The Tiny Ringmaster (11 page)

The little girl ran ahead quickly, and Ruth struggled to keep up. The little girl knew every branch, log, and fallen limb, so she jumped and dashed around with ease. Ruth, on the other hand, had to slow down every time she noticed a new obstacle.

The little girl suddenly stopped, and Ruth halted right beside her. At first, Ruth didn't know why the little girl had stopped, and then she looked ahead. A large misty pond with a ring of waterfalls sat serenely between the dense trees.  A taller waterfall fell from the side of a cliff, and it was surrounded by other smaller waterfalls. All of the water fell softly into the pond, making tiny tinkling sounds like a piano.

Ruth walked quietly around the pond. She was memorized by the water. The pitter patter of the pond and the cover of the trees made her feel happy and safe. Ruth sat down on a stump while the other little girl splashed in the water. She signaled for Ruth to join her, but Ruth didn’t want to get wet. A goofy grin came across Ruth’s face. She felt like she just had some of Eliza’s hot chocolate. The waterfalls were just so pretty. The lights peeking from the trees created a dazzling glow around the spot. Ruth just couldn’t tear her eyes away. The pond was her new oasis.

The little girl skipped across the pond on a little path made of rocks to a tunnel between the waterfalls. Ruth hadn’t noticed the tunnel until just then. She smiled at the little girl and wondered who she was. She was overjoyed to see someone her size, but she didn’t know why they hadn’t been introduced before. Ruth stood up dizzily to get a closer look at the little tunnel. The girl certainly knew her way around the forest. Ruth marveled at what treasures might lay just beyond the waterfall. She took the first step out onto a rock.

“RUTH!!! RUUUTTTTTHHHH!!!”

Ruth turned around startled and shaking. She saw Tryfod and Eritol bounding toward her. She looked back at the little girl, but she was gone! Ruth rolled her eyes and stood at the edge of the pond with her arms crossed. The light was dimmer, and the water sounded harsher. Ruth was beginning to think Tryfod ruined everything. Tryfod spoke first.

“Child! Why would you go running into the forest?! It’s dangerous out here!”

Ruth halted a second eye roll. “I was just following my friend…” She turned around and pointed toward the tunnel hoping the small girl would appear again, but she was long gone. Tryfod wasn’t impressed. “There’s no need to blame irresponsible behavior on an imaginary friend! We need to get you back before you catch your death of cold!”

Eritol wrapped her in a blanket, and she followed his lead. She hadn’t felt the cold until she was wrapped securely in the warm blanket. One last time, she turned around. The little girl’s face was barely peeking from within the tunnel. She waved goodbye to Ruth, and Ruth waved back sneakily as she mouthed, “I’ll be back.” The little girl grinned and nodded before she disappeared into the tunnel.

Tryfod expressed his concern on the walk back. “Strange things happen in this forest Ruth. Remember, this isn’t your world anymore. You must be careful.”   

Tryfod had softened on the cold walk and changed the subject as they entered the tent. “So Eritol tells me that you wanted to learn a little bit of magic?” Ruth shrugged her shoulders, and Tryfod realized she was still upset from the lecture. “Get some lunch, sweet Ruth. We have a big practice this afternoon. You are going to shadow Eritol.” Ruth perked up a little. “Shadow Eritol how?” Tryfod gave Ruth the most reassuring smile he could muster. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

When it came time, Ruth followed Eritol into the performing tent. She was told she had to mimic Eritol's movements on a shorter, smaller podium next to Eritol's that they built just for her.

As soon as they stepped inside the practice tent, Ruth was overwhelmed with the activity. Animals roared and sounded; tight ropers swirled and hopped; Ginger and the dancers spinned and leaped. It was a cacophony of circus noise. They all wore their costumes, and the bright colors were blinding. Green, red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, pink, white – every color of the rainbow.

She followed behind Eritol timidly as he made his way to his post. She was still tired and a little dizzy from her forest adventure. Everyone stopped what they were doing when they saw Eritol’s large frame looming towards them. Eritol hopped up on his podium, and Ruth quickly did the same. Eritol broke out into a huge grin, “Alright, places, places! Let's get started!”

From that moment on, Ruth did everything she could to keep up. Eritol had a thousand different hand movements to cue the next act or next trick. He didn't talk much except for a joke or an introduction. Ruth felt panic take hold. She could barely get her band to stay together and play well for one song. How was she going to co-lead an entire circus? The practice passed by in a blur, and before Ruth knew it, they were all taking a break. Ruth shook out her tired arms and sat down wearily.

After an all-too-short break, they began once again. Ruth still struggled to keep up with Eritol, and she was so sleepy that everything just felt like a haze. She watched Eritol and did what she could. It felt like only moments later when Eritol said it was break time again. Ruth was confused. “Eritol, where is everyone going? We just took a break.”

“It's naptime child!”

Ruth was extremely grateful. She couldn't wait to take a nap. She thought learning what she was supposed to do would make things easier, but now it just felt even more impossible. She couldn’t remember exactly where her room was, so she followed a few people out of the tent. Luckily, she spotted Ginger, and Ginger happily agreed to walk with her.

The two walked in silence for a while. The halls became quieter and quieter as everyone left for their rooms.

“Ginger?”

“Yes dear?”

“I'm not feeling very well.”

“Did you eat too much at lunch? I can get you some peppermint tea.”

“No, no. It's not that. I just. I don't think I'm cut out for this. And I'm lonely… and… and… a little scared.” Ruth swallowed her tears, and Ginger proceeded carefully.

“What are you scared about?”

“Not being able to help, and not being able to go home.”

Ginger nodded. “Do you think that you're going to let us down?”

Ruth brushed away a tear that escaped from her eye. “I don't think I'm good enough.”

Ginger paused for a second, and Ruth almost regretted telling her. Ginger stopped walking and knelt down in front of Ruth. “Ms. Ruth, I know you're scared. But I'm going to promise you two things, and I need you to believe me. Ok?”

“Ok?”

“First, you will get to go home. You can't stay here; it's just not how things work. So I don't want you to be frightened about that.”

Ruth nodded hesitantly.

“Now for your other concern, you were chosen for this mission because you have special talents. You just found out about them, and you haven't seen them in action yet, so you're probably pretty skeptical. I don't blame you. You may not believe it or even be able to see how special you are, but you are. All you have to do is believe in yourself.” Ginger noticed the child’s eyes getting droopy. “Right now though, I need you to take a nap for me. You'll feel much better afterwards.” Ginger walked Ruth into her room, tucked her in the bed, turned off the lights, and shut the door.

Ruth expected to wake up in her bed at home. When she awoke, she was still in a faraway land, with far away people, with plenty of work left to do. She was feeling better though. Ginger had been right about that. She heard some rustling outside her door, so she got up to see what was going on. Everyone else was awake from their naps and heading down the hall. Ruth followed. Maybe they were all heading back to practice.

No one noticed little Ruth in the crowd, and she tried her hardest not to get run over. By the third apology, Ruth realized that everyone was in pajamas. She found this odd; she was still in her clothes. Then again, everything about this place was odd to her. They didn't take the hallway that led to the practice tent, so Ruth just followed quietly. As Ruth rounded the corner at the end of the hallway, she gasped.

A sun room stretched with table after table of little sandwiches and small tea cups. Everyone sat and sipped in their pajamas while Lucin and the other waiters poured the tea. Each table had a stack of small sandwiches, crumpets, muffins, and other bright pastries. It reminded Ruth of tea time with her dolls.