CIRCO

by Tara Ellis

  Artemis was in bed trying his best to relax, he sat there focusing on positive things in life. He reminded himself that he had a beautiful wife, he was rich, he was famous, he had good people in his life, he was getting older, but that was alright. The grey hairs could be dyed. And he also gained a little weight so he might want to hit the gym. But damn when could he do that? His life was so fucking full of other things, he stopped there, it didn’t matter. Not right then, he didn’t want to go there, only stay positive. The sky was blue, fluffy clouds arrayed over it, beautiful, like the ocean was suspended in air. Nothing was going to trouble him, nothing; he would only allow happiness around him and inside him. That’s why he sipped on a macchiato spiked with rum. It was way too early to drink but who the hell cares. He just wondered if he wasn’t switching his old addiction for another. From drugs to booze, fuck he didn’t want that. He wanted to stop there, no more negativity. He pushed everything negative out of his heart and mind. He was a sponge to happiness. A sponge left in a tub of liquid happiness.

  And then his IPhone rang, even though he didn’t recognize the number, he believed it was a happy phone call. Hearing the familiar voice on the other end he screamed “Timsley, where the fuck have you been!?”

  “Artemis, I’m sorry to be doing this over the phone,” said Timsley. “My oldest friend, please except this as my early retirement.”

  “No! No! You fat Irish bastard.” Artemis became full on belligerent. “If only you knew what the fuck has been going down with me these past days. You disappear when I need some fucking mental support. I will not be happy for you.”

  “Artemis, close your big black lips for a second. Believe me as I tell you this, I cannot be with the circus anymore. For some serious personal reasons.”

  Personal reasons? That didn’t make any since to Artemis, then he thought somebody might be blackmailing him as well. So he asked his dear old friend “was somebody threatening you?”

  “No this is… Artemis I fucked up. I fucked up big time and I’m fucking scared that I just thrown my life away.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I don’t want to say it. Because I still want you to respect me.”

  “I don’t give a fuck what you did. You helped build this fucking empire with me. You’re my right hand man, my go to guy for three decades now. I will never think less of you. You’re my fucking brother. Me and you don’t have any fucking family outside of this business. Here we were all family together; this fucking train is our home!”

  “Artemis your right, we are fucking family always. But there is no more circus for me. I need to hang this shit up. I need to really lay low for a while.”

  “Where you going to go? Where you gonna take your big white ass?”

  “I’m thinking out of the states, going back to my birth place.”

  “You going to Ireland.”

  “Yeah, Dublin.”

  They didn’t talk long after that. They said goodbye, like it was the last goodbye you tell someone you love. Sadly, they met once more, when one saw the other at his funeral.

  It was all too much for Artemis at that point. He made his decision; he no longer wanted to be a part of the circus. He laid there on his bed, arms and legs spread out, figuring how to announce his retirement.

  Freddy felt like the scum of the earth. Taking advantage of an emotionally fragile girl, she might as well have been drunk. It’s not good to feel like a sexual predator. Was he one, was he not, he sure questioned that. And those questions lead him to give her a call. His cell phone rang and it was answered. He said “hey, what’s up.”

  Her voice came back tired from the other line “hey, not much. Where are you at?”

  “In the cabin, with the boys.”

  “How come you are not here with me?” Right then his heart rejoiced, that meant to him she wanted them together.

  “I’ll come see you right now.”

  “I’ll meet you half way there.” After they hung up he hopped out of his bed, ran down the aisle, out of the car, up the ladder and he was on top of the train. He ran with the wind pushing against him, jumping the gaps between the cars, overzealous. He had the expression of a first grader’s last day of school. Only she could make him feel that way. She had that power over him; to make him feel like a child in a sand box. Mimi appeared out between cars. She ran for him as well, they collided into each other. His hands touching her skin was a sweetness only Nestle could imitate. She gripped his back as she hugged him, accidently putting her nails into him. He looked into her eyes and became lost. Her eyes were deeper than the night’s sky; to him they went on and on, infinite. He snapped back into reality as she asked to see the cats.

  They went inside the cat den and all the oversized kitties adjusted their pupils for what was taking place before them. After the lights were on Mimi went to the ground pulling Freddy with her. She said “I want you to fuck me.” He wasn’t expecting that. In those eyes he could see those stars twinkling in her darkness. He got up then backed away. “What’s wrong,” she asked. He laughed because he couldn’t come up with anything else to do. She got up, took off that faded power ranger t-shirt and went straight for him. They kissed like all the riches in the world were located in the others mouth and the only way they could get it was to fish it out with their tongues. She put her hands under his shirt.

