The next morning, there was a loud knock at the door to our trailer. “I’m coming, hold your horses,” said Ambrose, putting out his cigarette. Ambrose opened the door and said, “Morning Bill, what brings you here?”

 “I’m looking for Harvey. The boss wants to see him in the office now,” said the foreman, peeking in the door. 

“Be right there boss,” I said, sitting up in bed. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and reached for my shoes.

“My my! So the boss wants to see you in the office. What’d you do this time, Harvey?” Ambrose said, shaking his head, scolding me. 

“I ain’t done nothing wrong,” I said. 

“Sure you ain’t hittin’ the sauce again?” he said, sticking his nose up at me. I grunted and pushed past him. “Good luck old man!” he said, as I climbed down the step to the ground.

I had the shakes this morning. I wanted a drink bad, but didn’t want to be drunk in front of the boss. His trailer was parked at the end of the big field under the shade of a huge oak tree. It was big with a red, white and blue striped canopy over the door. I took a deep breath and knocked. 

The foreman opened the door and said, “Boss, Mr Jones is at the door.”

“Show him in Mr Dooley,” said the boss. The foreman stepped back and I climbed the step and walked inside. The boss sat at his table, wearing a pinstriped suit and bowler hat, along with Clyde Bowman, the head elephant trainer. 

“So you’re the clown that charmed the elephants” You look like an old worn out man to me. Elephants are unpredictable beasts. So you think you can charm them again?” said Clyde.

“I don’t know sir. I just started playing my fiddle and they seemed to like it.”

“This don’t sound good to me. Look at ‘em boss, he ain’t nothin’ but an old bag a bones. You need to be tough to handle elephants,” said Clyde, pointing at me.

“Don’t argue with me, Clyde. I seen him do it with my own eyes,” said the boss, nodding his head.

“But sir…,” said Clyde

“You heard the boss now do it,” said Bill, putting his hands on his waist and cocking his head.

“Harvey, Mr Bowman’s going to teach you how to work with the elephants. This is going to be your new job from now on. Do you understand?” said the boss. 

“Yes sir,” I said, as Clyde rolled his eyes and huffed. 

“Well, com’on then, Guess we best get started,” said Clyde.

I followed Clyde out in the big field where they kept the elephants chained up. Jimbo held the bull-hook in his hand and led the elephants around in a circle. Each of them chained ankle to ankle, walking in single file, their trunk grasping the tail of the elephant ahead of them, swinging side to side.

“Woohoo! Oh looky here if it ain’t the ole drunk clown!” said a tall lanky man with a fancy mustache holding a rope.

“That’s right, Bo Dandy, you’ll be workin with this ole clown. You and the boys show ole Harvey here how we train elephants,” said Clyde glaring.

“Gotcha boss. Jimbo, you and Pete hold that rope tight on old General Lee. He’s been a bit belligerent lately. The two stout men held the ropes tight. The large elephant’s eyes grew wide. He trumpeted and pulled back in fear, as Bo Dandy jabbed the bull-hook into the side of his neck and ear, causing the poor beast to roar and scream. 

I looked on in horror, then turned away. “Do you gotta poke them like that? You’re torturing them,” I said.

“Nah, that’s the only way to get them to obey. They so big it don’t hurt them none,” said Jimbo, spitting his chawing t’baccer.

“Maybe if we treat them nice they will be more willing…”I said, being cut off.

 “Here take this bull hook and poke her right here,” said Clyde. He poked General Lee on his neck causing the great beast to rear back and roar. “Go on, take it clown.” 

“I can’t do it,” I said, turning away, feeling the elephant’s pain.

“Listen clown, this is how we do things here. You better get used to it. If you can’t help with training, then you’re gonna shovel shit. Now go grab a shovel,” said Clyde.

As the afternoon wore on, I was beat. The heat and the smell nearly made me pass out. Being well past my prime, I wasn’t used to such hard work, and was starting to get the shakes. Tim, the young man working with me, had the mind of a young child and the body of a giant. Drenched in sweat, he toiled tirelessly, without taking a break, and yet kept a smile on his face. I took out my handkerchief and wiped my brow.

