Dougal was sitting in his armchair and Marie on the settee with their son, Patrick, reading a book. At two years old he had the same copper coloured hair as Dougal, who looked over and smiled. He wondered if their next child, due in a few months, would also have it or have black like Marie.
Opening the evening paper, Dougal took a quick breath. The circus was coming to Swansea. His mind shot back to the nine year old boy he was the last time the circus had visited. He’d sneaked into the camp in the early morning to see the elephants and met Daisy and Mossie. He sighed. He could recall Daisy clearly, her sheer size, yet so gentle as she explored his body with her trunk. He had been in heaven at that moment. Mossie lived with the circus, a brown boy unlike anyone he had ever seen, Mossie had welcomed Dougal, taking him into the family that was the circus.
He spent the morning helping clear out the animal tents, the smell of straw and manure strangely sweet. Mossie even let him stand beside the ring to see the show. He was mesmerised, knowing there and then that was life for him. Mossie’s father the lion tamer cautioned him that he was too young but, when they next returned, he would still be welcome if he were interested. He went home in a daze. His father was waiting; he hated the people in the circus, a bad lot, he said, trying to kidnap children to sell. His belt came out. Dougal knew what was coming. He tried to fix his mind on his future life. Trapped indoors on his father’s orders, Dougal couldn’t even say goodbye.
Sighing Dougal set the paper down, his mind still in the past.
”Are you OK Dougal, you look so sad. Bad news in the paper? ‘
”No my darling, bittersweet memories is all. The circus is coming to the Rec; maybe take our young man to see it?”
Marie smiled, knowing that their love had blossomed at the monkey house in Brynmill Park, both loving nature.
”No regrets at not joining the circus?”
Laughing, he shook his head
”If you’d asked me that at fifteen I would have said yes, but now I have you and Patrick who I love more than life. I may be stuck in the docks working but I’m getting on. We have our life and the new baby on the way. Childish dreams is all.”
