Sparkle the Circus Pony

by Poppy Shire

  She was somersaulting off Sparkle’s back when she heard a shout.

  “Hey! What are you doing?” It was Juliet.

  Megan looked down at the sawdust, feeling very awkward. Maybe she wasn’t supposed to change Juliet’s routine. “Sorry,” she said. “We were just trying something different. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Mind?” Juliet asked. She walked across the ring, grinning from ear to ear. “Of course I don’t mind! This is going to be the best performance ever!”

  Chapter 6

  Juliet gave Megan a hug. “Thank you, thank you!” she cried. “That routine is perfect for the grand finale. And guess what—I’ve talked to Aunt Ellie, and she says you can come for supper and stay the night.”

  “Oh! Are you sure she doesn’t mind?” asked Megan, grinning in delight. She suddenly noticed how hungry she was.

  “Quite sure,” said Juliet. “Come on. Sparkle can spend the night with the other horses. He looks so much like Whisper that no one will notice.”

  After walking Sparkle to where all the other ponies were tied up, Megan followed Juliet to her brightly painted trailer, where Joshua and Aunt Ellie were waiting for them with a big homemade pizza steaming in the middle of the table.

  “Lovely to meet you, Megan!” said Aunt Ellie. She was tall with smiling blue eyes. “I hear you’re going to take Juliet’s place—if the other riders are happy with your routine, of course.”

  Megan felt alarmed, and looked quickly at Juliet. She hadn’t given a thought to the other riders!

  “Don’t worry,” Juliet whispered. “We’ll sort it out tomorrow. They’ll all love your routine, I’m sure.”

  They tucked into the pizza, which was really tasty with lots of toppings and masses of cheese. When they’d finished, Megan felt much too sleepy to worry about the other riders. Juliet showed her the spare bunk, which had a pretty multicolored blanket and was right above where Juliet slept.

  “It’s the coziest bed I’ve ever seen!” exclaimed Megan.

  Juliet smiled happily. “You can borrow some pajamas too,” she said, pulling out a drawer from under her bunk. She handed Megan a pair of red-and-green-striped pajamas, and quickly the girls got changed.

  Megan clambered up into the top bunk and wriggled under the beautiful blanket. The pillow was soft and comfortable. She was tired but very happy. Megan snuggled down and closed her eyes….

  When she opened them again it was morning. She pulled the curtain back and peered out of the tiny window next to her bunk. It was a beautiful sunny day with little fluffy clouds dotting the blue sky.

  “Get up, get up!” cried Juliet, gently shaking Megan’s leg through the blanket. “We’ve got lots to do before the performance!”

  Megan jumped out of bed and put on the leotard and leggings that she had worn the day before. She helped Juliet to fetch Sparkle’s morning feed before they went back into the trailer for breakfast. Aunt Ellie had been busy toasting some delicious homemade bread, and it smelled wonderful as they walked in.

  “We’ll get your costume first,” said Juliet, as she buttered her toast. “Then you’ll have plenty of time to rehearse in front of the other riders!”

  Megan nodded eagerly, but she felt butterflies in her tummy at the thought of what they might say. Would they really think her act was good enough?

  She finished her toast and drank her freshly squeezed orange juice, then followed Juliet outside again. The costume tent was close to the pony stables, and the sides of the tent had been rolled up, leaving just a stripy roof over the racks of clothes. Megan was pleased because it meant Sparkle could watch her try on the costume. She gave him a little wave as they skipped over the grass, and he whinnied happily.

  Rows and rows of costumes in all colors of the rainbow filled the tent.

  “Oh!” Megan gasped. “They’re gorgeous!”

  Juliet unhooked a hanger from near the end of a row. “This is my costume,” she said.

  Megan stared at it. The shiny pink leotard was decorated with tiny pearls and sequins, and a shimmering silvery skirt hung down from the waist in delicate, feathery wisps.

  “Don’t you like it?” Juliet said anxiously.

  “Like it?” Megan managed to whisper. “Oh, Juliet, I love it.”

  “You’d better try it on,” said Iris the costume lady. Megan recognized her at once—she was one of the Jolly Jugglers! “You can change behind this curtain,” she said.

