Where nothing much happened. No, not much at all.
And the people that lived there were usually bored.
It was such a dull place, it could win an award.
There was plenty of work to be done, that was true,
All kinds of homework and chores they could do.
But there were no games, no TV, nothing fun.
Nothing joyful, exciting, or new to be done.
Yes, the people who lived in this dull, boring place
Had rarely, if ever, had smiles on their face.
And that’s just how life was. They were used to it, too.
Until, one day, someone rolled into town. Someone NEW.
A wagon drove in, painted blue, pink, and brown
And parked in the absolute center of town.
From, it seemed, out of nowhere, a fanciful tent
Popped up from the back of the wagon. It sent
People running for cover as open it blew
Filling up the town square with its rosy pink hue.
The people all crowded in closer to see
This unusual sight. Just what could it be?
A sign hanging high up above the tent door
Proclaimed, “Step right up! See the wonders in store!
Miss Allie’s Fantabulous Circus has come
To delight and entrance you! Come in, everyone!”
Then, from out of the flap of the pink tent, they flew –
Acrobats, clowns, singers, animals, too!
At the front of the group, a girl, lovely and tall
She danced as she moved, the clear leader of all.
“I’m Miss Allie,” she called, in a voice sweet and clear.
“And this is my circus! Come in! Enter here!”
Astonished, the people began to move in
Toward the tent’s flapping door, and the wonders therein
When suddenly, once again, something appeared
On the road. Something different! And quickly, it neared
Driving right up, right next to Miss Allie’s event.
Another loud pop, and a new, yellow tent!
And what did the sign on this yellow tent say?
“Come one, and come all! Enter here, and we’ll play you
A show that is sure to entrance young and old!
Miss Whitney’s Majestical Puppets! Behold!”
Then a puppet popped up from behind a low wall
With a voice that was sweet, and it started to call
To the people that crowded between the two tents
“Enter here! See our show for just twenty-two cents!”
Then, beside it, more puppets began to appear,
All laughing, and singing, contagious with cheer.
They frolicked across their small stage, quite entrancing,
As people moved closer to watch their fine dancing.
But across the town square, by the pink tent, Miss Allie
Cried out, “You must not miss our big grand finale!
I, myself, will perform, with the greatest of ease,
Dancing through air on our flying trapeze!”
A blonde head popped up by the yellow tent, then,
A lovely young girl, age eleven or ten,
And yelled to Miss Allie, “That isn’t so great!
My puppets are better! There’s just no debate!
Come one, and come all! I’ll show you! I’ll prove
I’m a better performer. My lips never move!”
Then Miss Whitney (because yes, of course it was she)
Picked up a cute puppet named Sally McGee,
And proceeded to make the doll sing a duet
With Miss Whitney, herself. The coolest trick yet!
And when she was done, there was thunderous applause
From the audience ‘round her, for very good cause.
The townspeople were terribly, awfully impressed
By Miss Whitney’s performance. ‘Twas simply the best.
But Miss Allie felt certain that she could outdo
Miss Whitney, performing her own trick or two.
“That’s nothing,” called Miss Allie, striking a pose.
And she stretched way up high, on the points of her toes,
Then backwards she flew, in a series of flips,
Acrobatically tumbling, then landing, the tips
Of her fingers the only things touching the ground
As she balanced, as though she were floating around.
As one, the crowd gasped at the sight they had seen.
When it came to agility, Allie was queen.
They’d never seen anything like it before.
But it didn’t stop there. There was much, much, much more.
 |
| Illustration by: Evie Fifield |
Back and forth, all day long, those two resolute ladies
Fought their battle with all of the fury of Hades.
Both working to top one another’s routines
Each trying to prove they’re the best ever seen.
By the end of the day, they were both quite worn out.
And, looking around, the girls started to pout.
The whole crowd had gone home! Not one person had stayed.
They had grown sick and tired of the ladies’ charade.
What had seemed like excitement, for once in their lives,
Had grown dull again, so they’d left with their wives
And their children and gone home to lie in their beds.
“Too much fighting,” they stated, all nodding their heads.
The yelling, competing, and bragging had soured
The crowd ‘gainst the girls, all their interest devoured.
“What a pity,” the townspeople said as they’d gone.
“It would have been nice if they’d gotten along.
Both shows looked like buckets of fun, truth be told!
But all of that bickering quickly got old.”
Defeated, the two girls collapsed on the ground.
Miss Allie said, “Wow, they weren’t kidding around.
I’d felt so certain they’d all choose my show
If I could just prove I was better, you know?”
Miss Whitney agreed, as she let out a sigh,
“I get it. I’m really not such a bad guy.
I just wanted the people to see what I do.
I’ve worked really hard on my act, just like you.”
Miss Allie looked, then, into Miss Whitney’s eyes,
And for the first time, both the girls realized
That they really were not all that different. In fact,
They were both quite alike. They each had a cool act
That entranced, and excited, and made people cheer
If they worked together… wow! What a career!
The people would hurry from near and from far
To see such an act! They would travel by car,
Or by plane! Or by boat! By sea, land, or air!
The people would flock in from everywhere!
This show would, by far, be the best ever seen,
If Allie and Whitney just worked as a team!
With that, our two talented ladies began
To work close together. They sketched out a plan
For how to combine the best parts of both shows
To make one big circus, to bring in vast rows
Upon rows of spectators, all gasping with glee
When Whitney and Allie both shared the marquee!
The next day, where two tents competed before
The people saw something they couldn’t ignore.
A new, grander tent, colored yellow and pink
Stood in the square. No one knew what to think!
Had those squabbling performers packed up? Were they gone?
Did a new person come and set up on the lawn?
The people looked ‘round and they spotted a sign!
Written on the marquee in a classy design
Were the words, “Come and see us! The best in the land!
See Whitney and Allie perform hand-in-hand!
This act is amazing! You’re in for a treat!
Our show will keep you on the edge of your seat!”
The townspeople gawked. They could hardly believe it!
The two shows put together? How did they achieve it?
From all over town, the crowds flocked in to view
The Circus Majestic! And wow - it was true!
The act was amazing! The people were awed!
There was so much to cheer for, to gasp, to applaud!
By working together, both Allie and Whit
Had created a massive, spectacular hit!
The girls learned a lesson they never forgot –
Teamwork is always much better than not.
Now that once-sleepy town is a quite famous place
As the home of the Circus Majestic, a space
Where people from everywhere travel to see
That great show put together by Whit and Allie.
The End
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