The Fiery Ring

by Gilbert, Morris

  “Nothing much prettier than that.”

  They watched until the dolphins disappeared in the distance, and then Joy and Chase continued their walk. The sun was high and the sand was already too hot on their bare feet, so they waded in the water, searching for shells. Once Chase caught her arm and warned, “Watch out. Don’t step on that.”

  “What is it?”

  “Jellyfish. They sting like crazy when you get involved with them. I was swimming one time out in the Gulf, and I got in a big bunch of them. I thought I was gonna die.”

  It was a clear day with the sun gleaming on the crystalline sand and farther out from shore the water glistening green and blue. Joy felt exhilarated, and when it was time to turn back, she sighed, “I hate to leave.”

  “Maybe we could become beach bums. Doesn’t pay very well, though.”

  “I suppose not.”

  The two went back to the street and waited until Doak drove up; then they got in the truck. “Run by the post office, will you, Doak? Joy needs to check to see if there’s a letter for her.”

  “Sure enough, Chase.”

  Doak found the post office with little trouble, and Joy said, “You two can just wait here. I’ll go in.”

  Slipping out of the truck, she ran into the post office. When she got to the window, she asked the clerk, “Is there anything in general delivery for Joy Winslow?”

  “Let me see. I’ll check.” The man disappeared for a moment, and Joy’s heart leaped when he returned with an envelope in his hand. “One letter for Joy Winslow.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Joy took the letter and stepped away from the window to read it. She trembled with excitement and ripped it open. Her brother’s writing was as bad as usual, and it seemed he had written on a piece of brown paper sack. Her eyes scanned the lines:

  Dear Joy,

  I have bad news. I’m sending this from a prison close to Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. The crew went ashore and there was a fight. I wasn’t part of it, but one of the Mexicans got badly hurt. He was a prominent man, and we had no chance at all. Three of us were sentenced to a year in prison. You can’t do anything. I’ll find you when my term is up. I love you, Joy. This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. The prison’s bad. Write to me, and let me know what’s happening. I’ve been so worried about you.

  Love, Travis

  ****

  “It’s takin’ her a long time,” Chase said, a puzzled look on his face. “I’ll go check and see what’s happenin’.” Getting out of the truck, he ran up the steps to the post office and passed through the doors of the building. He glanced to his left and saw Joy standing at a tall desk. Her head was bent over, and he saw that her shoulders were shaking. He immediately went to her side. “What is it, Joy? What’s happened?”

  “It’s . . . a letter from my brother.”

  Chase took the letter and read it. He put his arm around her and said, “It’s a tough break.”

  Without meaning to, Joy leaned against his chest. Sobs racked her body, and she clung to him. He could only hold her and pat her shoulders, knowing there was nothing he could say to make her feel better. Finally her sobs subsided, and he fished a handkerchief from his pocket. “Take this,” he said gently. He watched as she cleaned her face, and then he said, “This is bad news, but we’ll make it. We’ll make it, Joy. It’ll be okay.”

  When Joy looked up to him from the circle of his arms, her eyes held a tragedy that went right to Chase’s heart. “We’ll make it,” he said softly. “You and me, we’ll wait. We’ll do what we can.”

  “Will you do . . . will you do one thing for me, Chase?”

  “Anything.”

  “Please . . . would you not drink anymore?”

  The question stunned him. Chase said nothing for a minute, seeing himself at a crossroads in his mind. He was facing two diverging roads—one, the path of drinking in order to forget, the other, Joy’s way. She did not understand what she was asking of him, he thought. The liquor had gotten ahold of him now and seemed like the easy way to avoid his pain. But looking down at her tearstained face, her lips trembling, he knew he had no choice. Finding the courage to take the more difficult road, he said to her, “Yes, I’ll do that.”

  Joy laid her cheek against his chest and relaxed in the comfort of his arms. “Thank you, Chase,” she whispered.

