The Sequin Star

by Belinda Murrell

  Elsie stood in the middle of the carnage, flapping her ears. Her long trunk snaked over the ground, picking up shiny green apples and popping them in her cavernous, pink mouth. Elsie smiled a wide-mouthed welcome when she saw Rosina and Jem. The greengrocer and his family were still cowering inside the shop.

  ‘Look, the circus girls are here,’ said a woman in the crowd. She glared at Claire still dressed in her tutu and sequins. Claire shrank back beside Kit, uncomfortable with everyone staring at her.

  ‘The one with the monkey is wearing trousers,’ sniffed another housewife loudly.

  All eyes switched from Frank and Elsie to Claire, Rosina and Lula.

  ‘What are you going to do with this elephant?’ demanded a man beside them. ‘Look at all the damage it’s done.’

  ‘It might have killed someone,’ shouted another man, pointing at Elsie with an accusing finger.

  With her graceful dancer’s posture, Rosina stepped forward through the crowd. The townies parted to let her through. She smiled at everyone.

  ‘Not Elsie,’ Rosina said with a laugh. ‘Look at her – she’s as gentle as a lamb.’

  Rosina stood next to Elsie and rubbed her wrinkled, grey cheek. ‘That’s a good girl,’ she crooned. ‘Time to come home, darling.’

  Elsie popped an apple in her mouth and crunched it. She snaked her trunk back around Rosina’s neck and blew warm air in her hair. Rosina stroked Elsie’s trunk. Lula clambered up Elsie’s leg and sat on her head, chittering at the crowd.

  ‘My shop’s ruined,’ shouted the greengrocer, his face flushed with rage. ‘It will cost a fortune to fix the damage, and there’s bloomin’ elephant poop everywhere.’

  He started forward towards Rosina, shaking his fist. Elsie trumpeted in warning. She turned towards the greengrocer, spreading her ears wide and surging forward. With her great head lowered, she smashed another table, sending potatoes and onions flying. Lula leapt for safety, landing on top of a pile of pumpkins.

  The greengrocer’s children screamed and clustered together behind the cash register. The greengrocer stepped back hurriedly with a scowl.

  Kit grabbed Claire’s arm and pulled her away from the danger.

  ‘It’s okay, Elsie,’ soothed Rosina, rubbing Elsie on her shoulder. ‘The nice man didn’t mean to frighten you.’ Elsie turned towards Rosina again, her tiny eyes blinking.

  ‘Of course the circus will pay for all the stock she’s ruined,’ Rosina assured the greengrocer with a smile. Her voice was the same low, soothing tone that she used when speaking to the elephant. ‘And Jem here is a handy carpenter. I’m sure he can mend those tables in a jiffy.’

  ‘Too bloomin’ right you will,’ growled the greengrocer.

  Jem grinned and doffed his cap. ‘It’d be a pleasure.’

  Rosina turned to the children huddled around their mother. ‘Wow, won’t you three have a wonderful story to tell your friends at school tomorrow? I can imagine you’ll be sharing this story with your grandchildren in eighty years: the day that Elsie the elephant dropped by for afternoon tea in your father’s shop. They simply won’t believe you could be so lucky.’

  The children looked up at Rosina with shining eyes. Elsie popped a potato in her mouth.

  ‘But her manners aren’t very good, are they?’ asked Rosina. The children looked around at the chaos and giggled. ‘I think we should pack up all this food on the floor we just bought and take it home for her to eat in her own trough.’

  The greengrocer opened his mouth to protest, but Rosina continued. ‘Elsie is an elephant of immensely good sense. She only chooses to eat the very finest quality produce. I noticed she passed several vegetable gardens before she chose your shop to visit.’

  A couple of men in the crowd laughed. ‘Too right, Carlo,’ one called. ‘That circus elephant wouldn’t eat just any mouldy old apples – only yours!’

  Several others joined in the hilarity. Claire noticed that the mood of the crowd had shifted. The body language had changed from frightened and angry to relaxed and jovial. Even the greengrocer lost his scowl for a moment.

  ‘Would you like to come to the circus tonight?’ Rosina asked the children. ‘I have some free front row tickets for your whole family. You can come and see Elsie walk the tightrope.’

  Everyone stared at the massive, clumsy animal in disbelief.

