Tuesday, August 10, 1926 St. Louis MO

The next day I led the parade down the middle of town playing my violin. I was hungover big time and missing notes. People in the crowds didn’t seem to mind, but I noticed the ringleader staring at me, shaking his head in disapproval. Ambrose was there nudging me along the route. As we reached our destination, I heard the boss talking to Randall Jefferson, the ringleader who was complaining about my performance.

“Mr Addler, Harvey looked drunk as a skunk tonight. He stumbled along the parade route and missed some notes here and there. He’s a disgrace.”

“Did the elephants follow him?” said Mr Addler, standing akimbo.

“I suppose, the elephants love the man. They behaved perfectly, but that doesn’t excuse the clown’s behavior.”

“Tut, tut, aren’t hobo clowns supposed to be drunk? If he messes up with the performance in the show tonight, then come talk to me.”

I kept my face forward, but peeked over and saw the ringleader eyeing me with contempt.

After the parade, I walked back to my wagon to rest, followed by Ambrose and Mrs Melody. I opened the door, placed my violin on the table, then plopped down on my cot, and put my hands over my eyes to block out the light. “Could you two leave me to my privacy.”

Ambrose raised an eyebrow and sat down on his cot along with Melody. “Sorry, dear Harvey, but we have been given strict orders from Mr Jefferson, not to let you out of our sight, and not to allow you to have any alcohol. You brought this all upon yourself.”

“Can we get you anything to drink beside alcohol?” said Mrs Melody, feeling my forehead. 

“No, Ma’am, just need a little nap is all,” I said, hoping they’d leave. They sat on Ambrose’s cot, as I closed my eyes and drifted off.

A few hours later, I was jostled awake by Ambrose. “Time to wake up, sleepyhead. Drink this coffee. We need to have you at your best tonight,” he said, handing me a cup.

“I didn’t mean to let anyone down. I was hurting so bad yesterday. The shakes were killing me, and when I saw young Tim, I just couldn’t take anymore.”

“Well, you need to try to be sober for the performance tonight. The boss, Mr Jefferson and Clyde will all be watching you closely,” Ambrose said, putting on his costume.

Later that afternoon, huge crowds of people began to arrive. Opening night in St Louis was a big deal. The billboards posted all over town featured, Come one, come all! See the clown that charms elephants with his magic violin. I never planned on being the star of the show and I wasn’t prepared to take on such an important role, especially for an old drunk like me. I wasn’t ready to quit drinking.

By mid afternoon, I was in costume, carrying my violin and heading towards the elephant tent. When I entered the tent, Clyde Bowman, Jim Dandy, and Pete Fryman glared at me as if I’d killed someone.

“I’ve been waiting for you clown, now get your shit together. Our act starts in ten minutes. Don’t you be running off and getting a drink. I heard what happened last night and it won’t be happening again or else you will be out of a job, you understand me?” Clyde yelled, as he shook his fist and pointed in my face.

“I’m sober, I promise Mr Bowman. It won’t ever happen again.” I begged.

“You’re damned right it won’t, or else I might just take the bullhook to you. Now get your shit together!”

The other guys just looked away and shook their heads. I could tell they were ashamed of me.

I led the elephants into the ring and the crowd cheered. The elephants did exactly as they were told. Eddie Bee rode in on Rosie’s head and she stood on her back legs and the crowd went wild as I played the violin. Eddie looked over at me given the thumbs up. The show ended without a hitch. I wanted a drink so bad, but knew it would be a mistake. 

As I was walking back to my wagon, I passed by Madam Buska’s booth. I walked in and took a seat. The entrance to her tent was covered with strings of red beads and behind her on a pole was a human skull and a stuffed crow. She was sitting at a small table across from a young blonde headed man in his 20s along with his dumpy little girlfriend. 

“So will we be happily married like my parents? The girlfriend grinned showing her big teeth while holding her boyfriend’s hand.

Madam Buska put a first to her forehead and squinted at the boy. She rolled a trinket between her bony fingers and said, “Yes, I see marriage in your future young lady. And you will find both happiness and sadness.”

“Oh thank you, Madam Buska. I just knew we would be a great match for each other. Come George, I want to see the House of Mirrors,” she said grabbing his hand and pulling him along. He turned and looked back at Madam Buska and rolled his eyes, before being led out of the tent.

