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Ashbrooke 1946
Chapter ONE
“With all due respect Pastor Farwell, I see no harm in having a circus come to town. It’s good to have something
for the kids to do… a change of pace from the same ole thing all the time.” Mayor William Johnson was a good man
with a family and was well respected in town and unlike the good pastor he was an honorable man who didn’t go through
life smiling through two faces. He and his wife had two small boys Peter age 5 and Billy age 3 and they were already looking
forward to taking them to the circus when it finished setting up.
Pastor Farwell never really saw eye to eye with the mayor, but of course how could he what with him being his biggest threat.
The fact that Mayor Johnson prided himself on being a free thinker and had never set foot inside the Ashbrooke Community Church
even put a few more strikes against him in the pastor’s eyes. The Mayor was not one for gossip but he personally had
his suspicions about the good pastor’s sincerity and motives when it came to the good people of Ashbrooke. And as much
as he kept his opinions to himself, he could read the pastor like a book and Farwell knew it.
“My good man,” The pastor chortled, “Are bearded ladies and two headed babies in bottles your idea of good
family fun? Do you really want your two boys to see a man throwing knives at a woman tied to a spinning bull’s eye or
some prestidigitator sawing a woman in half?”
“Yeah this ain’t no ordinary circus, it’s a galdern FREAK SHOW!” Ted Dixon stood up and shook his
fist in the air. He was probably the least educated person in the room but he had a very strong opinion and his opinion usually
mirrored that of the pastor.
“I have to say I agree with Mayor Johnson on this.” said a short bald man sitting in the back of the community
center, “Why Milly and the kids were in Cedar Creek not two weeks ago and the circus was set up there for a whole week.
She took the kids there and they all had a great time. There didn’t seem to be any trouble or any mischief going on
in the area. As a matter of fact the people there seemed to enjoy the fun it brought to the community.”
The crowded community center began to buzz with angry comments, much like a hive of pissed off bees. Most of them under the
breath of its owner because many of the people had the guts to have an opinion but certainly not to voice it out loud. Some
opinions for and some against allowing the circus to set up in town, but the over riding feeling in the room was that of a
dark controlling heaviness that seemed to follow the powerful Pastor Harry Farwell everywhere he went.
The small town of Ashbrooke was always known for being a bit backwards and conservative. The Mayor had made it his mission
to try to pull the town into the 20th century but to no avail. The residents of the small town were blinded by religious legalism
and followed their faithful pastor without a question in their minds as to rather he really was a mouthpiece for God or not.
But to talk to him, he would say he was the very hand of God Himself.
“My good people,” Boomed the voice of the pastor as he rose from his seat and took his place behind the wooden
podium. “I am saddened and disappointed that we’re even having this debate tonight. The good book says that it
is every good Christian’s duty to shun the very sight of evil. No matter what form it may take evil is EVIL! , Be they
merrily painted clowns wielding popcorn and cotton candy, or glittering jugglers mesmerizing the masses with their folly,
the one fact that will never change is that the CIRCUS is a den of iniquity and a haven for heathens and sinners who are here
for only one reason and that is to peddle their depraved and sinful wares.” The pastor stopped and looked at the blank
faces of the gathered townsfolk that sat before him. Some were his faithful parishioners and others were simple townsfolk
who had never stepped foot in his church. He slammed his bible down in the center of the podium, grabbed both sides of its
slanted surface and leaned out over it, sweat dripping from his nose as it pointed out at the gathered mass.
“You are either for GOD or you are against GOD!” Pastor Farwell’s eye lids tightened and his eyes turned
to slits as he glared out at the congregation with a condemning look that made most of them sink in their seats. “I
am telling you that if you let this circus of sin come into our holy little town, there will be HELL to pay!”
*****
The sun was low in the sky as the colorful wooden wagons rolled into town, some pulled by horses while others were pulled
by rickety old trucks that sounded like they were on their last cylinder. It was a caravan of carnies and ner-do-wells that
were there to infest the town with their sinful and evil ways… so thought the pastor.
Old Saunders’s field was the spot chosen by the circus boss and ringmaster Hal Zimner. It was close enough to town to
be accessible yet far enough outside the city limits to keep the law at bay. The Fink and Zimner Freak Show and Circus had
been here the year before and the welcome they got then was far from warm but try as they may they had to make a buck where
the making was good.
“Ok fellows, let’s park the wagons and get this show set up!” Hal stuck his head out of the point truck
and yelled for the caravan to stop. They were finally here and it was time to get to work. The circus had been losing not
only business in recent months, but performers as well, At the last town they lost one of their best clowns Tripsy, simply
because he was offered a better gig from Ringling and he couldn’t afford to not take it. It was only a couple of weeks
before that that they lost their strong man Hugo. He had been right in the middle of bending an iron bar around his neck when
he keeled over with a heart attack. It was time for the circus to find fresh new talent and Hal knew it. His business partner
and friend Marty Fink made up a slew of flyers that he was going to post all over town, to not only draw in the crowd, but
to recruit new talent for the show.
“Hey Hal”, came a voice from outside the truck window. Hal looked down at a three foot tall man wearing a pinstriped
suit and bowtie. He was handsome with his fedora and round tortoiseshell glasses and it was easy to see he was all business.
