Alicia's Circus Adventure by Ian Mcluckie (books to read as a couple .TXT) 📕

Alicia's
Circus
Adventure.


A circus coming to a small sleepy town like Darvel, would always be big news. Every child from 3 to 73 years old, would nag & nag for a chance to see an exotic animal like a lion or an elephant. Alicia happily skipped home from school unaware of the arrival of these exotic animals & their brightly painted tent.

A freshly glued poster was stuck to a wall just 50 yards from her home.
“ A circus, “ Alicia gasped, her eye's widely fixed on the wonders of the jungle. The poster was brightly filled with elephants, monkeys and all the big cat's. A clown was seen on a horse juggling a flowerpot, under a huge yellow tent. When she had finished reading it for the 10th time, Alicia sprinted for home.
“ Dad, Mum, “ she shouted as she crashed through the cottage door. Dad woke up with a fright and jumped from his chair, still half asleep. Alicia ran in to the living room with the poster she had torn from the wall.
“ Its a circus Dad, maybe like the one Grandpa worked in. “ Alicia's grandpa Eddie had been a musician and had played drums in a circus.
Dad laughed & started to read the poster.

The Greatest Show On Earth. Marvel at The African Performing Elephants.
The Flying Lady's Of Monaco.
And Many More.
1 Child Free with each adult.

“ Free dad, we have to go Please Dad,” Alicia begged. Dad thought for a minute and then said,
“ Sorry honey we cant, I don't have the money for my ticket. “
Alicia got cross with dad and ran up the stairs. She spent the rest of the night looking at the circus poster, wishing & hoping, she went to bed.
In the middle of the night a large shadow flew past Alicia's bedroom window. Her lace curtain fluttered in the wind as it flew past for the second time.


Thankfully she loved and understood her dad, as she woke early the next morning. Dad was still asleep, as she made her way down the stairs for breakfast. When she walked past the front door she noticed a piece of paper had been put through the letter box. Alicia didn't normally pick up the mail, anyway it was only 7am way too early for the mail man.
Dad woke up with a fright as he heard Alicia scream. She flew up the stairs and crashed on to his bed.
“ Wake up dad, look look,” she said giving him the piece of paper. Dad struggled to find his glasses but when he eventually did, he was shocked to find in his hand.
“ 2 Golden tickets,“ for the circus. Dad couldn't believe his eyes, all he could do was smile & say,

“ Were going to the circus. “

The circus tent was beautiful and filled to the brim. People of all ages swarmed around the Candy Floss & Hot dogs stalls. Alicia was glad they had 2 ring side seats, excited to be up close to all the animals. I'm really going to see elephants and lions performing right in front of me. Alicia held onto her dad 's hand real tight as the lights dimmed and the music started to play.

First to enter the circus ring were the Clowns, all brightly coloured and laughing. Followed by the Horses and then the huge ferocious lions, snarling loudly for all to see. After them were the Trapeze, the high wire gymnast that flew in the air without a safety net. Then the ground began to shake & with a trumpet blast the Elephants entered the ring. Alicia with her eye's wide, watched them run around & around. Each time the trumpets blew, it signalled to the Elephants to start a new trick. Alicia nudged her dad in the ribs laughing loudly. Each Elephant was holding onto the tail of the Elephant in front. They skipped and trumpeted as they marched in and out dancing to the music. A loud cry from the trainer signalled the end of their act. Then oddly a large male Elephant called Echo, stopped in front of Alicia. Gently Echo stretched out his long soft trunk and touched her hand. Alicia was amazed not only by the touch of his trunk. But also because she could magically hear the Elephant speak.
“ Don't be frightened little girl, “ Echo Said in a low still voice.
“ I was told by a friend your names Alicia, “ his low voice rumbled. A little stunned, she found the courage to answer Echo back.
“ I'm not frightened but, How do you know my name.” Echo knew he didn't have that much time, so he spoke quickly.
“ Come to my tent tomorrow morning & I will tell you how I know you, we badly need your help.” Echo's handler walked over and pulled him away, breaking their connection. Dad sitting next to Alicia hadn't heard Echo speak, he thought it was just a part of the show. This grand old Elephant had passed on a secret not many people know.

“ Elephants can talk.”

Going home with dad after the show, Alicia was so excited she talked non stop all the way back home. One things for certain, she would visit the Elephants tent in the morning.


Morning couldn't come quickly enough as Alicia lay on her bed. Today I will go see the Elephant, but I must take him a present. Dad was still asleep when Alicia left the cottage carrying a bag full of apples. Her garden was full of fruit & magical tree's of one kind or another. They had 4 apple tree's, 2 pear tree's & a honey tree full of bee's. In the hot summer days when the flowers bloomed & the bee's were active. Alicia would leave a clean empty honey jar at the bottom of their honey tree. As if by magic the Bee's would fly out from the tree, carrying with them honey. Alicia loved to see them flying to & fro, filling up her honey jar. When they had finished their work the queen bee would land on Alicia's shoulder & she would say,

“ Thank you.”

Echo the Elephant ate his breakfast of watermelons and rhubarb quickly. Coco the Gorilla was a big eater but very fussy. He would only eat candy floss, hot dogs and baked beans. The monkeys always complained about Coco the Gorilla. After breakfast he would stink out their tent because the beans made him fart, loudly & a lot. The Elephants did not find this at all funny. Elephants noses are very very long and impossible to hold.