Cirque du Lune

Oliver“Oliver Graham, get your keister moving! The boss will be in any minute!”I groaned as I rolled off of my bed in the back of the workshop. Sleep had glued my eyes shut during the night. I aggressively rubbed at my lids, just trying to be able to pry them open.My name is Oliver Graham. The year is 1934, and I turned twenty-two a few months ago. I didn’t think there was anything too special about me.When I was a child, I never thought I would be sleeping in the back of a carpenter’s workshop. Covered in a constant layer of dust and living off of the scraps I could afford. I never thought I would be orphaned by twelve, either. Sometimes life is just a bitch.I had done a little bit of everything in the past decade. When my parents first died, I worked as a field hand for a neighbor, but that didn’t last long. I worked in a bakery, mechanic shop, a dinner, a hotel, a mine, a manufacturing plant, and a few other jo

Oliver The icy realization of leaving the key to the shop down at the river was devastating. It slowly trickled down my spine before manifesting into a nauseating pit in my stomach. I couldn’t bring myself to go back and retrieve the key. The light of day had dwindled away hours ago, and with whatever was down there, it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take. I loitered outside the workshop until the streets became bare; no noise but the faint hoot of a barn owl somewhere out in the distance. The rest of the town had drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Thank goodness our town was relatively quiet, and no one stayed up late. As I had waited, I had figured out what my plan was going to be. I wasn’t going back to the river, that was for sure, but I couldn’t sleep outside on the street. I knew that the Millers had gotten a new shipment of hay for their horses last weekend. Without another thought, I made my way to their property and waited until the last li

OliverA loud clunk followed by a distinctive hum echoed through the tent before six vibrant spotlights fell on the center ring. There he was. Jules was dressed in white britches, knee-high black books, a crimson tailcoat, and a black top hat. His blonde hair was slicked back in his typical hairstyle.Of course, he was the ring leader! Why didn't I think of that before? Why else would a random Frenchman be in town?"Mesdames et Messieurs! I proudly present my wolves!" Jules's voice bounced off of the tent, his last statement catching everyone off guard.Whispers engulfed the audience. "Wolves?" "What does he mean?" "Are we in danger, mommy?"Before I made out any other words, the sound of paws hitting the ground radiated from beside me. I instinctively gulped and scooted closer to the older couple I was sitting beside."It's okay, son." The old man leaned over his wife and tried to comfort me. "I have been to many of a circus, and they alway

Oliver It was as if time slowed on its axis as she turned around.  The star's light twinkled in her eyes blue eyes, turning them into pools of constellations.  Her hair caught the moonlight, making her look like a mythical creature...or maybe even an angel. "Jules, honey, you know I like my quiet time after the show."  Elsie's voice wasn't like anything I had ever heard before.  There was a strength in her tone but, at the same time, something soft. "I know; I am sorry."  Jules tucked his chin down and looked at the train car.  He was like a puppy being scolded; I almost felt bad for the guy.  "This is my new friend Oliver Graham.  He seemed so mesmerized by your act.  I thought he would like to meet you." 

Oliver"Chester...Chester's dead?" The words tasted like charcoal in my mouth and made me feel as if I was drowning, gasping for a breath of fresh air. It was as if freezing cold water had been dumped over top of me. The hangover that was clinging to me was ripped away, leaving me in a confused and emotional state."Yeah, Mrs. Green found them first thing this morning." I felt Richard watching me like he was studying some type of science experience. "She said that the front door was left partially open. At first, Mrs. Green thought maybe one of the younger kids left it open when they ran out the door. When she knocked on the door to let them know, no one answered. That was when she went in..."Richard's voice began to tremble as he trailed off. Richard looked away from me; his eyes seemed to be examining every surface in the office. Now that I was more present, I recognized how pale his skin was with deep dark bags underneath his eyes."Mrs. Green found a