  ‘Lula, my pet monkey, can ride a bicycle, and you can see me – Princess Rosina of Romani – dancing bareback on a galloping horse.’ Rosina struck a pose like a ballerina, toe pointed and arm raised above her head in an elegant curve. Lula scrambled over on all fours, shimmying up onto Rosina’s shoulder.

  The children’s eyes grew wide. ‘Can we, Dad? Please, Dad. Please can we see Princess Rosina ride in the circus?’ begged the children in a cacophony of voices.

  How could he possibly refuse? He grinned at his children and shrugged his shoulders. ‘Heck, go on then. But only if all this bloomin’ mess is cleaned up and you get all your chores done.’

  Elsie looked ready to run off again at the shrieks of excitement that accompanied this news. Rosina smiled and held her fingers up to her lips.

  ‘Now, do you know what Elsie’s favourite food is?’ Rosina asked. The children shook their heads. Claire smiled, intrigued to find out herself. ‘She just loves watermelon. Do you have any?’

  One of the boys nodded and pointed to the back of the shop.

  ‘Well, if your dad will permit me to buy some watermelon, I’ll give Elsie a taste and then I think she’ll follow me all the way home to the circus.’ Rosina smiled around at everyone.

  The greengrocer fetched a melon and, using a long machete, split it into slices.

  Elsie saw the watermelon and swung around, her tail twitching and ears flapping. Claire thought the elephant was almost dancing with excitement. Elsie smiled again, her trunk curled up into a perfect S.

  ‘Thank you so much, sir,’ said Rosina with a smile. ‘On behalf of the Sterling Brothers Circus, I’d like to apologise for Elsie’s behaviour. Jem will come back with his tools, some money to cover your damage – and of course the complimentary tickets.’ She glanced at the children. ‘And make sure you ask Jem to show you how he can juggle.’

  Jem scooped up three pears from the ground and immediately sent them spinning into the air.

  ‘Look, Mum,’ cried one of the boys. ‘That’s bonzer.’

  ‘You should see what I can do with flaming torches,’ said Jem with a wink at the other children.

  ‘What about the pretty girl in the tutu?’ asked one of the girls, looking at Claire.

  ‘Mademoiselle Claire is a French elephant rider,’ said Rosina with a grin. ‘She doesn’t speak much English, but she is famous in her own country for her daring and dangerous feats on elephant-back.’

  Rosina lifted her eyebrows at Claire. ‘Oui, mademoiselle?’

  ‘Ah, bonjour,’ said Claire, stifling a giggle at Rosina’s ridiculous story. ‘C’est trés magnifique.’

  Rosina fed Elsie a slice of the juicy pink watermelon then pulled Claire over towards the elephant by the arm.

  ‘Elsie, hup,’ ordered Rosina.

  Elsie wound her trunk towards Claire, wrapping it around her waist.

  ‘No, Rosina,’ cried Claire beseechingly.

  ‘Smile and sit up straight, Mademoiselle Claire,’ whispered Rosina as Elsie lifted Claire with her trunk up onto her neck. Claire obeyed as everyone in the crowd watched on.

  ‘Trunk up,’ called Rosina. Elsie lifted her trunk in a salute. Rosina fed her another chunk of melon. ‘Elsie, walk on.’

  7

  The Most Spectacular Show in the World

  Claire felt a thrill as she swayed along on Elsie’s back, riding down the roadway. Jaspar zigzagged back and forth, sniffing all the delicious smells in the gutters. Kit walked beside Rosina, chatting to her.
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br />   ‘Goodness me,’ said Kit, wiping his brow, ‘whatever will you do next? I’ve only known you for half an hour and already you’ve saved a boy from certain death from a lion, and now you’ve rescued a runaway elephant.’

  Claire glanced down at Kit, who was gazing at Rosina with frank admiration. The sight made her feel slightly uneasy.

  ‘Oh, it’s all in a day’s work for a Romani princess,’ declared Rosina, waving her hand.

  ‘Or a grubby circus kid,’ Jem teased. ‘Speaking of which, I believe you have some hungry hayburners to deal with.’ He glanced up at Claire with a raised eyebrow. ‘Otherwise known as horses to you townies.’

