WATER FOR ELEPHANT - Sara Gruen [99]
And then the shower of money starts—the sweet, sweet shower of money. Uncle Al is delirious, standing in the center of the hippodrome track with his arms and face raised, basking in the coins that rain down on him. He keeps his face raised even as coins bounce off his cheeks, nose, and forehead. I think he may actually be crying.
COURTESY OF TIMOTHY TEGGE, TEGGE CIRCUS ARCHIVES, BARABOO, WISCONSIN
Eighteen
I catch up with them as Marlena slides down from Rosie’s head.
“You were brilliant! Brilliant!” says August, kissing her on the cheek. “Did you see that, Jacob? Did you see how brilliant they were?”
“Sure did.”
“Do me a favor and take Rosie around, would you? I’ve got to go back inside.” He hands me the silver-tipped cane. He looks at Marlena, sighs deeply, and claps a hand to his breast. “Brilliant. Simply brilliant. Don’t forget,” he says, turning and walking a few strides backward, “you’re on with the horses right after Lottie.”
“I’ll get them right now,” she says.
August heads back to the big top.
“You were spectacular,” I say.
“Yes, she was good, wasn’t she?” Marlena leans over and plants a loud kiss on Rosie’s shoulder, leaving a perfect lip print on the gray hide. She reaches out and rubs it with her thumb.
“I meant you,” I say.
She blushes, her thumb still on Rosie’s shoulder.
I regret saying it instantly. Not that she wasn’t spectacular—she was, but that wasn’t all I meant and she knew it and now I’ve made her uncomfortable. I decide to beat a hasty retreat.
“, Rosie,” I say, motioning her forward. “, mój malutki pczuszek.”
“Jacob, wait.” Marlena lays her fingers on the inside of my elbow.
In the distance, right at the entrance to the big top, August stops and stiffens. It’s as though he sensed the physical contact. He turns around slowly, his face somber. Our eyes lock.
“Can you do me a favor?” Marlena asks.
“Sure. Of course,” I say, glancing nervously at August. Marlena hasn’t noticed that he’s watching us. I place my hand on my hip, causing her fingers to fall from my elbow.
“Can you bring Rosie to my dressing tent? I have a surprise planned.”
“Uh, sure. I guess so,” I say. “When do you want her there?”
“Take her there now. I’ll be along in a bit. Oh, and wear something nice. I want it to be a proper party.”
“Me?”
“Of course you. I’ve got to do my act now, but I won’t be long. And if you see August ahead of time, not a word, okay?”
I nod. When I look back at the big top, August has disappeared inside.
ROSIE IS PERFECTLY AGREEABLE to the unusual arrangement. She plods along by my side to the edge of Marlena’s dressing tent and then waits patiently as Grady and Bill untie the bottom of the sidewall from the stakes.
“So, how’s Camel doing, anyway?” asks Grady, crouching down and working on a rope. Rosie reaches out to investigate.
“About the same,” I say. “He thinks he’s getting better, but I don’t see it. I think he doesn’t notice as much because he doesn’t have to do anything. Well, that and he’s usually drunk.”
“That sure sounds like Camel,” says Bill. “Where’s he getting liquor? It is liquor, ain’t it? He ain’t drinking that jake shit no more, is he?”
“No, it’s liquor. My bunkmate’s taken a shine to him.”
“Who? That Kinko guy?” says Grady.
“Yup.”
“I thought he hated working men.”
Rosie reaches out and takes Grady’s hat. He turns around and swipes at it, but she holds it high. “Hey, would you keep your bull under control?”
I look into her eye, which twinkles back at me. “!” I say sternly, although I’m finding it hard not to laugh. Her great ear waves forward and she drops the hat. I stoop