Bedtime Story

There once was a boy whose lifetime dream was to become an extraordinary circus artist. His name was Ryan and he had always felt fascinated by magic.
When he found there was going to be a circus in his hometown he decided to take his chance and so he made his way to the big tent.
As he entered the circus tent he saw an old heavyset man with a very long black goatee wearing nothing but a little smirk.
Ryan found him startlingly weird as well as his gold eyebrow studs and skull earrings.
The man asked what he wanted.
“-I want to be part of the circus troupe”. Ryan said with conviction.
Once inside the circus tent the young boy realized what a different world it was, way better than what he had imagined.
“-No”. He was told.
Ryan insisted again to get just one shot.
“-Doesn’t school keep you busy enough? You cannot work here”. The old man concluded.
Ryan still wasn't getting his feet off the ground and was too stubborn to return back home empty-handed and with a monumental “No” as a response.
He insisted again and to his surprise he didn’t get a negative answer this time.
“-Tell me, do you know any tricks?” The man inquired.
“-Hmm… yes! At school I used to pull pranks by setting the clocks two hours back. I really think the first time I did it the teachers thought it was real magic!” he proudly said.
“-Oh really? And what did you get for that?” The man asked.
“-Ah… a punishment.” Ryan replied.
The circus owner was now starting to lose his patience but still he peacefully said:
“-You can try as many times as you want but I guarantee you I won’t change my mind.”
“-Well… I ain’t giving up…” Ryan muttered with rolling eyes.
Wouldn’t such a persistent youngster deserve a reward? Perhaps, that was the question the man asked himself and afterwards he said: “-Ok kid here’s the deal, I’ll let you be my apprentice here at the circus but you must promise you’ll remain focussed on school”.
Ryan promptly agreed and gladly returned home with a feeling of mission accomplished.

Ana Sofia Alves nº27860