Otter Lake Part 14

 The two left the restaurant and parted ways.  Gunter went to pick up a few groceries and, he said, to apply for a position at the Star Dust Bowl he saw posted at Tiny’s.  Travis walked back to the trailer.   The walk had seemed a lot longer in the dark.

     He unashamedly-micro waved a cup of this morning’s coffee and with little expectation turned on the TV.  To his surprise all it came on.   He lay down on the couch and flicked through the stations.  Hockey, crab fisherman in Alaska, the local school board meeting, movie stars in court and three shopping networks.  There was a knock off of Princess Diana’s engagement ring for $69.95.  Only seventy five left. He settled on a PBS program showing the inside story of the All American Circus.  He was glad there still was a circus. 

     Travis sipped more coffee.  Instead of making him more hyper, it had the opposite effect and just as the unicycle clown finished to thunderous applause, he drifted off.  He was at the circus.  It was his job to train little dogs, some wearing Rhine stone collars, sweaters and funny hats to do tricks.   He stood by the exit flap opposite the center ring.    A half dozen women in sparkling tight costumes walked by.  There were so many pretty women here and despite it being the All American Circus, the majority of them had European accents.  He especially liked one and watched for her every day.  He thought her perfect, in the way a man does when he really knows nothing about a woman.  As she walked by he said “nice show.” A dozen other people said the same thing.  It was a totally safe comment.  But to his horror, she stopped and looked directly at him.

     “Thank you,” she said.  She kept standing there.

     Travis did not have a plan for this, but as it turned out, he didn’t need one.  They just talked and the next day talked again.  Then they started to  casually meet each other by arrangement instead of relying on “accidents.”  And one day she reached over and touched his face and that was that.  From then on they were inseparable.

      One night after the evening show, they were sitting at the buffet for performers.  They often just sat quietly enjoying each other’s company.  Grysbok the stilt-walking clown came by.

     “You are one lucky dog trainer,” he said laughing.

     “I know,” Travis said, believing it with all his heart. Maria looked at him and he saw his future.

     Just then, the circus tent and the grounds began to shake.  A rumbling sound escalated until it was hard to hear even the screaming.  People fell over, tables toppled and they started to run from the tent.