  Chase held her for a long moment, then said, “Come on, we’ve got a ways to go, Joy—but we’ll make it.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Stella

  Joy came out of a deep sleep abruptly, and when she opened her eyes, a beam of sunlight slanting down from the window blinded her for a moment. Shutting her eyes quickly, she rolled over and pushed her face into the pillow, burrowing down under the blankets. She lay there for a moment savoring the warmth, for the March mornings in Asheville, North Carolina, were still cool and the trailer she occupied with Ella Devoe was not an efficient unit to heat. She had been glad when Ella invited her to share her trailer last summer. Living with Pete and Annie Delaney had been inconvenient. Not that it bothered Joy, but she just felt like she was in the way. Ella had said, “Come on and bunk with me, Joy. You can come and go as you please, and we’ll see how we get along.”

  The trailer had only one bedroom, which Ella occupied, but the kitchenette, which consisted of two bench seats and a table, folded down cleverly to convert into a bed. It was not overly soft, but it was better than most had in the circus. She had learned that Ella went to bed fairly early, so Joy did not have to disturb her except on rare occasions.

  The busy hum of the circus waking up captured Joy’s attention. Muted by the walls of the trailer, voices seemed thin and far away, but the muffled roar of a lion added an exotic flavor to the sounds.

  She threw the cover back, sat straight up, and opened her eyes wide as the thought seized her, I’m eighteen years old today!

  She had not given much thought to her birthday, for her life was so busy she’d had little time to think about it. No one except Chase knew it was her birthday, so she was not expecting anything in particular—maybe just a good wish from him.

  Leaning over, she picked up the tablet and the pen that lay on the floor beside her, flipped the tablet open, and began to write. The pale yellow sunlight illuminated the page as she wrote the date, March 15, 1928, hesitated, then started:

  I’m eighteen years old today, but I don’t feel any different than I did yesterday. I suppose birthdays are like that for adults—but they were very special when I was young. I remember Travis always put me under the bed, and I would kick and scream and try to keep him from doing it, and then we would both wind up laughing. And then on my last birthday at home I remember that Daddy—

  She broke off, for the painful memories of her sixteenth birthday ran through her like a razor. For a long time she’d had nightmares about her family going off in the truck and never coming back. Thankfully, those nightmares had finally stopped, and she could finally enjoy some of the happier memories. One of the silly little memories that came back to her now was the particular way her father used to peel an apple with his sharp pocketknife. He always peeled it in one single spiral, which had delighted Joy. She could see him now with his lips turned upward in a grin and a merry light in his eyes, winking at her as he handed her the peel and saying, “Here, you eat this, and I’ll eat the rest.”

  She was able to smile now at such memories, remembering the good times. She began a new sentence:

  I remember I got this pen a year ago today from Chase at Sister Hannah’s, and I’ve used the comb and hairbrush she gave me every single day. That was a good day. I don’t suppose I’ll get any presents today, but I’m not complaining.

  No matter how hard I try, I can’t feel anything but hate for Albert Tatum and his rotten kids! I know it’s wrong—but I just can’t help it! In a way Albert is responsible for Travis being in jail. If he hadn’t been such a rotten man, we’d still be living at his place. I don’t believe much in prayer, b
ut if I did, I’d pray for him to die!

  She stared at the lines, then shook her head. Why can’t I forget all about him? She glanced at the clock and decided to go help Annie, although she had been released from morning duties to do other things. She replaced the pen and tablet in the box that she kept in one of the trailer’s small overhead compartments. She slipped out of her pajamas and jumped into the shower as quickly as she could, savoring the hot water. Coming out shivering, she dried off with a large, fluffy pink towel and dressed with an efficiency of motion. She transformed the bed back into a dining table and bench seats, and since she would be eating breakfast later with Annie, she didn’t make any now.

  By the time she reached the cook tent, Annie already had most of the work done, but she smiled at Joy. “I’m surprised you’re here today. I thought I gave you the day off. I’m almost done now.”

  “I decided to come help after all. I can set the tables, and then I’ll clean up.”