“My oh my, come in, Harvey. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Come sit down. You looking to see your future?”

I sat down at the table facing her. She was dressed in a sequined black gown and wore a red kerchief on her head.

“I suppose, but how do you know the couple will be happily married? He didn’t look so happy.”

“Oh no, he will dump her within a week. I do see her happily married, just not to that boy. I didn’t exactly lie,” she chuckled. So what do you want to know, Harvey? This one is free.”

“My life’s a mess, Mrs Buska. I’ve lost my family to the whisky and now about to lose my job. Can you tell me what the future holds for some old drunk clown like me?” 

“You are blessed with a gift to charm elephants, Harvey, but you already know this. Hmm, let me see. Do you have any personal items of yours I can hold in my hand?”

I dug in my pocket and found the green disk. “All I got on me is this thing I found,” I said, handing her the disk. Her eyes got big as she rolled it around in her hands. “This stone is very very old and powerful.” She pressed it up against her forehead and closed her eyes.

“This is one of twelve such amulets of divine origin. It desires to be returned to a place East of here.  Does the word Dunwoody mean something to you?” 

“No, not at all. Do you see anything else?”

“I see negros being marched down a road in chains led by a fiddler. Such pain and sadness.”

“I’ve seen that also, what about me, Madam Buska? Do you see anything about me?”

“She squinted tight and said, “ I see darkness, and at the end of that darkness is a key. It unlocks chains.” She opened her eyes and sighed. She then reached over and placed the disk back in my hand. “Here is your disk, Where did you find this stone?.”

“I found it about a year ago, at the last watering hole during our last stop.”

“I would have liked to have bought it off you, but unfortunately its power would destroy me. Take this stone and leave. I would advise you to bury it deep. Be careful Harvey, I’m afraid I can’t help you more than that.”

I left Madam Buska’s tent feeling odd. She saw the negros like I did. I also felt the desire to head East as if the stone was calling to me. I walked back to my wagon and caught Ambrose and Mrs Melody walking down the step.

“My dear, Harvey, you did amazing work tonight. I think the boss was pleased.”

“Oh yes, Harvey. Eddie was singing your praises tonight. Rosie was on her best behavior. Those elephants really love you,” Melody said, touching my arm and smiling.

“Thanks Miss Melody, I really appreciate that.”

“You go on, Melody, I’ll catch up with you. I need to have a little chat with Harvey,” Ambrose said, waving her off.

“What do you want to talk to me about?”

“I want to go back and spend a little time with Miss Melody tonight. You know what I mean. Can I trust you to stay away from the booze, or should I get one of our friends to sit with you tonight? I promised Randall that I’d keep an eye on you.”

“I’ll be good tonight, Ambrose, I promise. I think I just need to go to bed.”

“Okay, then. I’ll be back later tonight. Don’t wait up,” he said, running off into the darkness.

I walked inside and sat down at my dressing table. I looked in the mirror at my sad face. Madam Buska didn’t seem to find any happiness in my future. I felt sorry for myself as I wiped off the make-up. What did she mean when she said, take me home? Who is Dunwoody, and what chains am I supposed to unlock with a key? It all made no sense, and yet it made me feel uneasy. I took off my clothes and laid down on my cot and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning I awoke feeling better. I got dressed and walked down to where the elephants were kept by the edge of the large field. I sat down in the grass and played the violin. The elephants gathered round as I played. 

Later, I placed the violin at my feet and pulled the green disk from my pocket. I spoke into the disk and asked, “What chains am I to unlock?”

Suddenly, the elephants started to make low growls and trumpets among themselves. As I held the disk, I could hear voices coming from the disk. 

“I think the man is talking to us. He’s asking about the chains,” said the whispering voices.

The elephants stared at me intently making low noises again. I spoke into the disk and said, “Can you elephants understand me?”

Once again the disk spoke to me, “Yes, you speak as one of us, painted man.”

I was shocked. I stood up and held the disk high in the air and laughed. “I can talk to the elephants!” I danced around in a state of joy. 

Rosie came close to me and made a desperate low growl and grunt. The disk once again spoke with a desperate cry. “I want our baby. I want our baby back. Can you help bring our baby back?”