“Once my wagon is set up, I’m going to pay your bird a little visit. She has something we need to see, if I’m
right about this one, it might just be a real money spinner. I’ll be done in thirty, so get over to her wagon the moment
you tie things up.” Hal winked at Marty and flicked the brim of his hat. It was another good day for making money and
he had a feeling this town full of suckers was going to be an easier squeeze than they were last year. Hell it had been a
year and in the back of his mind Hal was sort of hoping the old pastor that gave him so much trouble the year before may have
even popped his cork; but that would sure make his life easier which was probably hoping for too much. The last time they
had been to Ashbrooke there was a little resistance from the “powers that be”, but all in all the townsfolk could
not stay away. They always seemed to show up no matter what. The morbid curiosities of the traveling show drew them in like
sheep. There was something for everyone and if the Circus didn’t interest them, the freak show always did.
*****
“Mother, I’m going to the church now, Pastor Farwell has asked me if I would help him come up with the decorations
for the fall revival dinner” Evette Swanson was a beautiful sixteen year old girl who seemed to never be able to get
enough of church. It was a bit puzzling to her parents, but they didn’t mind because they just knew that what ever she
was learning there, it had to be a good thing. They knew that she could be running around with riff-raff and getting into
the kinds of trouble other teenagers seemed to get into, so a love for serving her community at church was very welcomed.
“Ok dear, but be back before bed time.”
*****
“Hey Freckles, how’s the show going?” Hal was walking through the fairway toward his trailer. The circus
performers were all around practicing their various and sundry acts. Freckles and Giggles the clowns were doing a funny gag
that entailed Freckles getting a bucket of water poured down a funnel stuck in the front of his pants. Hal laughed as the
two clowns practiced.
“Hey Hal, why aren’t you the cat’s meow?” came a strange little voice from behind him. It’s
was obvious to Hal that the compliment was referring to the fact that he was dressed in his Ringmaster garb complete with
top hat. He turned and saw Boris and his dummy the Amazing Dexter. “You sell any tickets to tomorrows show yet? You
know this freaking circus is about to go under, don’t you?” The rude little dummy said in a joking tone that had
a serious meaning behind it.
“Hey Dexter, don’t be so rude.” Boris scolded the wooden boy.
“Ok I’ll be good… but give me a dollar.” The dummy rolled his eyes at Boris.
“You should be like me… you should always be good and well behaved.”
“Ok”, I’ll be like you.” the dummy looked at Hal and wiggled his eyebrows. I’ll be good for
nothing!”
Hal laughed at the shtick the ventriloquist and his dummy were doing. It was nice to see his performers in such good spirits,
although there was always something about that dam dummy and the things he said. Always a joke wrapped around a dagger of
truth that seemed to find it’s way right between Hal’s ribs.
Hal began walking the fairway again. His trailer was the last one on the left, on the far end of the fairway. The beautiful
Siamese twins Li Wa and Li Sa stood on the side, near the entrance to the freak show exhibit. They looked like two beautiful
China Dolls with their ivory skin and ruby red lips and beautiful almond eyes and pristine Asian features. The only thing
that stood out like a sore thumb was that the two beautiful women were joined at the hips and they shared one pair of legs.
“Hi Hal, don’t forget to come to our trailer and visit us later.” Hal had never had an intimate experience
with the sisters, but he had to admit that there was some strange perverted curiosity deep in his gut. He smiled like always
and waved at the girls as he made his way along. Everyone new and loved Hal. He was the best circus boss you could ask for.
He cared about his performers and he put their needs before his own and there wasn’t anything the small circus family
wouldn’t do for their leader Hal Zimner. He was almost to his trailer, when a handsome man standing in profile stopped
him. “Hey there Hal, how’s it hanging?” The man was dressed in a spiffy suit and was smoking a cigar.
“Hey Dan, I’m great.” Hal answered with a snicker. “How’s Dolly doing?” With that the
man spun around revealing his other side. There before Hal was the profile of a very beautiful woman with sparkling sequins
dress low cut showing most of what was a real and very voluptuous breast.
“Why Hal, I’m just peachy as always.” The woman blew him a kiss and winked. Hal tipped his hat as a sign
to keep up the good work and left Dolly Dan standing there as he made his way along.
Someone yelled heads up and Hal looked just in time to see the huge circus cannon come rolling out of the back of a truck.
It rolled right into his path and was much too heavy for him to move. From behind him came a grunting sound. Walrus boy, a
very horrible looking young man who really looked to be half boy and half walrus, came to Hal’s rescue by lifting the
cannon barrel and hoisting it out of the way. Hal smiled and patted his head. He looked around and grabbed a fish out of a
nearby pail and tossed it to Walrus boy. The kind hearted circus freak jumped up and down with glee as he ripped into the
raw fish with his mouth full of gnarly teeth. “You be good WB and don’t eat too many of those… and watch
out for bones.” Hal had just gotten to his trailer door when Jake Box came walking up.