  As Joy moved back and forth between the kitchen and the tables, she had a smile for those who greeted her. It occurred to her then that, in less than a year with the circus, she had immersed herself in the lives of the people there. Her eyes swept over them, picking out the Flying Martinos—Juan and Maria with their children, Mateo and Lucia. They chattered together in Spanish as Joy refilled their coffee cups.

  The Fontaines sat at the next table, and their son, Bert, who was twenty, reached out and grabbed Joy by the arm as she passed by. He was a small, well-built young man with a pair of jaunty blue eyes. “How about you and me go out and do the Charleston somewhere, doll?”

  “No, you’ve got too many girlfriends, Bert. They’d probably beat me up.”

  “Aw, I’d dump them all in a second for you, Joy.”

  Joy laughed. She couldn’t help liking Bert despite his constant teasing, and his sister Angel had been a good friend to her. She chatted with them for a minute, then moved down to where the clowns formed a group. Oz, the loudest, was sitting with Red Squires, Mack Button, and Oleander Jones.

  The roustabouts kept to their own table, not being of the stature of the performers themselves. She smiled at Benny Yates, remembering how Doak had picked him up by the neck on her first day at the circus. Despite that introduction to Benny, she had come to like him. He played the trumpet in the circus band, and she admired his musicianship. She pulled his hair, and when he turned to grin at her, she said, “I’m going to cut off that hair of yours, Benny, before it gets down to the floor!”

  “I thought women liked long, beautiful hair,” Benny said.

  “Not on men, silly! You’d better keep it short if you ever want a girlfriend.”

  Slim Madden, Mamie’s husband, grinned at her. He was tall and thin, in contrast to Mamie’s round form, and his glasses rode on the bridge of his nose. “Just shave it all off. He couldn’t look any worse.”

  Breakfast disappeared quickly, but most of the performers and workers stayed around for extra coffee. When the dining area finally cleared out, Joy began picking up the last of the dishes and carrying them back to the washtub. She washed while Annie dried, and the two talked about their next engagement in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

  “I’ve always liked Chattanooga,” Annie said. “Pretty scenery and lots to see around there. There’s a Civil War battlefield I’ll take you to see when we get there.”

  Joy said, “I love all this traveling around. It’s so exciting.”

  “Well, when you’ve done it as long as I have—and that’s since I was born—you can’t imagine staying in one place.”

  The two were interrupted when Karl stuck his head through the flap and grinned. “Hey, is it too late to get breakfast?”

  “Yes,” Annie said.

  “No, that’s all right, Annie. I’ll fix something,” Joy offered. “Eggs and bacon be all right? And I think there’s some biscuits left.”

  “That’ll be fine, and you can sit down and listen to me eat it.”

  “Don’t you wish!” Joy teased back, laughing, as Karl left her to the preparations.

  While Joy threw the elements of the meal together, Annie put away the last of the dishes, then turned and crossed her arms. “You’re not getting sweet on Karl, are you?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “That’s good.”

  Surprised, Joy looked up. “Why? Don’t you like him?”

  “Oh, I like Karl. I think everybody does, but he’s a ladies’ man.”

  “Well, I’m a lady, aren’t I?”

  Annie saw that Joy was smiling at her and noted the clean lines of the girl’s face and the youthful curves of her figure. “You’re not a baby anymore, and you need to watch out for yourself.”

  “Oh, Annie, I went through that last year when I first joined the circus. Doak would have broken anybody’s neck that offended me—even Karl’s.”

  Joy took the plates outside and set them before Karl, who was reading a newspaper. She walked over to the coffeepot, filled a large white mug, and placed it beside him, then sat down across from him. Putting the paper down, he took a bite of the eggs and bit off a chunk of the biscuit. “I thought you weren’t going to listen to me eat.” Karl grinned at her.

  “I’m not. I just thought I’d keep you company, since you’re so lonesome all the time.”

  Karl winked at her and took another bite of eggs. “Hey, did you listen to Will Rogers on the radio last night?”

  “No, I missed it.”

