospital, and he’s one of the emergency doctors. I’m secretly quite jealous. I never seem to meet someone who wants more than a one-night stand—the hazards of working in a bar, I guess. For once, it’d be nice to have someone want me as a long-term investment, for lack of better phrasing. Call it residual issues over my foster upbringing or whatever, I don’t care, but it’d be nice to date someone who wants to stick around.
Getting up and stretching, I head to the sink where I left the bottle and pour myself another glass of wine. “I’m actually really excited. Working in the bar is getting boring, and I’m sick of fending off drunk losers. I’ve never really known what to do with my life, like I’m just drifting through it with no purpose or direction. Maybe this is why. Maybe, subconsciously, I knew there was something out there for me? Look at it this way, at least I’ll spend the next year doing something really interesting.” I put the wine bottle back in the fridge and turn to look at her.
“I owe it to myself to give it the year. If I decide to give it up after that, I can at least say I gave it a go. Who knows what kind of experience I will have gained and where it will take me?”
She curls her legs up on the couch. “Ok, if you feel that way, I support you. If it doesn't work out, you can just come home. Now, tell me more. You said it was called the Galaxy Circus...” She’s starting to sound excited now, which is helping to smooth away some of the nerves that were lingering. “Isn’t that the one that mysteriously turns up overnight? It has the huge black futuristic circus dome, right?”
Moving back to the couch, I sit back down next to her, feeling a lot less agitated now that she’s supporting me. “Yes, that’s the one. It’s one of the highest-selling circus acts in the world.” I grab my phone from the coffee table, pulling up some of the tabs I’d browsed through on the ride home. “I googled it, and there are all sorts of rumors and gossip floating around, but one thing everyone agrees on is that it is quite a show.”
“OH!” she exclaims, sitting up straight. "You’re going to know all the secrets under the gossip and rumors. I can’t wait to hear how it’s all done. They say that for the mermaid show, a beam of light shines down and a tank suddenly appears in the middle of the tent. How is it done if it’s just set up in a field? There’s no way they dig a hole in the field or build a fake floor overnight. People would totally see that!”
I cringe inwardly, putting my phone back down on the coffee table, and turn to look at her. Here it comes... “Actually... I signed a non-disclosure agreement, and I don’t want to blow this whole thing before I even start. Icantell you that I’m now a part of the circus and that I’m flying to London on Wednesday. But apart from that, no specifics.”
“What a load of shit!” she argues, fury flashing in her chocolate-colored eyes. “I’m your person. I need to know everything. How can I know you’re being looked after and are safe if you can’t give me details? And let’s get back to the subject of grandfathers …plural. What the hell? Are they Mormons or something? Am I waving you off with a laugh and a smile when really you’re joining some freaky ass cult?” She’s worked up now, her arms flying, head shaking, and her corkscrew black curls bouncing all over the place.
“Look,” I say, sitting down and wrapping my arms around her, “once I’m settled, I’ll send you an itinerary for where we’re going. I’m sure I can call you all the time too, and I’ll tell you all about my grandfathers. My grandma must have been having a very, very good time. Go her. Maybe I’ll take a page out of her book. Get myself a gaggle of men.” I wink at her.
She giggles, the sound light now that the tension is gone. “Not a gaggle, a harem! I’ve read books like that. You lucky bitch, that would be awesome.”
“All the circus stuff and imaginary harems aside, maybe I can find out why they were estranged from my parents. I’d really like to know more. Maybe that’ll give me something that I just haven’t had my whole life, ya know? It won’t change what happened, but maybe there was a reason that it all had to go down that way? It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”
I untangle myself from her and get up from the couch. Stretching my arms above my head, I pull down my top as it rides up. “I’m heading to bed. I’ve had a headache since I met with the lawyer, and I can’t seem to shake it. No way I’m going to survive tomorrow if I don’t get some sleep. Gotta quit my job and pack all my shit… not that there’s much of it.” I also want to read through some of the information the lawyer gave me, but I don’t want to tell her in case she wants to see it too, confidentiality clause and all.
Walking over to the sink, I wash out my wine glass and leave it to drain on the side. “Night, Susie, I love you. Don’t worry. Everything will work out.”
She looks at me from the couch, all curled up again, her mouth turned down and eyes glistening with tears. “Don’t worry about me,” she says. “I’m having a pity party for one. I’m going to miss you so much. I’m going to call Mark before I go to bed and have a little cry to him.”
Smiling, I leave her to it. Grabbing my PJs, I move to the bathroom to clean my teeth and get changed, my eyes catching sight of myself in the mirror.Holy crap, girl, you look like shit.My usually bright green eyes are dim and sunken, with dark circles underneath them, and my long chestnut hair is in disarray after rubbing my temples all day to help my headache. The turquoise streaks are looking good though. I don’t spoil myself too often, can’t afford to, really, but the pop of color was a recent splurge. My eyes drift away from my face and further down my body; my usually golden skin has a pallor to it and doesn't look healthy at all.God!
In short, I look like I’ve been dragged backward through a thistle bush. That was what one of my foster moms would say. They were an elderly English couple that tried their hardest but really had nothing in common with a young twelve-year-old girl, though I will forever be grateful to her. She started and encouraged my love of gymnastics by enrolling me in as many local classes as she could find. Once she figured out that I would stay out of trouble if I was kept busy, at least mostly, she also enrolled me in self-defense classes. That home only lasted three years, and then the husband had a heart attack. Once they decided they needed to concentrate on his health, I got moved,again.
There’s a lot here I can’t fix right now, but I can at least get myself feeling a little less of a mess. Once I finish my teeth, I pull a brush through my mid-length hair, putting it up in a loose braid to keep it out of my face while I’m asleep. Reaching into the cupboard under the sink, I grab out two headache pills before walking back into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. I can see that Susie is still talking quietly on the phone to Mark, so I take the medicine and go back to my room. As happy as I am for her, there’s just something about Mark that rubs me the wrong way. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it’s like he tries too hard to be my friend. I mean, he’s Susie's boyfriend; it’sherhe should be trying to impress.
My room isn’t very big, and the standard double bed, chest of drawers, and bedside table with a gaudy lamp I got from the thrift store, barely fit. Grabbing my bag from where I threw it when I got home from seeing the lawyer, I slide out the package of paperwork. I fling back the quilt and climb in, settling down to have a look.Might as well start with the plane ticket.It says Los Angeles to London on the twenty-sixth of July, business class. Well, that’s nice, traveling in style. Flicking through the papers, I can see most are legal documents regarding the terms of the deal, but it seems there’s an envelope underneath the stack of legal jargon. It’s thick and fancy-looking, sealed on the back with a purple, black, pink, and blue seal that looks like a G and a C.
My name is on the front, leaving no question that its contents are meant for me. I break the seal and pull out the letter, nervous but impatient to know what it says. The parchment is thick, and the writing is decorative and fancy.
Dear Lila,
You don’t understand how thrilled we are that you’ve been found and will be joining us to claim your birthright. We know you must have thousands of questions, and they’ll be answered as soon as you join us. Look for a sign with your name on it when you arrive at Heathrow. There’s a car hired to bring you to us. Be brave, Lila, and hold on tight, for this ride is out of this world.
Much love,
Grandfathers J, W, & E
