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Description
    The roar coward is heard miles away. I sit “backstage” but the sound does not bother my ears. After seventeen years the yells sound more like whispers than anything else.
    I slowly start to put on my strapless leotard. I apply double sided tape to make the top stay secure. I then carefully step into the matching tutu that hangs a little flat, but I love that about it. When I do my act it puffs up at the right moments! Today I chose the black leotard that has silver music notes hanging from the neckline. I then check to see if my black nail polish is dry quickly adding the transparent silver topcoat.
    Now I take my hair out of the curlers and pin a silver flower in my long midnight hair. I don’t bother with makeup because I feel that I look best in this outfit. I don’t put on shoes because Father just tells me to take them off when I start. Finally I walk to the mirror to look at myself. Mother is going to hate this outfit but I am old enough to pick what I wear.
    I walk further backstage to find Mother because she likes to survey me before we let in the audience. I knock on the door and wait silently.
    “Enter!” Mother says without asking who it is.
    I enter carefully in order to stay looking nice.
    “Do I look fine, Mother?”
    She looks me up and down. After she finishes staring at the front she makes a spinning motion with her hand and I slowly spin until I’m facing her again.
    “Why are you wearing that? I hate how it looks on you! It’s too much black and it’s too plain,” she says as nicely as she can but I can hear the rudeness in her voice.
    Before I have a chance to answer Father walks in and defends me.
    “Calm down, Lillian. Zell is seventeen she can pick her own clothes. I told her that this time around the circus would be doing a darker theme. She followed my directions perfectly and because of it she looks beautiful and more grown up.”
    Mother realizing she had lost states, “she didn’t have to do all black.”
    “I wanted to stand out but seem mysterious at the same time. I thought that this new look would fit my act better than my old one. I’m sorry Mother if I upset you.”
    Mother sighed and finally gave into the idea of my outfit.
    “Hurry and go wait with the other acts. It’s ten minutes to midnight and you’re going to come out and be introduce like all the others.”
    “I’m finally going to be introduced? Just like everyone else?” I say with amazement and surprise.
    “Of course! You’re of age now. Your act is also one of the best we have,” Father says matter of factly.
    With a new found happiness I fast walk to opening curtain. For the last twelve years of my life I had performed in Father’s circus but my act had never been announced and was always used as a filler for when someone took too long to get ready or was sick. Tonight was the night that I finally get to be my own act and not have to worry if I would be able to go out in the ring.
    I make it backstage where I see a line of people who are the other acts. I quickly spot Seth. His act is what we all call the human snake. He can dislocate his joints and jaw allowing him move and act like a snake. Seth seems scary and intimidating but deep down he’s a shy and friendly person. He’s about two years older than me and has been traveling with us for so long that I don’t remember a time without him. Because of him being here so long I have always viewed him as my older brother, which is why I was happy when he waved me over.
    “Are you happy to be an act now, Zell?” he says with a smile so wide it reminds me of a child.
    “I didn’t realize that they would let me be one so soon! I’m happy but I can’t help feeling bad. Normally people have to audition to become an act in Father’s circus but he promoted me like it was so simple.”
    “Zell, you got promoted because you’re finally of age and because the people that have seen you perform love you. That’s no need to be upset. You earned your spot here just like the rest of us,” Seth said all of this to reassure me, which it worked.
    Before I had time to reply Father walked in wearing his ring master attire and waved his hand telling us to get in line. Quickly I lined up behind Seth because I didn’t want to upset Father by being too slow. Father was a loud man and polite man but, when he became upset everyone was warry.
    Nodding in approval Father said, “tonight we have a new act and new theme. I will call you out one by one. You will then perform in that order. Your performance tonight will shape the way the shows go for the rest of this tour. Also the two acts to get the most attention will become our very first duo!”
    After hearing his words everyone erupted into loud cheers!
    We’ve finally going to have a duo! Two acts will get the pleasure of being the grand finale together! I hope I get to do it! If I do it will I get to do it with Seth? We get along so well that I feel like our acts would too.
    Father waves for silence and then walks out the curtain to the audience.
    We all wait to hear our acts called. I wait what feels like eternity. I slowly drifted into a daydream of what it would be like to be in a duo. I’m so out of it that I almost missed my act being called. I walk through the curtain and make a quick pose. After the crowd cheers I do a backbend. With my hands on the ground I wait for the cheers to quite. I then pull myself as if I’m going to do a back walkover but pull my body through my legs. I make sure I’m laying flat on my stomach with my feet adjusted to be resting on my shoulders. The sounds of awe can be hear from everyone there. I then slither myself out so gracefully that I’m standing on my feet. I cartwheel to Father and that moment I am introduced.
    “And the eighth act of the night will be Zell, the flying contortionist!”
    I smile, wave and then blow a kiss to the crowd. After I wink I do a running aerial and backflip behind the curtain and out of site.
    Once I’m completely behind the curtain Seth grabs me into a big hug.
    “That was amazing! You looked so confident! I told you would be fine!”
***
    Finally my turn has arrived to perform! I walk out with a new found grace and confidence. Father announces me again and the roar of the crowd is louder than before. After I step onto the platform that Father is on he bows and the walks to go behind the curtain.
