Act 7
Mickey’s dad was a contract hire, meaning that he was hired for only a year. On his last day, there was a big event that would eventually affect me, as you will see.
By then, I already got so tired with my training and performances. I felt that my body got weaker and I got bruises all over my body. I started questioning whether I could continue to live like this, or whether I should try to escape. Escaping was very hard to do, especially since I was locked inside the cage every day.
On this faithful day, something big happened. As usual, as Mickey’s dad came to train me, Mickey was strolling along with Bill. I overheard that they were talking to other people that Mickey’s dad would be going to England to retire there, maybe to open his own circus eventually. I secretly wished I could go with them…
As usual, Bill started to mock me. However, it didn’t last long. For the new show, they made me a new costume. It was silver in color, with gems sewn into the clothes. They made me put on the clothes even during training, maybe to make sure that it looked nice under the lights. As Bill saw my costume, I could see that his jaw dropped and he became so envious. All Bill wore was just a piece of collar (which he arrogantly told me that he could easily take it off himself without Mickey knowing it).
Lo and behold – during the practice, the fire alarm broke off. In fact, someone came running and shouting “Fire”. It seems that the fire eating people did some mistakes and burnt some parts of their tent. Everybody quickly run away, including Mickey, his dad and my bodyguard, leaving me and Bill alone in my training area.
As I was pondering whether or not I should try to run outside as well, Bill approached me. He was so engrossed with my costume that he sweet-talked me into letting him try my costume. So he put on my costume, and asked me if I would like to try his collar. “Well … might as well” I thought.
At this point, it turned out that our tent started to get caught in fire as well. Right after we exchanged clothes, a piece of the roof caught fire and fell down, almost hit both of us. We both got panic and started to run in different directions. I managed to get out in the last minute, Bill unfortunately didn’t. He got hit by burning roof right before he approached the exit. “Aarggh Bill …” I thought to myself. Even though he was always mean to me, I felt sorry for him, as we were pretty much the only 2 non-humans in this circus.
After I got out, and after the firefighters succeed to extinguish the fire, people started calling my name, looking for me. Meanwhile, I heard Mickey looking for Bill also. Now I’m in a great dilemma … what should I do? I mean, since I’m in Bill’s costume now, I can come to Mickey and easily pass on as Bill and the rest will think I’m the one dead inside the tent. On the other hand, I could run to the others and start to do the tricks and they will know that I’m Ricky/Stu and the one dead in the tent is Bill. However, it will leave Mickey totally devastated.
Uurrgghhhh…. Decision decision decision…
I began to relook my life. Yes, I love being a famous performer and all, but at the same time, I still feel very lonely, and I was kept inside the cage all the time. Not to mention, the trainings and the performances were very hard on my body, I don’t think I could last that long living like that. On the other hand, here it is, a boy who adores me just because who I am. Yes, I’m still not totally free, but I’m not kept locked in the cage, and more importantly, for the first time in my life, I have a friend, someone who loves me for me.
With that in mind, I run towards Mickey. When he saw me, he opened up his arms to hold me, saying “Oh Bill … you survive!!!” In the same time, the rest found Bill’s body (with my costume) and started crying loudly. Oh well… I guess Ricky is officially dead now, and I can’t perform my tricks EVER again. It was a small price to pay for my newly-found life, but I had no regrets.
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