  The animals erupted with roars, and it only added to the lover’s fire. She grabbed his hand and put it over her breasts. “I need you inside me,” she said. “Make me feel good baby.” She stuck her other hand down his pants. Freddy knew there was something wrong with her, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop. Every one of her requests he obliged. He saw her face and it was like looking into a junkie. The sex had done something to her. It unleashed a hungry monster. He knew she was emotionally tragic. But he didn’t know being intimate with her would spark a suppressant. From there on Mimi figured she could use sex to stop the hurting. An orgasm would take away Mom, Dad, siblings, the circus, Scarlet, the attack, the sadness, wondering who she will become next. The orgasm she craved could wipe away all those wrongs. It just gave her a small dose of happiness; she used sex to achieve a high. An addiction was forming, and it would be so powerful.

  A week later, the circus was wrapping up their stay in California and soon to be heading off to Washington. Scarlet was in beast mode, completely livid. She was clipping and clopping her heels through backstage, walking to the control room. She swung open the door; there was Artemis, smug as ever.

  “Is it true?” she asked. Artemis didn’t say anything; his only response was a slight smirk growing on his face. “It better not be true, I will end you.”

  “Really?” said Artemis. “I’m sixty-three; the majority of my life is behind me.”

  “I will tarnish your name.” Scarlet spoke in a heated whisper, almost hissing every word.

  “If I’m getting thrown in the fire pit I’m dragging you with me, we will burn together… Can I get a moment alone with my daughter please?!” The people left out like a gunman was in the room. Shots were already firing.

  “If you put out that footage,” she said right before he interrupted her.

  “The entire episode was sent in to the network, it’s already done.” The tears were stinging Scarlet’s eyes. She wiped them away before they could fall, regrouping herself. She became calmer, less emotional, cold, the only way she knew how to scare Artemis. “So what are you going to do now, show the world I’m a coke addict?”

  She laughed like an adult watching a toddler. “You’re very fucking good. You almost had me break my agreement with you. I’m getting that show.”

  “You’re a piece of work,” he said.

  “You’re a pile of shit; luring me out when emotionally fragile. That’s a new low for you Artemis.” She lit a cigarette to enjoy as she talked. “I’m seventeen, fema
le, white, gorgeous, I can fucking do anything.” She smirked just a little then went back into coldness. “You? Early Sixties, but look mid-seventies. Scrawny male, dark as molasses. All the good years your life will know are already behind you. All those good years will go up in flames. Don’t take me as frivolous again. Your undoing is my project. So go on, show the attack. I’m going to hold this anvil over your head until I can get everything I want out of you.”

  “All the good memories I have given people over the years you think anyone will care about a little coke going up my nose.”

  “Yes! Of course! They will! Don’t you know how this celebrity game works? This is shocking new information about you. The world is going to react.” She leaned on the control table, a few feet away from Artemis.

  “They didn’t for the Rolling Stones, not for Jimi Hendrix, or James brown,” said Artemis.

  “Those are musicians, rock stars,” she said. “Their lives were open, everyone knew. Their fucking music was about sex and drugs. But you Artemis.” She pointed at him with the cigarette between her fingers. “You built that family friendly image. For three decades you catered to that household demographic. Just like Tiger Woods, like Michael Jackson, like O.J Simpson, like Lindsay Lohan. And when the world sees you for who you really are. Everything will burn around you. Just like their lives. And if you don’t believe me, you should know how biased the media can be when a star falls to the ground.” Scarlet saw what she needed, she was making him nervous. “I’m guessing you have been using since you got your network contract. I’m looking at the way your face twitches, how your right arm can’t stay still.” Artemis took his right hand into his left to stop the shaking. “You’re going through withdrawals. And from the looks of things… you’re getting your ass kicked.”

  She leaned over and blew smoke in his face. “Until I get what I want, I am your executioner.”

  The door swung open. Scarlet flung her lit cigarette the very second she saw her. “Hi Mom,” she said in the most charismatic childlike voice.

  Natalie beamed with joy saying “I have a little surprise for you.”

  “Oh really,” said Scarlet.

  Natalie grabbed her daughter and they headed outside. She placed a blindfold on her and walked out the arena entrance. Natalie said in a big boisterous voice “Okay take it off!”

  Scarlet’s eyes set on a chrome Lamborghini Aventador. This automobile was priced at around three hundred eighty thousand dollars. This little surprise was staged for the paparazzi that took pictures of the young starlet posing with her new toy. A few staff members were outside nonchalantly clapping along the over enthused photographers. When Scarlet had enough of the crowd she and her mother hopped in the car. There was a white tag attached to the car key it read:

  peace?

  She knew who it was from. She detached it and threw it out the window, right as Artemis was walking out the front entrance. He saw it hit the ground. He watched his wife and his daughter drive away; their faces were nothing but smiles.

 

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