Last month, the circus came to town. They set up shop right in the middle of the town in between my house and the municipality, which is located right next door to the police station. I’ll admit, my expectations were not high despite having a childhood that included going to Barnum and Bailey-esque shows every year (since being a child, I have never heard of a circus coming to Maryland again…) but again, Peru surprised me and this time, really outdid itself.
The circus consisted of eight members. There was an old man, a chain-smoking announcer, a guy that was always wearing this skin tight dress that reveled EVERYTHING, a 16 year old boy with his wife (who had the figure of a nine year old) and his baby, a girl that was semi-flexible and then one girl who was the designated “hula-hooper.” That was it. They all came in one day with all of their things in a car and a banana-truck and that was it. While I thought (disingenuously) they were going to stay for the weekend, they managed to outstay their welcome for 15 days.
Before I even went, I knew things were going to be iffy when the hula-hooping girl asked me two days in a row if I had a bathing suit she could borrow. Or spandex. She had a figure similar to Rosie O’Donnell so I’m not sure why she had me pegged as the bathing suit-wielder of the town (even though at two bikinis, I probably am).
On the third night, I figured the crowd must have been dwindling since the chain-smoking announcer who was riding around in the circus “car” had been informing the town that the night’s show would be the “ultima noche” (last). Everyone in town had been telling me how hilarious it was and how I could not pass up an opportunity like this. I passed on buying the sugar-coated apples since I had no idea where that fruit had come from and I had seen where all of the members had been living and not bathing.
The real reason I went was to see the ducks and dog that apparently were really cute as they walked around in their little costumes. I’m almost positive that ducks can’t learn tricks but I was excited to see them waddle in a tutu or something. I didn’t even get that. What I did get however was the hula- girl demonstrate how she could hula a hoop simultaneously on each arm. Thrilling. I also got to watch the 16 year-old boy and his clingy dress-wearing friend hit each other over the head with sticks and aluminum pans. It’s incredible how many people here love humor that borders on violence.
However, I will credit to the semi-flexible girl. She wore white cowboy boots as she did cool backbends and made it look s if her legs actually detached from her spine. I’m not sure how comfortable I felt though when she started using the trapeze without a safety net or a trampoline. She a. easily could have slipped and b. rocketed herself towards anyone sitting on the makeshift-rafters that were roped together and wobbled a little too much. Thankfully though, she held on and got herself ready for the ultimate event: “ the neck brace hoist.”
Setting the scene here, picture about fifty feet of various types/lengths/widths of rope all tied to together. This rope was then threaded through the top of the tent to the floor where the girl tied the rope around her neck. Five of the other members of the ensemble were yanking on the other end of the rope until the girl rose twenty feet above the floor. Somehow the girl did not manage to hang herself by tying some “special” knot but next thing we all know, she is twenty feet above us and using her legs to literally swing her body in circles around her neck, which is tied to a rope, which is being held up by five men.
After two hours of all of this while my face is stuck in a suspended cloud of cigarette smoke coming from the announcer, the “last night” comes to an end.
Yeah right. Try having twelve more “last nights.” I’m pretty sure people form my town finally managed to kick the circus out because I don’t think anyone was able to sleep that were stuck living remotely nearby as the 20 year-old speakers somehow managed to play music loudly enough to reach every corner of town.
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