CHAPTER
2
Prue, great! Perfect timing!” Kristin smiled broadly as Prue headed across the gravel toward the group. Phoebe and Piper followed a few steps behind her.
Why is it that everything Kristin says sounds as if she’s about to burst into a cheer? Prue wondered. Does the woman ever speak without an exclamation point at the end of every sentence?
Kristin stood with three clowns. One of them was very tall, the other nearly as round as she was high. The third had such elaborate makeup that at first glance Prue thought he was wearing a mask. Once she got closer, though, she could see he had applied a putty nose, extended his chin, and applied thick gobs of gold goop to his skin. The effect was quite striking. Prue was surprised to find herself thinking he looked very regal. Instead of typical clown baggy pants, he wore a tuxedo. Then she realized the jacket was made of stretchy material—sort of leotard formal wear. The close-fitting costume certainly emphasized his buff body, Prue observed. Her eyes traveled up from his shapely legs to his face. The makeup reminded Prue of a fanciful illustration of the man in the moon. When he turned sideways, his profile—with his jutting chin and curved nose—resembled a crescent moon.
She was startled when he made a bouquet of flowers appear out of nowhere and handed it to her.
“Uh, thanks,” Prue said, wondering what she should do with the paper bouquet. She didn’t have to think long. The girl clown snatched the flowers away and began beating the Man-in-the-Moon clown with them. The tall clown stepped in between them as they went into a mock fight. Then the girl came at Prue.
I hate audience participation, Prue thought, gritting her teeth. The girl waggled her fingers in front of Prue’s face as if she was scolding her, honking a hidden horn the whole time.
Oo-kay, I’m ready for this little performance to be over now. Prue kept a small smile plastered on her face so that no one would realize how annoyed she actually was.
Kristin was laughing hysterically, bending over double and gasping for breath. Phoebe and Piper were egging on the clowns.
“You have to watch out for her,” Piper told the girl clown. “She’ll try to steal your boyfriend every time.”
“Piper!” Prue scolded.
Meanwhile, Phoebe was insisting the Man-in-the-Moon clown continue pursuing Prue. “I can tell she loves you,” Phoebe declared theatrically. The clown flung himself to his knees in front of Prue, seeming to beg for her hand.
The girl clown leaped on him and climbed onto his shoulders, smacking his head furiously. He acted as if he didn’t know where she was, completely baffled by the blows to his head. Finally, the tall clown plucked the girl from the Man-in-the-Moon clown’s back and seated her atop his own shoulders, where she was safely out of reach.
Prue applauded, hoping that would signal it was now time to end the act. It seemed to work. Phoebe, Piper, and Kristin joined in; Phoebe even put two fingers into her mouth and let out a shrieking whistle. As a finale, the girl clown leaped off the tall clown’s shoulders into the waiting arms of the Man-in-the-Moon clown.
“Oh, that was so great!” Kristin gushed. “Wasn’t that great?”
“Great,” Prue muttered.
As the handsome clown lowered the girl clown to the ground, the tall clown bent down to shake Prue’s hand. “I’m Kaboodle,” he said. “This is my wife, Masha.”
The round clown bowed. “And this is Sacha,” she said, with a gesture to the handsome clown, who nodded.
“We’re going to be featuring Kaboodle and Masha,” Kristin explained. “They’ve been with the Carnival Cavalcade the longest of any of the performers, and they do something really wonderful. Tell about the Caring Clown Company.”
“Happily,” Kaboodle said. Prue was pretty sure he said that with a grin, but since a gigantic red smile dominated his painted face, it was hard to tell, even this close.
“Masha and I started the project several years ago,” Kaboodle said. “We wanted to do something for kids, beyond just performing in the shows. So we round up volunteers each season to join us at children’s wards in hospitals in each of the towns we visit.”
“The kids really do seem to appreciate it,” Masha added. “But I think we love it even more than they do.”
“We’re trying to get Sacha to join in, but so far he’s been somewhat reluctant,” Kaboodle said.
“Don’t give him a hard time,” Masha scolded her husband. “First of Mays have enough to worry about without adding extra duties to their schedules.”
