face had a snout.
Peek a Boo he said.
Peek a Boo Peek a Boo Peek a Boo.
George and Joey cried pitifully.
Oh Little Pigs said the Nail Maker.
Dear Little Pigs...can I come in.
He tapped lightly on the stone with a boney finger.
Once.
Twice.
Three times...
Then he stepped inside the circle.
Nails
The wolves flung at him.
A blizzard of fur and fury.
The Nail Maker raised a milky hand.
And their flashing leaps froze.
They hung suspended...
Fangs revealed and eyes pulled back.
He wove among them...
Like a dead crowd.
He inspected them carelessly…
Touching at their teeth and sniffing at their coats.
He took the outstretched paws of one and gently caressed the claws.
Shall we dance he said.
Then snapped it like a wish-bone with a terrible CRACK!
He wandered aimlessly through…
Patting some gently… and bending to lick the eyes of others.
He moaned into one… his snout level with its mouth.
He glanced at George.
Ish thish a Good Doggie George he whispered.
He patted its head clumsily.
Then stretched his mouth wide… and crunched down upon its face.
He spun to look at us…his pastry face bloody.
Argggh he said… wiping the slit of his lips with the back of his hand.
That was delicious.
Enough cried Jumbo.
He loosened himself from George and Joey and strode towards the Nail Maker.
George and Joey stayed melded together… their faces buried in each other’s coats.
I stayed and cuddled with them.
They sobbed but didn’t look up.
Lijah walked with Jumbo.
Ah Jumbo Jumbo Jumbo said the Nail Maker…
Oh and of course your dog.
He spat venomously at Lijah.
I did wonder how many he would let die he said.
And you always die sooo well.
Lijah strained in silent fury.
The Nail Maker looked at him… amused…and then turned away dismissive.
He grunted at Jumbo like a hungry pig.
I am within the circle Old One he said… so shall I take them all.
Jumbo hung his head.
We both know who it is you want he said.
Oh you’re just no fun anymore said the Nail Maker…
Anyone would think it didn’t hurt.
Do what it is you have to said Jumbo.
The Nail Maker thrust his face to Jumbo’s.
Not what I have to he spat.
What I want to...
WHAT I WANT TO!
He circled around.
Out of the way dog he barked…
Or your head will be on a platter too.
He came back to stand in front of Jumbo.
You look ridiculous he said.
Jumbo said nothing.
The Nail Maker calmed.
But don’t you want to know he said…
Don’t you want to know who it was this time…before we... go.
He said go as if lost for words.
Don’t you want to know who it was allowed me in.
I know said Jumbo… and it does not matter.
Oh but it does it does said the Nail Maker.
Because he doesn’t... and I think it’s only fair...
He let the sentence hang and looked at me slyly.
He winked.
You should always check your change he said…tapping the air in admonishment.
He beamed inanely…then shook his head till it blurred...
When he stopped he was the Shopkeeper.
Check your change he said again.
I stared at him.
CHECK IT he screamed.
I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out the silver…
All of it was nails.
Ta Da he sang… splaying out his hands.
He smirked… then blurred his face back to a snout.
He turned to Jumbo.
Soooo… he said.
Shall we...
Or do you want to...
First…?
He indicated to George and Joey.
I will come… said Jumbo…
Once it is done.
The Nail Maker considered theatrically.
But can I trust you he said.
He smirked again… then whacked Jumbo on the arm.
Psst he snorted.
Of course I can trust you.
Hell... if I can’t trust you.
I should of course remind you he said… it will obviously be excruciating.
But then I suppose you know that.
Jumbo said nothing.
Cheeeeer Up cackled the Nail Maker...
At least it’s not the end of the world.
Anyway… he continued. I’ll leave you all to do your little... show.
He pointed to the hill.
I’ll be over there... getting ready so to speak.
I believe you know the spot.
He danced away... then stopped… and marched back.
Straight towards me.
He pressed his face to mine… course hairs sprouting beneath dead fly eyes.
Hmmm he said…
Thought I recognised the face.