  “That guy kills me! He’s the funniest man I ever heard.” Karl chuckled. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment, took a swig of coffee, then said, “Last night he reported on the state of the nation, and you know what he said? He said, ‘The nation is prosperous as a whole, but how much prosperity is there in a hole?’ ” Karl guffawed and shook his head. “How does he think of that stuff? I’d sure like to see him at the Ziegfeld Follies. I went one time. It was great.”

  “Was that in New York?”

  “Sure was. I would love to play New York sometime, but I don’t guess we will. The Ringling Brothers have about got that sewed up. I’m going to be with that circus one day. The biggest show on earth! That’s what I aim to do.”

  “Wouldn’t you hate to leave your friends here?”

  “Oh sure, but I’d make friends there.”

  “I like it here. It’s a bit like a family to me.”

  “Why, sure it is, but a man’s gotta make a place for himself.”

  He reached over and tapped the newspaper and said, “Look at that.”

  Joy picked up that section and looked at the drawing on the front page. “What’s this?” she said.

  “Something new. That’s a cartoon character they call Mickey Mouse.”

  “Mickey Mouse?”

  “Yeah. It’s something that a fellow called Walt Disney has come up with. He draws a series of pictures and somehow makes the pictures look like they’re moving. They’re called animated cartoons.”

  “I’ve never heard of it.”

  “It’s pretty new, I guess. I’d like to see it sometime. This mouse is the star of a movie called Steamboat Willie. I hear it’ll be on at one of the local theaters in Chattanooga. Maybe we can take in a matinee.”

  “That would be fun,” she said.

  “You know what my favorite radio program is?”

  “Can’t guess.”

  “Amos and Andy. Funniest stuff I’ve ever heard.”

  “Funnier than Will Rogers?”

  “Oh yeah, even funnier.”

  Joy had to agree with him about Amos and Andy. “Yeah, they’re good all right, and from what I hear they’re getting rich.”

  Karl glanced up at her and took a swig of coffee. “What do you say after I eat, we have another lesson with Mabel?”

  Joy’s eyes lit up, and she smiled. “Oh, I’d like that!” She had grown very fond of the big tiger, and as soon as Karl finished his breakfast, the two left the cook tent. They made their way to the menagerie, where Karl guided Mabel through the t
unnel into the big-top cage for the morning’s practice.

  “You ready?” he asked Joy.

  “Sure am.”

  “As I’ve said before, always remember that you’ve got to make her know who’s boss,” Karl warned. He looked fresh and handsome as he stood beside the door wearing a navy blue shirt, open at the throat, and a pair of light blue wool trousers.

  “Come on in and see if she’ll sit up for you today.”

  “She always sits up for me,” Joy said, entering the gate without a moment’s hesitation.

  For some weeks Joy had been entering the cage with Mabel, the most docile of all the circus cats. She went toward her now without a trace of fear, and Mabel made a rumbling sound. Reaching out with a stick, Joy rubbed the top of her head, and the rumble became more pronounced. “Sit up,” Joy commanded.

  Instantly the huge tiger rose up and pawed at the air. Joy laughed at her. “She looks just like a kitten—a really big one!”

  Karl, who was standing with his chair close beside them, had strapped on his pistol with the blanks. He kept his eyes cautiously on the cat and nodded. “She’s safe enough all right, but just remember she weighs nearly five hundred pounds. She could hurt you by accident, Joy.”

  Joy went through the tricks Mabel had learned. She could easily make her sit up, lie down, and roll over. Then she led her to one of the high perches and got her to leap at her command. “Up, Mabel!” The tiger gracefully leaped to the top of the perch and then, again at Joy’s command, sat up.

  “That’s great. You’re going to be taking my job one of these days, Joy.”

  “I love the animals.”

  “Well, Mabel’s one thing, but it gets a little harder with some of the others.”

  Karl unlocked the door for her, and as Joy went out, she saw that Chase had been watching. He was wearing a pair of coveralls—his usual attire for cleaning out the cages. “Hello, Chase. Did you see me make Mabel do her tricks?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  Something about the spare tone of Chase’s voice caught at Joy. While Karl was busy getting the cat back into her cage, she asked Chase, “What’s the matter?”