“So Hal, how do you like the new duds?” Jake Box, a little tramp clown that stood about 3 feet high was sporting
a nice new but very tattered suit. He was a tramp clown so he had gone to great lengths to tatter his new suit just right.
“You look great!” Hal said. “If you’re not careful you might just get in the picture shows and give
old Bozo a run for his money.”
“Hah, that guy ain’t half the clown I am.” Jake Box snorted and walked away. Hal breathed deep and smiled.
He had finally reached his trailer door.
The circus tent was glowing in the distance and the circus performers looked a lot like little ants meandering around from
where Teddy Dixon sat in his truck. He had been driving down brook hollow road that ran through the foothills up above where
the circus was set up. He had a flyer in his hand that he had torn off of a telephone post a mile or so back. He squinted
as he glared at Hal, who was standing at his trailer door talking to one of them midget circus freaks. “God dam freak
show… they’ll be out of here by sunrise, you just wait and see.” With that, Teddy spit some tobacco out
the window and threw the truck into gear, speeding away.
*****
“Oh lord… yes Jesus…” The pastor was lying in bed. A small lamp on the bedside table cast the shadow
of a cross on the wall next to the bed. The preacher was in a strange position sitting half way up with his hands behind him
holding the headboard of the bed with his eyes tightly shut. On his right hand was a ring his wife had given him on their
last anniversary. It was a large gold ring with a cluster of diamonds on it that formed the shape of a cross. The ring scratched
the wooden headboard as he gripped it tightly. Was he praying? Was he seeking the will of God to find out how best to deal
with the situation the unwelcome circus had put him in? With his arms in this position it almost looked as if he was mimicking
Christ himself on the cross, arms spread wide holding onto the edges of the headboard. “Oh god yes”…. He
squirmed and writhed as if he was getting the Holy Spirit or something. But to anyone really looking, if you had been a fly
on the wall of that cheap motel room, you would have seen the bottle of booze on the bedside table that happened to have a
screw top that was in the shape of a cross, casting the familiar shadow that had nothing religious about it or even holy.
It was just a normal bottle of scotch sitting on the table next to an opium pipe that was still smoking.
“Oh god yes baby… that’s it. Show daddy what you’ve got!” The lump under the covers was moving.
It was rocking in a slow but methodical up and down motion. The beautiful young charge of his that was supposed to be designing
the decorations for the upcoming festival dinner was actually under the covers doing secret little sexual favors for the good
pastor yes she was young, but he had taught her well.
*****
The sound of calliope music filled the circus grounds as a small group of performers began to congregate. It was a circus
ritual for the leaders of the various clicks to gather around and shoot the bull about the upcoming shows and the towns they
had ended up in. Sometimes there was a general feeling of excitement because the particular town they had stopped in had great
potential or like in the case of Ashbrooke many of them wondered why the hell they were back.
“This rat hole is a fucking waste of time” Giggles said, with her painted on smile contradicting the mood she
was in. “I don’t know why Hal is determined to come back to this god awful place.”
“Yeah”, Boris chimed in, his dummy alert and watching the scene as he spoke. “Last time we were here, they
all but ran us out of town. You would think Hal and Marty would have gotten the hint.”
“Yeah that fucking preacher wants us around here about as much as he wants a turpentine enema.” Freckles lit his
cigar and took a long hard drag.
Jake Box, the short tramp clown suddenly came sneaking out of the shadows with a grin on his face like he was a cat who just
got the prize cannery.
“Hey there gents, I was just over at Hal’s wagon and I saw Zadora sneaking in a crate full of little blue bottles.
I think he and Marty are up to something.”
“So Hal’s going back in the snake oil bizz I guess?” Dolly Dan snorted.
“Well let’s not forget how many times Hal has pulled this circus out of the hole.” Dexter the wooden dummy
said as his eyebrows flicked up and down.
“Yeah and how many times he’s saved our asses.” Jake added.
“Hal’s my hero” The Dolly half of Dolly Dan said in her seductive voice. “I’d probably follow
him to hell and back if he wanted me to.”
“Well in this crappy town, you might just get the chance.” Freckles took another drag of his cigar as the rest
of them laughed.
*****
The truck came to a screeching halt as Teddy jumped from the cab and ran full hilt toward the motel room door. The crumpled
circus flyer was in his hand as he lifted it to knock on the door.
“Who’s there?” The preacher yelled as the young girl was startled from under the covers.”
“Is it my dad?” She whispered.
“I don’t’ think so… just don’t’ worry and be quiet.” The gentle rapping on the door
came one more time and then there was a low whisper that came from the other side.
“Pastor Farwell, it’s me Teddy.’
“What the fuck do you want Teddy? I told you never to bother me when I was ‘praying’.”
“I know pastor, I’m really sorry but I have something here I think you want to see.” With that Teddy slid
the flyer under the door. The scantily clad girl, Evette Swanson creped from the bed and grabbed the flyer as if she thought
she could be seen through the door.
Farwell took the crumpled flyer and flattened it out for a good look. He squinted and gritted his teeth. “GOD DAM CIRCUS
FREAKS!” He crumbled the paper into a ball and threw it across the room. “Teddy meet me at the church in thirty
minutes and get the church elders together… we’ve got the LORDS work to do!”
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