Prue’s brow wrinkled. “First of Mays?” she repeated.
Masha let out a bellowing laugh. “Sorry, dearie. Insider speak. A First of May is a new clown. Sacha just joined us this season.”
Does Sacha speak? Prue wondered. As if in answer, Masha added, “Don’t mind him. He’s the strong, silent type. Each of us has a unique persona. I’m round, Kaboodle is tall, and Sacha is—”
“Silent?” Prue finished for her.
Sacha grinned and bowed.
“You’ll find a lot of the performers won’t drop their personas around you, since you’re outsiders,” Kaboodle said.
“Some of them don’t even drop them around us,” Masha added. She leaned into Prue. Prue could smell the greasepaint and powder. “I have heard him speak, however. But I’ve actually never seen him without makeup. All the girls on the show are wondering if he’s as handsome as we suspect. Isn’t that right, Sacha?”
Sacha rolled his eyes in an exaggerated fashion, then strutted around as if he were a parading peacock. Piper and Phoebe pretended to swoon.
Kaboodle laughed. “You two are naturals,” he told them.
“I’ll second that,” Prue said.
“You know, we’re looking for local volunteers to continue visiting the children after we leave. Would you be interested?” Masha asked Piper and Phoebe.
“That sounds fantastic,” Piper said.
Phoebe grinned at Prue. “We’ll become your worst nightmare,” she teased her older sister. “A pair of clowns living under your roof.”
“You’re already borderline buffoons,” Prue teased back.
Phoebe made a face at Prue, then asked Kaboodle more questions on how to volunteer.
“Let’s get some shots of these three,” Kristin said. “We have several interviews scheduled.”
Sacha, Masha, and Kaboodle went into various poses as Prue snapped pictures. The day was sunny and bright, so she didn’t need to set up lights or flashes.
“Okay,” Kristin said, consulting her notepad. “Let’s go over my list. Obviously, we’ll want some action shots in the ring.”
“I brought all different speeds of film,” Prue assured her. “I figured I would do those shots in color and the interviews in black and white.”
“Great.” Kristin flashed a high wattage grin. “That will give us lots of moods. Today we’ll be talking to Mr. Amalfi, the owner and ringmaster, and Ivan the Gypsy Violinist.”
Sacha dropped the top hat he was balancing. “Ivan?” he said.
Everyone’s heads whipped toward Sacha. He had been silent up until now. That one word had an impact.
“Is something wrong?” Masha asked.
“Perhaps you should interview the Flying Cantonellis,” Sacha suggested, retrieving his hat. “They do a wonderful aerial act. I believe that would be better than interviewing Ivan.”
Prue detected an accent but couldn’t place it. She also was aware that Sacha seemed worried or concerned about their making contact with Ivan.
“Why shouldn’t we talk to this Ivan?” she asked. Could Sacha be jealous of the performer? Did he want to keep the spotlight on his own act?
“Ivan’s act is very special,” Kristin said. “He’s being featured. My editor was quite specific. So was Mr. Amalfi, the circus owner.”
“Forgive me.” Sacha gave a small bow. “I spoke out of turn. I don’t like to speak ill of performers behind their backs. Let me just say that Ivan is not a problem. However, trouble seem
s to find him. Take care.”
Sort of like us charmed Halliwells, Prue thought. Trouble tends to find us, too.
She noticed Kaboodle and Masha exchange a serious glance. “Is Sacha right?” she asked them. “Should we avoid Ivan?”
Kaboodle looked uncomfortable. “There are people here who feel that Ivan has bad luck this season. Things have occurred . . .”
“Some believe Ivan is cursed,” Sacha insisted.
“Now, Sacha,” Masha said, a warning tone in her voice.
“I’m only saying what is widely known,” Sacha protested.
“What a great angle!” Kristin exclaimed. “The cursed Gypsy. Circus superstitions! Fantastic!”
There are those exclamation points again, Prue thought.
Kristin checked her watch. “Ivan is waiting for us in his trailer right now. Let’s go.”
Prue took a picture of her two sisters horsing around with the clowns. “Aha! Now I have incriminating evidence to use against you,” she teased. Then she gathered up her belongings.
