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being visitors in other people’s towns. When they’re on the road, they probably have to be careful not to leave people with a bad impression of them.
                I finally get back around to their leader, who smiles again. I don’t think he’s looked at the menu since I started going around the table, but he orders straight away.
                “I’ll have the clam chowder in the bread bowl,” he says. “I hear it’s a local specialty.”
                “It’s very good,” I say.
                I go through to the kitchen to give Frank the orders, and he starts to put the food together. I help, partly because it’s such a large order, but mostly because there’s something about the way the guy in the coat stared at me…
                “Frank, have you seen these circus people before?” I ask.
                “Not that I remember. It’s been a long time since they were in Sea Cliff last, I think. Why? They aren’t giving you any trouble, are they? Trying to hit on you?”
                Occasionally, a visitor to the town assumes that because I work in a place with a bar, I must be over eighteen. Even more occasionally, they assume it means that I’ll want to meet with them after work. I always put them straight. I can handle it.
                “No,” I say. “It’s fine.”
                To emphasize that, I start to take their meals out to them. I’ve just put their leader’s clam chowder down when he lightly touches my arm.
                “Thank you,” he says. “I’m Dex Hightower, the ringmaster of our circus. You’re interested in the Circus of Curiosities, aren’t you, Leela?”
                I look down, because suddenly all the eyes around the table are on me. “Yes,” I admit. “I’m interested in the circus.”
                He passes me a card. It’s bare except for an image of a fluttering flag inside a circle, both picked out in gold, and a few letters underneath, spelling out the words Dr. Dex .
                “Antonia tells me that you’re one of the people who signed up for our little show. Be sure to come by for the show tonight,” he says. “The card will get you in without charge. We will be announcing our new performers, and I imagine you’ll want to hear that.”
                He flashes another of those megawatt smiles my way, before I leave them to get on with their meal. They eat quickly, and I guess that they have to finish in plenty of time for the performance. I have to think the same way, so an hour before the performance is due to start, I ask Frank if I can go.
                “To hear if you’ve been picked? Of course you can! In fact, I might close the restaurant and come myself.”
                I head home quickly, starting to get ready. Mom is still just as sick as she was, asleep in bed when I get there with Mason watching over her. He’s too young to have to do that. The sooner I can find a way to help her, the better. And for tonight, I can at least give Mason a treat he’ll enjoy.
                “Come on, Mason,” I say. “Come and get ready. We’re going to the circus.”
                I shower and then put on my best dress. It’s a pretty yellow chiffon sun dress that my mom bought for my last birthday and altered with delicate flower decoration, and which I love. I have sandals to go with it, which used to be plain, but I’ve decorated them with shells from the beach to make them into something unique. I come out of my bedroom and Mason is waiting for me. He pretends to wolf whistle.
                “You’re far too young to do that,” I say.
                “It’s what all the boys will be doing once you get there,” Mason points out.
    Maybe. I have to admit it feels good to have the chance to dress up for once. There isn’t