  Megan’s fingers shook as she pulled on the stunning costume. She was almost too scared to breathe in case it didn’t fit. But it fitted perfectly—as if it had been made just for her. When she came out shyly, Juliet and Joshua were waiting to see how she looked.

  “It’s just right!” Juliet declared.

  Joshua’s eyes opened very wide. “Wow, Megan!” he said. “You look great!”

  Juliet showed Megan a mirror, and she gazed at herself in delight. She gave a little twirl, making the skirt float around her hips.

  “Would you like me to add anything to the costume?” Iris asked with a friendly smile. “After all, you need to feel just right.”

  “Do you think we could have some feathery bits on the shoulders?” Megan said. “They’d look really pretty.”

  “Good idea,” said Iris. “It will only take me a minute!”

  Megan was so happy, she couldn’t stop smiling. Carefully, she took the costume off and gave it to Iris, and slipped back into her leggings and leotard.

  “I’ve got some feathers in my trailer,” said Iris. “Juliet, could you come with me? I’ll be quicker if I have someone to help.”

  Juliet nodded. “I won’t be long,” she said to Megan. “Do you want to stay here with Joshua? You could look at the other costumes.”

  “Yes, please!” said Megan, staring at the rows of colorful clothes.

  Once Juliet and Iris had gone, Joshua flopped down on a trunk. “I’d better go and find the other acrobats soon,” he said with a sigh. “I still haven’t got the hang of the human pyramid.”

  “You’ve got all day to practice,” Megan said.

  Joshua shrugged. “I suppose so. I’ll keep trying, but something tells me I’ll never get it right.”

  Megan felt very sorry for him, because she’d felt exactly the same about twirling the umbrella. She was wondering what she could do to cheer him up when she heard a snort. She looked up.

  Sparkle was poking his nose around the corner of the tent. “Look in the trunk!” he whispered.

  “What—the one Joshua’s sitting on?” Megan whispered back.

  Sparkle nodded. Megan looked around to check that Joshua hadn’t heard her talking to the circus pony. He hadn’t. He looked as fed up as ever.

  Megan noticed a bright red sleeve hanging out of the trunk. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing.

  “Another costume, I guess,” said Joshua. He stood up and lifted the lid. The red sleeve belonged to a shiny, baggy clown outfit. The trousers were white with red dots, and the jacket was red with white dots and scarlet sleeves.

  “Look at this!” Megan pulled out a wooden box full of colorful face paints. “It’s clown makeup! Can I paint your face, Joshua? I did the makeup for our gymnastics display last term and everyone said I was really good.”

  “Okay,” Joshua said. He held up the clown outfit and grinned. “I suppose you want me to dress up, too!”

  Megan laughed. “Why not?”

  Joshua started to pull the baggy spotted trousers over his leggings. His foot got caught, and he hopped about, trying to free it.

  “I’m stuck!” he yelled. He looked so funny jumping around with his hair sticking up that Megan started to giggle.

  “Let me help,” she said between giggles.

  Too late: Joshua tripped right over! He scrambled up, looking determined. But he fell over again. He sat on the ground looking very puzzled, with the trousers wrapped around his legs.

  “Oh, Joshua,” Megan gasped. “You’re so funny!”

  “Do yo
u really think so?” said Joshua. He stood up carefully and pulled the trousers up high around his waist.

  Megan handed him the jacket. Joshua put his arm into one of the sleeves.

  “That’s the wrong sleeve!” Megan warned.

  Joshua winked at her, and she wondered if he’d meant to get it wrong.

  Joshua tried to push his arm into the other sleeve and instantly got tangled up. The more he wriggled, the more it seemed as if the jacket had come to life. It looked like he was struggling with a slippery red-and-white monster!

  Megan thought she’d never seen anything so funny! She was laughing so hard that she didn’t hear the footsteps walking across the grass toward her.

  “What’s going on here?” boomed a voice.

  Megan jumped and looked up. Mr. Scarletti was standing at the edge of the tent, frowning.

  Joshua went red. “S-sorry, Mr. Scarletti,” he stuttered. He tried to untangle himself, but all the wriggling only made his trousers fall down. Luckily he still had his leggings on underneath.