“Tim, is that your name, Tim?” I said, as he nodded. “When do you take a break?  You ever get tired?”

“Yeah, I get tired,” said Tim.

“You think we can take a break and get a drink of water?” I said, looking around.

“Okay, I can take a break?” he asked.

He grinned and dropped his shovel. I followed him to the wagon where there was a bucket of water. He took the dipper and slurped up the water. Wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said ahhhh. He handed me the dipper and I drank my fill. My hands were shaking badly. I been thinking ‘bout a swig of whiskey all afternoon. 

I looked at Tim and said, “Look at that nice shade tree over yonder. It might be nice to sit a few minutes to cool off. What do you say?”

He looked at the tree and back at me scratching his head.“Boss get mad. Boss get mad,” he said.

“Well, I don’t know ‘bout you, but an old goat like me can’t take heat like you young bucks. I needs to sit a spell or I’m gonna drop.”  

I took off walking towards the large elm tree at the end of this large grassy field on the outskirts of Wichita. I sat down and kicked off my shoes. The dry grass felt soft on my feet. A soft breeze blew as I watched the tents going up. Tim came and sat next to me, smiling. I took out a flask of whiskey and looked around to see who might be watching, then took a quick gulp. I been needin’ a drink all morning. I lay back against the tree and closed my eyes.

I was rousted awake out of a deep sleep. I felt something kicking my shoes. 

“Get up you lazy drunk. I be wonderin’ where you two ran off to. We got a show to do. You go get that fiddle of yourn and be back in jiffy. You’re gonna be marching in front of the elephants, leading them into the tent and playing that song you played last night by the river. Tim, you know better than to run off. We’ve warned you ‘bout this. Now get your ass back to Clyde,” said Jimbo.

I watched Tim slink away, following behind Jimbo. I wandered back to my wagon and opened the door. Ambrose sat in front of his mirror putting on his make-up and adding pomade to slick back his jet black hair.

“Harvey my man, goodness, you smell a bit ripe and look a might shabby. Been shoveling the shit, have we?” said Ambrose, acting prissy.

“I need to wash up and change clothes. They got me leading the elephants to the big top.”

“The boss came by and left some clothes on your bed. Some kind of fancy costume I see,” said Ambrose. 

I picked them up and rolled my eyes. “I have my own costume. I play the tramp. Doesn’t he know that sad clowns don’t wear pompoms and ruffles?” I said, throwing the costume on the bed and groaning.

“My my, Harvey, getting a bit testy are we? You’ve been chosen to lead the elephants. I suppose you’ll be paid a bit more for this. I should be so lucky.”

I grunted again and shook my head. Ambrose rolled his eyes.

I grabbed a towel, a basin, and a bar of soap, and headed out behind the wagon where we kept the rain barrels. An area was set up to give us a bit of privacy. One spot for men and the other for the women. Eddie Bee, the dwarf, and Hercules McCoy, the strong man, were washing up beside the barrels.

“Hey Harvey, I hear you’re leading the elephants in the parade through town today,” said Eddie.

I submerged my head in the rain barrel and pulled it out shaking the water off.

“Ah, that felt good,” I sighed.  “I don’t know what I’m doing. The manager seems to think I can do this. I never even practiced. I just hope I have a job after tonight.”

“The boss is going to have me riding on top one of the elephants. You better not mess up or else,” said Eddie, wagging his finger at me.

Hercules sat in the shade of the wagon on a crate with a bowl of water on his lap as he shaved his face. 

“What you gonna do, little man?” said Herc.

“I’m gonna kick your muscle bound ass,” said Eddie.

“Ha ha you funny,” said Herc, flexing his huge bicep and winking. “I see you with the elephants yesterday. Rosie, she likes you. I think you do good,” said Hercules.

“I wish I had your confidence, Herc.”