Clarissa the Clown ; Children's story by Andrew Segal

HappyLDNPress Author Stories

Clarissa the Clown ; Children's story written and narrated by Andrew Segal

As a kid I remember the first time I was taken to a circus. It was Bertram Mills. Well known as one of the pre-eminent of circuses of its day, and not without justification. There was the excitement and anticipation before we arrived, the bustle, the expectant crowds of children and adults. Then there were the animals, not as prevalent today as once. But we had horses, dogs, seals, elephants and most exciting of all, the lions and tigers. How could anyone be brave enough to get into a cage with those big cats? Their roars were terrifying, but exciting at the same time.

The whole event was almost overwhelming. Even today we see circuses with rings and tents bigger than anything we might have envisaged when I was a youngster. Indeed the visiting, Moscow State Circus with its vast trio of bright red tents should be enough to impress the most dour of critics.

But then, the thing we all waited for, was the clowns. The somersaults, the slapstick, buckets of paint, faces splashed with cream pies. They say, every comedian harbours a sadness in their life, a sadness that encourages then to make others laugh.

Clarissa dreams of flying on the trapeze, but lacks the confidence, insists her knees are too weak. But it’s just an excuse, and despite her nerves, when she overcomes her fear, and gives it a go she finds she can fly on the trapeze with the best of them. If we don’t give it a go, we’ll never know what we’re capable of.

Extract from Village People collection of short stories by Andrew Segal - to be launch later next year

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