  “It’s my fault,” Megan said quickly. “Playing with the costumes was my idea.”

  To her surprise, a smile spread over Mr. Scarletti’s face. “Well, well, well,” he said. “I think we’ve just found another clown!”

  Megan thought about the way Joshua had tumbled around the tent, making his costume come to life. Of course! He’d make a much better clown than an acrobat!

  “Why don’t you speak to the other clowns?” suggested Mr. Scarletti. “Clumpy is too ill to perform, so I’m sure they’ll be glad to fit you into their routine.”

  Joshua beamed. “Really, Mr. Scarletti? Thank you!”

  Mr. Scarletti walked away, twirling his long black cane, and Joshua ran off to find the other clowns. Just before he disappeared behind a trailer, Megan saw him turn a cartwheel from excitement.

  She wrapped her arms around Sparkle’s neck. “You knew this would happen when you told me to look in the trunk, didn’t you?” she whispered. “You really are the cleverest pony in the world!”

  Chapter 7

  Sparkle snuffled warmly in her hair. “You gave me the idea when you decided to use gymnastics in our routine,” he said. “I knew Joshua would be good at something—it just wasn’t being an acrobat.”

  “Let’s go and tell Juliet,” Megan said.

  As they headed toward the trailers, one of the doors opened and Juliet bounded out.

  “Megan! We’ve finished!” she called. “The costume’s going to be wonderful!”

  “We’ve got some news for you, too,” Megan said. “Joshua and I were playing with the clown costumes. He was so funny, Mr. Scarletti said he could take Clumpy’s place in the show tonight!”

  “With the clowns?” Juliet said. “That’s a brilliant idea!” She gave Megan a hug. “Iris was just telling me that the acrobats were going to give up on the human pyramid, because it wasn’t working. They’re going to do their usual routine instead.”

  Megan clapped her hands together. “Then everything’s working out perfectly!” She laughed.

  But then she felt those butterflies in her tummy again. There was still one more thing. She had to convince the other riders that she was good enough to take Juliet’s place.

  The rehearsal took place in the big top. Sparkle trotted along with five of the other ponies, and Juliet introduced Megan to their riders—Sally, Jameela, Andy, Clara, and Raj. They were friendly, but Megan could see that she would have to do her very best if she was going to impress them.

  “Come on, then, let’s see what you’re made of!” said Jameela.

  Juliet smiled encouragingly, and Megan began her routine. It went even better than it had the night before. As she did her final somersault, Megan heard everyone clapping, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Well done!” called Raj. “We’ll be proud to have you with us!”

  “Did you hear that, Sparkle?” whispered Megan. “I think it means that we’re on!”

  Once the other riders had gone through their tricks, Megan and Juliet took Sparkle to the stables to get him ready. Juliet couldn’t get her sling wet so Megan washed his mane and tail, then brushed them until they felt like silk. Juliet carefully oiled his hooves, and last of all they put on his twinkling pink headdress.

  “You look beautiful!” Megan declared.

  Sparkle whinnied and tossed his head.

  Juliet turned to Megan. “Come on, it’s your turn now!”

  They went to Iris’s trailer, where Megan put on her beautiful costume. Iris brushed glitter onto her cheeks and silvery blue eye shadow onto her eyelids, then finished off with some pretty pink lipstick.

  “Is that really me?” Megan breathed, staring into the mirror.

  “Yes, it’s really you,” said Juliet. “You look like a princess!”

  Megan took a deep breath. It was half past five—nearly time for the show to start. “Should I go to the big top now?” she asked.

  Juliet nodded and took Megan’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll come with you. We can peep through the curtains and watch people arrive.”

  They fetched Sparkle from the stables and walked over to the big top. The rows of seats were quickly filling up with people. Soon only the seat for the guest of honor was empty. Mr. Scarletti appeared with a man wearing a red cloak and a big gold chain.

  “That’s the mayor!” Juliet whispered.

  Megan gulped. She didn’t want to make any mistakes in front of such an important person.

