Adventures of Pudge

THE CIRCUS

The circus was coming. Pudge and his friend Dan had learned that it would be arriving early the next morning. The train

carrying all the animals and performers, and their gear, would unload at the old railroad station north of town and would then

journey through the streets to the fairgrounds.

“Let’s go watch it come in,” Dan suggested. “We can take our bikes and ride over there early tomorrow morning. I think it

would be a blast.”

Pudge wasn’t sure; his parents had grounded him recently for playing baseball when he should have been mowing the lawn. “I

don’t think I can go,” he replied. “Dad’s already mad at me.”

“Why tell him? It arrives at four in the morning; we could be back home before your dad gets up,” was Dan’s response.

“I don’t know; If he catches me I’ll get the razor strap.”

“Oh, come on, don’t be a sissy.”

Arguing back and forth finally convinced Pudge that he should go. After all, the circus didn’t come every year and he might not

get another chance.

At three the next morning Dan was waiting in front of Pudge’s house when Pudge quietly pushed his bike around from the

garage. It was a short ride to the old station and they were soon lined up with other spectators, anxiously waiting for the train. It

was exciting; the train arrived punctually and soon was unloading the animals’ cages from the long flat cars. Pudge and Dan

watched, fascinated. Watching wasn’t enough; they followed the circus to the fairgrounds and looked on starry-eyed as the

performers and roustabouts set things up for the afternoon performance.

Suddenly, Pudge became aware that it was no longer early in the morning. The sun was high in the sky and it was long past

the time for his dad to be out of bed. He was going to get it when he got home.