Evening star., 1945-06-03
lust Between
Ourselves
BY Philip II. Love

Hubert Fidget's mind was made
up. This was one year he wasn't
going to be talked into going to the
circus.
1t wasn't that he disliked circuses:
it was just that he didn't like them
quite well enough to justify all the
trouble he'd have getting tickets,
getting to the grounds way out on
the other side of town, getting back
home after the show and-perhaps
most important of all-getting up
early the next morning to go to work.
And, besides. he'd been going year
after year after year.
Not that he'd wanted to go every
year. The first two or three times
were all right: his daughter was
small, and-well, every kid ought to
see the circus few times. But for
several years now he had felt she
was sufficiently grownup to realize
that going to the circus wasn't the
most important thing in life.
He had told her that the last time
the circus was in town.
"Circuses are kid stuff he had
said You're a big girl now-in
high school-and it's time you were
getting over wanting to go every
year. When you've seen one circus
you've seen them all i. :"
But he had taken her just the
same.
u X
Well, this year, it was going to be
different He had made up his
mind and, for once, nothing could
change it.
The circus hadn't come last year.
because OF the fire. Maybe she'd
think it wasn't coming this year,
either. Maybe by the time she
learned the truth, it would be too
late to get tickets.
But the newspapers, drat EN-, gave
advance warning.
The circus is coming. Daddy" :"
she said in her sweetest voice.
What night are we going?"
We're not going any night" was
the firm answer. ITS too much
trouble"
But everything that's fun is
trouble"
Now. don't poster me-" Mr. Fidget
said sternly. That won't get you
anywhere. My mind is made up"
But, Daddy. that's what you al
ways say. It's always too much
trouble. But you always go-and
you always admit afterward that
you had a good time
well, just the same, we're not
going this year. It's too far, for one
thing. And you always have to park
blocks away, and walk and walk.
And I don't have any gasoline to
spare, anyway"
But we can go by bus or street.
car. Thousands of other people go
that way"
mot me. I'm not so crazy about
circuses that I'm going to fight my
way on and of buses and streetcars
and ride all over town at all hours
of the night. You'll just have to
forget it,"
But. Daddy. we didn't go last
year-the circus wasn't here
"Yes, but the year before that l
took you only after you promised
that would be the last of it. And
the year before, it was the same
way-if only I'd take you then, you d
never ask again"
"P,It no o6dyH
MY mind" Mr.. Fidget said with
all his dignity. "is made up. No
circus this year. And that's that"
It had been pretty much the same
last time, only Mr.. Fidget had finally
given in. But he had enjoyed seeing
the animals and watching the
clowns and other performers. And
the music-circus music is different
from any other kind, and it had
carried him back to his boyhood.
No, he wouldn't do 1t. Too much
trouble-getting tickets, travelling
all the way across town, being
pushed around by crowds, getting to
bed late, tired the next day.
Nope. Funny, though, all those
clowns-dozens of 'em, apparently
scrambling out of that little car,
hardly big enough for three pas
sengers. And the trapeze per-
formers. :. The animals. That
fellow on the tight rope. The
high-wire act. :. Peanuts, popcorn,
hot dogs. And the music.
whats in that envelope you just
took out of your coat pocket?" the
girl inquired.
"Oh. nothing-nothing much"
Mr.. Fidget answered, hanging the
coat in the closet and shutting the
door. Just some tickets to the
circus.