  ‘And I believe you have some elephant mess to clean up,’ Rosina retorted, her hand on her hip. ‘Don’t forget to suggest to the greengrocer that he might want a pile of elephant dung to dry as a souvenir.’

  Everyone laughed. Elsie tapped Rosina on the shoulder, begging for another slice of her favourite melon.

  Claire noticed that the black Bentley limousine was now parked ahead on the side of the road, outside the shuttered-up department store. The chauffeur was leaning against the bonnet, chatting to a passer-by. As soon as he saw Kit, the chauffeur jumped to attention, ready to open the passenger door.

  ‘I should leave you to get on with your chores,’ Kit suggested reluctantly, ‘but I am really looking forward to seeing you all perform in the ring tonight.’

  ‘Make sure you get a front-row seat,’ suggested Jem. ‘You don’t want to miss anything.’

  ‘I won’t miss a thing,’ Kit assured him. He doffed his hat as he said his goodbyes and strolled over to the car. The chauffeur opened the back door with a smart bow.

  Back at the lot, the circus hands gathered around to welcome Elsie and her followers. Elsie gently deposited Claire back on her own two feet. Claire was amazed to see the transformation of the lot. All the tents were raised and the caravans parked in two neat rows around the peri­meter. The lions’ cage was parked on the south side of the lot, while the remaining animal cages were parked on the north side against the department store wall.

  Alf hurried over. He was relieved to see Elsie safe but looked grim when Jem and Rosina explained the damage at the greengrocer’s. Jem told Alf how Rosina had charmed the greengrocer’s family and averted a potentially nasty situation.

  ‘Jeez, it’s not too bad, considering,’ said Alf. ‘But, Jem, make sure you bring back every bruised apple and squashed onion that I have to pay for. I’m sure Brownie will be able to cook something with them.’

  Jem set off, carrying his tools and some hessian sacks for the produce.

  Alf turned to Rosina. He stroked his black moustache. ‘You did well again, Rosina. I don’t know what that idiot Frank thought he was doing getting into an argument with the townies. Sounds like you charmed them beautifully.’

  Rosina smiled. ‘Malia always says that you catch more flies with sugar than vinegar.’

  ‘Well, we can’t afford to pay for all that damage,’ complained Alf. ‘Let’s just hope that all the publicity about escaping animals leads to a turn-away crowd tonight.’

  Rosina patted Alf on the arm. ‘There was a good crowd watching the parade, and we talked up the show to the townies back there. Jem even gave them an impromptu juggling display, and Elsie performed beautifully. That should entice a few along.’

  Alf snorted and rubbed the back of his head.

  ‘If this run of bad bloomin’ luck keeps up, the trucks will be repossessed and we’ll have to go back to travelling around the countryside in horsedrawn wagons,’ he moaned. ‘We’ll be broke.’

  ‘Cheer up, Alf,’ exhorted Rosina. ‘You said yourself, there are thousands of people from all over the countryside coming to Sydney for a holiday to see the Harbour Bridge opening. They’ll have money in their pockets, looking for entertainment and excitement. What better diversion could there be than Sterling Brothers Circus – the most spectacular show in the world?’

  Alf smiled at Rosina affectionately. ‘Ah, Rosina lass, it was a happy day when your aunt brought you to light up our lives.’

  Claire spent the rest of the afternoon helping Rosina. The horses had to be fed and watered, then groomed again for the evening performance. Jem was helping Roy and Frank muck out the horse truck and wheelbarrowing the dirty straw and manure over to the manure pile. Then they cleaned out the elephant trucks, which were truly filthy.

  Claire’s arms were aching from the grooming and lugging hay and water. Then Rosina announced they still had to feed the monkeys and clean out their cage. Claire’s heart sank. She felt exhausted and filthy. She wasn’t used to manual work.

  ‘Good job,’ Rosina said, surveying the freshly raked monkey enclosure. ‘It’s nearly time for me to get ready for tonight’s show.’

  Claire huffed, leaning on her rake, out of breath. ‘I’m whacked.’

  ‘I’m going to bathe first, then it’s your turn,’ suggested Rosina.

  Claire had visions of fluffy, white towels, heavenly smelling bath salts and her deep bath at home in her sleek, travertine marble bathroom.

  ‘Mmmm,’ said Claire. ‘I’d love a bath.’

  Rosina laughed. ‘Don’t get too excited – it’s a caravan-style bath.’