He dipped his finger into his mouth…
Its shape a bloody O.
He withdrew it…
Dripping wet black soil.
Fathers... he said…
Almost wistfully.
They always leave us in the end.
And then he skipped away.
Witness
The Gassers stayed ringing the circle as the Nail Maker disappeared behind the hill.
Jumbo returned to George and Joey… gently easing them apart.
He pulled their heads into him and whispered softly.
Eventually they calmed.
I didn’t know I said.
I didn’t know he was the Shopkeeper.
What is it I have done.
Jumbo turned to me… he looked so weary.
I warned you not to wander began Lijah…
But Jumbo motioned him still.
He did not know said Jumbo…
How could he know his ways.
And what happens later does not matter…
All that matters… is that they spin.
Lijah pressed against Jumbo.
Forgive me he said.
Jumbo came to me.
Thank you for helping us he said.
Thank you for helping George and Joey.
But I have done something terrible I said.
The Nail Maker was the Shopkeeper and I...
Shush he said… and smiled.
Without you the Spinning could not be…
And that is all there is.
Whatever else may come I will bear.
All that matters is they spin.
That old things pass away.
But the Nail Maker I said… and the Gassers… they...
You do not need to understand it all he said.
But you picked them up when they fell down...
And in that… was everything.
For now only know… that without Lijah and his brethren we could not find our way.
That without the Gassers… George and Joey could not be.
And without your witness… we could not spin.
But what about the Nail Maker I said.
Ah said Jumbo…without him... who knows.
Lijah nudged Jumbo.
Time is growing short my friend he said.
Jumbo looked at t
he sky.
Yes he said.
He moved around the wolves…still suspended in animation.
He touched them lightly with his big hands…
And they fell gently to the grass…
And shook themselves out.
He bent to the broken ones… and placed his hands upon them.
They mended.
Now Let Us Spin he said.
Spin
Jumbo pulled George and Joey into the middle of the circle.
They all held hands.
The Gassers still ringing the stones.
George and Joey kept looking at them.
Ignore them said Jumbo lightly…
They’re just jealous.
Can’t they come in said Joey.
Not now said Jumbo.
But the nasty man said George…
He came in.
He began to get upset again.
And he hurt the Pant Pants said Joey.
And I fixed the Pant Pants said Jumbo…
And now the nasty man has gone…
And no one can come in.
George looked around at the wolves…
And checked they were complete.
As they began to circle…head to tail.
George looked at Joey… then back at Jumbo… and smiled.
I was very scared he said… but I’m not scared now.
I wasn’t said Joey…then looked sheepishly at Jumbo.
No one need be scared now said Jumbo.
I’m not said Joey… poking his tongue out at the Gassers.
They hissed back and he looked away quickly.
Can you remember the song said Jumbo.
I can said Joey… Spin us round in a...
Wait for George said Jumbo…
Can you remember it George.
George began to sing and Joey joined in again
Spin us round in a dirty sheet.
Spin us till we lose our feet.
Spin us round in a dirty sheet.
Spin us till we lose our feet.
They sang at each other… beginning to move with Jumbo in the round.
George’s face was bright.
They moved faster… almost stepping on each other’s shoes.
They sang louder and moved faster… big smiles spreading across their faces.
The wolves moved in time…circling inside the stones in the opposite direction.
They shifted silent and white…
They seemed joined up.
I stood still between the blurring rim of wolves and the spinning ring of clowns.
The Gassers watched on hissing…but George and Joey were oblivious in their singing.
Spin us round in a dirty sheet.
Spin us till we lose our feet.
Spin us round in a dirty sheet.
Spin us till we lose our feet.
As they spun Jumbo undid his hands… and joined Joey and George together.
He stepped back as they continued to turn.
George glanced fretfully…
But Jumbo nodded and kept singing.
George looked back at Joey… who was making silly faces and singing loudly.
George sang back… happy again.
From inside his coat Jumbo took out a folded cloth.
He flapped it out and I saw his face was etched upon it.
He shook it up and down and it floated in the air.
He let it
Clown Wolf Page 3