“Enjoy the show!” Kaboodle cried. Then the three clowns tumbled away. Literally.
Prue shook her head watching them. How do they do that? They must be made of rubber springs.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it, sis?” Piper asked Prue.
“I lived,” Prue replied.
“I think they are so cute!” Phoebe said. “I definitely want to check out volunteering.” Prue watched her sister’s gaze wander to some seriously buff circus employees. “Only right now, I think I’d like to check out the action on the midway.”
“Do you have your passes?” Prue asked.
“Got ’em,” Piper said. Phoebe nodded.
“See you after the show. Just wait in the tent so we can find each other.”
“Deal.”
“Come on, Prue,” Kristin called. She was walking briskly away from the trailers. “We don’t want to keep Ivan waiting.”
“Coming.” Prue waved good-bye to her sisters, then turned to follow Kristin.
Ewwwww! What is that disgusting, squishy feeling between my toes. Prue glanced down. Oh, gross! That looks like . . . Yes. Elephant poop!
“Great,” Prue muttered. “This Ivan person’s bad luck is already rubbing off on me. What next?”
CHAPTER
3
Piper took in a deep breath. Her nose crinkled. She could smell the sweet scent of cotton candy mixed with popcorn, sweat, and animals. It was a very earthy smell, and she liked it. She enjoyed feeling the warmth of the sun on her bare arms and the bustling crowd around her.
She just didn’t get Prue’s attitude toward the circus. What’s not to like? She felt ten years old again. A welcome feeling, given all the demon busting she and her sisters had been involved in. It felt great to escape from the serious business of protecting innocents and protecting themselves from warlocks bent on killing them.
The lilting, hooting music of a calliope made her break into a broad smile. It was such a silly sound, filled with goofy exuberance.
She glanced at Phoebe. Her sister was obviously as caught up in the carefree sense of freedom. Phoebe was bending over to watch a clown paint a child’s face. The little girl giggled with delight and Phoebe giggled along with her.
“Hey, pretty lady, would you like a hat?” Piper glanced over at a booth where a cute young man with shaggy blond hair was twisting balloons into all kinds of impossible shapes. He held out a swan to Piper.
“I’m supposed to wear that?” she asked, laughing.
The guy carefully fitted the swan atop Piper’s head. “Beautiful.” He winked. “And the hat’s not bad either.”
Piper fished around in her bag and gave the guy a dollar. He didn’t even look old enough to have graduated from college yet.
“Ooh, what’d you get?” Phoebe darted up beside Piper. She smirked when she saw the balloon swan sitting on Piper’s head. “Gee, Piper. It’s so you.”
“Another gorgeous girl. I’ll have to come up with something extra special for you.” The guy twisted the balloon and suddenly Phoebe had a pink giraffe sitting on her head.
“You see?” Piper said. “Don’t fight it. He’s irresistible.”
“You’re right. I have to have this.” Phoebe reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out a bill. She dropped it into the guy’s tip jar.
“I’d rather have your phone numbers,” the guy said.
“Sorry,” Piper said with a smile. “We only go out with grown-ups.”
She slipped her arm through Phoebe’s, and they hurried away giggling.
They passed a mother trying to console a small crying child. The ice cream on the pavement in front of the little girl told Piper the whole story. She reached up and removed her swan balloon hat and handed it to the little girl. The tears instantly stopped.
“Thank you,” the mother said warmly.
“Thank you,” the little girl said, never taking her eyes off the balloon hat.
Piper grinned. Some problems are a cinch to solve. She and Phoebe continued along the midway.
Phoebe scanned the crowd. “This place is full of some serious stud muffins,” she commented.
“Want to try your luck?” a handsome booth operator called. Large muscles bulged under his red T-shirt. He held out three rings.
“Sure,” Phoebe said.
The man eyed Phoebe’s giraffe hat. Piper covered her mouth to hide her grin. Phoebe had obviously forgotten about the balloon hat and was concentrating on heavy flirting with Game Boy.
“So how is this game played?” Phoebe asked. She leaned onto the counter, gazing up at the hunk from under her thick eyelashes.
“It would probably be easier without the wildlife,” the guy said.