  Mr. Scarletti waited until the mayor was sitting down in the empty seat, then came behind the curtain. “Hurry up, everyone!” he called. “Only ten minutes to go!” He gave Megan a wink.

  The show was about to start!

  Mr. Scarletti strode into the ring. “Ladies and gentlemen, you have come to the most incredible, the most fantastic, the most extraordinary show on earth!” he boomed. “Mr. Scarletti’s Amazing Traveling Circus will astonish you and fill you with wonder…so without further ado, please welcome our first performance—the mind-boggling, bemusing, and bewitching Ivor the Illusionist!”

  A man in a big black cloak ran past Megan into the ring, and she recognized the person in the leopard-skin leotard that she’d seen yesterday. He looked pretty different now!

  She and Juliet hid behind the curtain while the first few performers went on. They heard the crowd gasp as Carrie the Contortionist tied herself in knots. She back-flipped out, beaming.

  “Great audience!” she puffed as she flipped past Megan and Juliet.

  The Jolly Jugglers went in next. Megan peeped through the curtain and saw them throwing burning fire sticks to each other, so the air was full of flickering flames. She’d never seen anything like it.

  After the jugglers, it was the clowns’ turn. Megan hardly recognized Joshua. His face was white with big black eyebrows and a huge red smile. But she knew it was him because he was smaller than all the others, and she could still see black tufts of hair peeping out from under his pointy red and yellow hat.

  “Good luck, Joshua!” she called. “You can do it.” She peeped through the curtains to watch him.

  He was brilliant! The crowd howled with laughter as Joshua squirted himself in the eye with a trick flower, fell off a ladder when he was trying to hang up a flag, and tumbled out of the clowns’ collapsing car. When he came running out through the curtain, his painted smile looked wider than ever!

  There were only three more acts before Megan’s turn. A team of trapeze artists swung from one to another high up near the roof of the tent. Then Sticky the Stilt-walker, who still looked grumpy, stalked around and rode a unicycle, still wearing his stilts. He was followed by the acrobats, who gave a well-practiced performance without Joshua.

  At last Mr. Scarletti strode into the ring, and the crowd went quiet. The butterflies in Megan’s tummy started fluttering like mad.

  Mr. Scarletti beamed at his audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the grand finale! Please give a warm welcome to our Pranc
ing Ponies.”

  Juliet gave Megan a hug with her good arm. “Good luck. You’ll be fine,” she whispered.

  Megan smiled. “I know Sparkle will look after me,” she whispered back.

  The drums began to roll, and the other ponies cantered into the ring. Sparkle trotted in last of all, the only one without a rider. Megan heard the crowd murmur in surprise. It’s just a gymnastics performance, she told herself. You’ve done this lots of time before!

  Taking a deep breath, she smoothed down her glittery skirt and checked the feathers on her shoulders. Then she followed Sparkle through the red curtain. This was it! She was the star performer at Mr. Scarletti’s Amazing Traveling Circus!

  At first, the lights were so bright she couldn’t see the audience at all. She stood in the ring, blinking. The whole big top was quiet, waiting for the grand finale to begin.

  There was another drum roll, and Megan began to cartwheel around the ring just inside the circle of cantering ponies. Sparkle waited in the middle, trotting prettily on the spot. His neck was arched, and his shimmering headdress seemed to flash with little stars under the big lights. Megan’s heart swelled with pride, and suddenly she wasn’t nervous anymore. When she had cartwheeled one complete circle, he kneeled down and she vaulted right over his back. The applause rippled around the tent as the crowd clapped and cheered. They loved it!

  With a one, two, three, Megan vaulted onto Sparkle’s back, and he stood up with a toss of his headdress.

  As they cantered around with the other ponies, Megan spotted Juliet peeping through the curtain. She grinned and gave Megan a thumbs-up. Then Megan had to concentrate hard again. The atmosphere in the big top was electric, and all eyes were on Megan as she rode around. Sparkle’s ears were pricked, and she knew he was ready for her to stand up. He gave an encouraging snort as she got to her feet and carefully stretched one leg behind her in a perfect arabesque. Putting her foot down, she kept her legs dead straight while she touched her toes. She twirled to the back, and back to the front.