  A caravan-style bath began with a kettle of water heated on the fire. When it was hot, the water was poured into a kerosene tin and taken inside the caravan with a bar of grey, homemade soap and an unpicked flour bag for a towel.

  Claire wandered around the circus lot to give Rosina the privacy of the caravan. Then Rosina went off to do her make-up in the dressing tent while Claire had a fresh bucket of water and the caravan to herself.

  Claire stripped off, feeling grimy and sticky. Using one soaked flour bag, she washed each part of her body then used another bag to dry herself. Surprisingly, she felt much better afterwards. Claire sponged off her old clothes and began to dress. As she slipped on her jeans she put her hand in her pocket and felt the sharp points of the star-shaped brooch. It was her only link to home.

  She was just pulling on her boots when Rosina and Lula came in. Both were in costume and Rosina had heavy stage make-up on.

  ‘Would you like to see the show tonight?’ asked Rosina.

  ‘Could I?’ replied Claire. ‘Really? I’d absolutely love to.’

  Rosina pulled a cardboard ticket from behind her back. ‘Ta-da!’

  Claire took the ticket eagerly.

  ‘Alf is overjoyed because we have a good crowd tonight,’ explained Rosina. ‘Looks like everyone was talking about the animal escapees.’ She grinned. ‘But we thought we could squeeze you in somewhere. Jem is on the ticket booth tonight, so we borrowed a ticket for you. It’s on the side in the front row. Most of the townies were too stingy to pay for front-row seats.’

  Claire’s parents had taken her to the circus once when she was quite young, but she couldn’t remember any of it.

  ‘Oh thank you,’ said Claire. ‘That is so lovely of you both.’

  ‘We thought it might cheer you up,’ Rosina continued, ‘take your mind off things. That’s the main purpose of a circus – to help people take their minds off their troubles. Especially these days.’

  Claire smiled. ‘I promise to love every minute and be completely cheered up.’

  ‘Just one thing, though,’ said Rosina. ‘You’d better wear a dress.’ She gestured towards Claire’s outfit. ‘The locals would have a fit if you went like that. Skimpy clothes and trousers are all right inside the ring, but not in the audience. I’ll lend you something.’

  Claire looked down at her own clothes and nodded.

  Rosina pulled a dark blue dress from a coat hanger and laid it on the bed. Then she opened a drawer in the panelling under the bench seat and took out some stockings, suspenders and a pair of white gloves.

  ‘Gloves?’ asked Claire. ‘Do I have to?’<
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  ‘You can’t be seen in polite society without them,’ joked Rosina. She pulled on a pair of gauntlets herself, but these were white leather with wide cuffs. She then passed Claire a small straw hat. ‘And your hat.’

  Claire took the hat and twisted it in her hands.

  ‘I’ll leave you to get changed,’ said Rosina. ‘Just come to the Big Top with your ticket in ten minutes.

  The skirt of the blue dress came down to the middle of Claire’s calves and made her feel surprisingly elegant. She struggled with the stockings, trying to work out how to put on the suspenders. Lastly she pulled on the white gloves and perched the hat on her head.

  Claire hurried over to the Big Top through the darkness. She passed the cookhouse, with its sides tucked up to let in the fresh air. She could see a cook preparing the evening meal for the crew over an open fire. Three snow-white goats wandered around the field, the bells on their collars tinkling.

  There were several smaller tents, strung with flags and lanterns, huddled about the Big Top. One tent held the horses while another was a dressing tent for the performers. The air filled with the smell of burnt sugar, roasting peanuts, salty popcorn and the earthy scent of animals.

  The patrons passed through a long menagerie tent to enter the Big Top. On either side were gold and red cages, filled with circus animals waiting their turn to go in the ring. The canvas sides were rolled up to display the animals inside.

  Claire handed her ticket to the man at the entrance. It was Flash Frank, except now he was clean shaven and wearing a scarlet-and-black uniform with heavy gold braiding. He scowled at Claire as he took her ticket.

  Inside the menagerie, Elsie the elephant was picketed to a strong iron stake beside Empress. Elsie flapped her ears and snaked her trunk towards Claire, as though she recognised her. She picked up a trunkful of straw and blew it all over Claire’s head. Claire giggled and wiped the straw away.