“Huh?”
Piper tugged on Phoebe’s sleeve and pointed at her head. Phoebe’s hands flew up to the balloon critter. “Oh, right.”
She removed the hat and smoothed her hair. “Let’s try this again,” she said. “So how does this game work?”
“Ooh, girlie, don’t lose your money to that scam artist,” a gruff voice said. “Jim, I see you’re up to your old tricks.”
Piper turned to check out who had given them the warning. Yikes! A burly man sporting multiple tattoos stood behind them. The buzz cut, the three earrings, the tattered black shirt, and the tattoos weren’t what made Piper gasp out loud. It was the enormous snake draped over the man’s shoulders!
“Give me a break, Ralphie,” Jim, the booth operator, complained. “These girls might actually believe you.”
Ralphie took a step toward Piper and Phoebe. Piper shrank up against the booth’s wall. She had to force herself not to use her magical power to freeze the dude in his tracks. She really didn’t want that snake to come any closer.
“Watch out for this one,” Ralphie said, waggling a finger at the booth guy. “And it’s Raphael, thank you very much.” He made a little bow to Phoebe. “And whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
Phoebe’s eyes widened as she stared at the snake. The snake stared back.
“Any time a pretty customer arrives, Ralphie-boy tries to horn in,” Jim complained. But Piper could tell he was actually quite fond of Ralphie. She wondered how he felt about the snake—eew—which was flicking its tongue right at her.
“Oh, don’t let Isabella scare you, missy,” Raphael said. “She just wants to get to know you better. Don’t you, sweetums.” Double ewww. He just gave the snake a kiss on the lips. If snakes have lips.
Raphael stepped closer to Phoebe. He was practically drooling. Piper was relieved to see that the snake wasn’t.
Phoebe seemed more disturbed by Raphael than the snake. “Sh-she is kind of pretty,” Phoebe said uncertainly.
“Go ahead, sweetie. Pet her.” Raphael held the snake out. It curled and then stretched toward Phoebe. Piper was stunned to see Phoebe stroke the snake’s head.
Raphael grinned as the snake wriggled up Phoebe’s arm. Piper’s stomach flip-flopped watch
ing the creature slither onto Phoebe’s shoulder.
“Now your turn,” Raphael said. He faced Piper. He held the snake’s other end and made a move as if he was about to drape the thing across her shoulders.
“Uh, no, I don’t think . . .” Piper backed up.
Luckily, she heard someone behind her call her name.
“Gotta go! Someone’s calling!” Piper whirled around, leaving Phoebe with Raphael and the snake. Well, Phoebe’s a big girl, Piper figured. She can take care of herself, and she didn’t seem all that bothered by Isabella.
“Piper, over here!” the voice called again. Piper had already darted a few yards away from Raphael and the snake before she even glanced around to see who had called her name.
She was startled when she did. A tall twelve-year-old girl raced toward Piper, shouting her name the whole way.
“Jenny?” Piper said.
Behind Jenny was a tall, handsome guy. Piper’s heart beat a little faster seeing his strong jaw, high cheekbones, and dark gray eyes. “And Dan. Of course,” Piper said.
When Piper had stopped dating Dan it was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do. Harder than vanquishing evil. At least when you’re fighting demons, she thought, you have no doubts that you’re doing the right thing. And you’re not hurting someone you care about. It’s a black-and-white issue. But with Dan . . .
Piper shook her head. You did the right thing, she told herself. Your feelings for Leo are just too strong, and you had to give that relationship a fair chance.
Still, the echoes of her feelings for Dan welled up in her, mirrored in the wistful look that appeared in his eyes. That look vanished, replaced by a guarded wariness.
He obviously wasn’t sure how she’d react to seeing him.
Jenny, however, was thrilled. Her broad grin said it all.
Dan’s niece, Jenny, was the reason the Halliwells had met their handsome next-door neighbor Dan. She had been visiting him when she needed some girl-input. Piper stepped in to help—and into Dan’s life. Only later she found she needed to step back out.
Piper sighed. Why isn’t anything ever easy? she thought for what seemed to be the millionth time.
Charmed: The Gypsy Enchantment Page 2