    “Who wants to become a bit more friendly?” I ask the crowd hoping to gain a volunteer.
    Looking around I see a man about a foot taller and around the same age up front. I jump off the platform landing right by him. I grab his hand and have him walk up the platform with me.
    “Alright, love. I’m going to tie these ribbons to the bar over head. I need you to help me tie them to my feet so I’m hanging upside down.”
    A look of confuse look starts showing on his face.
    “What, did you think I was a normal contortionist?” I ask with a laugh. “I’m much more interesting than that. I’m also and acrobat.”
    I have the man lift me up allowing me to tie the ribbons on the bar. I tie them tight enough that I don’t fall but loose enough that I can move around on the bar. After they’re tied I hang onto the bar and kindly ask the man to tie the ribbon to my feet. Once he is done he lets me go and I let go of the bar.
    “Thanks doll! You can go sit back down,” I say hanging upside down with a wink.
    Once back in his seat I feel the bar get pulled up so that I am higher in the air. As soon as it stops moving I began my act. I do flips over the bar while bending my body in and out of knots. At some points I flip myself so I am standing on the bar. I do the backbend that I did when I first came on stage. I even aerial off the bar making the crowd think I fell but I spin just in time to hang by my feet safely.
    Father walks out as my act draws to an end. When he reaches the platform I bend at the waist and undo the ribbons tied to the bar. The crowd screams but I use all of my might and propel myself backwards landing perfectly on my feet. I turn and bow.
    “The flying contortionist!” Father announces as I wave and walk off.
***
         Later that night I walk back towards the stage to see the lineup for the rest of the circus’ tour. It takes me a moment to find Seth’s name but when I do I see it next to mine as the grand finale!

Description
    The roar coward is heard miles away. I sit “backstage” but the sound does not bother my ears. After seventeen years the yells sound more like whispers than anything else.
    I slowly start to put on my strapless leotard. I apply double sided tape to make the top stay secure. I then carefully step into the matching tutu that hangs a little flat, but I love that about it. When I do my act it puffs up at the right moments! Today I chose the black leotard that has silver music notes hanging from the neckline. I then check to see if my black nail polish is dry quickly adding the transparent silver topcoat.
    Now I take my hair out of the curlers and pin a silver flower in my long midnight hair. I don’t bother with makeup because I feel that I look best in this outfit. I don’t put on shoes because Father just tells me to take them off when I start. Finally I walk to the mirror to look at myself. Mother is going to hate this outfit but I am old enough to pick what I wear.
    I walk further backstage to find Mother because she likes to survey me before we let in the audience. I knock on the door and wait silently.
    “Enter!” Mother says without asking who it is.
    I enter carefully in order to stay looking nice.
    “Do I look fine, Mother?”
    She looks me up and down. After she finishes staring at the front she makes a spinning motion with her hand and I slowly spin until I’m facing her again.
    “Why are you wearing that? I hate how it looks on you! It’s too much black and it’s too plain,” she says as nicely as she can but I can hear the rudeness in her voice.
    Before I have a chance to answer Father walks in and defends me.
    “Calm down, Lillian. Zell is seventeen she can pick her own clothes. I told her that this time around the circus would be doing a darker theme. She followed my directions perfectly and because of it she looks beautiful and more grown up.”
    Mother realizing she had lost states, “she didn’t have to do all black.”
    “I wanted to stand out but seem mysterious at the same time. I thought that this new look would fit my act better than my old one. I’m sorry Mother if I upset you.”
    Mother sighed and finally gave into the idea of my outfit.
    “Hurry and go wait with the other acts. It’s ten minutes to midnight and you’re going to come out and be introduce like all the others.”
    “I’m finally going to be introduced? Just like everyone else?” I say with amazement and surprise.
    “Of course! You’re of age now. Your act is also one of the best we have,” Father says matter of factly.
    With a new found happiness I fast walk to opening curtain. For the last twelve years of my life I had performed in Father’s circus but my act had never been announced and was always used as a filler for when someone took too long to get ready or was sick. Tonight was the night that I finally get to be my own act and not have to worry if I would be able to go out in the ring.
    I make it backstage where I see a line of people who are the other acts. I quickly spot Seth. His act is what we all call the human snake. He can dislocate his joints and jaw allowing him move and act like a snake. Seth seems scary and intimidating but deep down he’s a shy and friendly person. He’s about two years older than me and has been traveling with us for so long that I don’t remember a time without him. Because of him being here so long I have always viewed him as my older brother, which is why I was happy when he waved me over.
    “Are you happy to be an act now, Zell?” he says with a smile so wide it reminds me of a child.
    “I didn’t realize that they would let me be one so soon! I’m happy but I can’t help feeling bad. Normally people have to audition to become an act in Father’s circus but he promoted me like it was so simple.”
    “Zell, you got promoted because you’re finally of age and because the people that have seen you perform love you. That’s no need to be upset. You earned your spot here just like the rest of us,” Seth said all of this to reassure me, which it worked.
    Before I had time to reply Father walked in wearing his ring master attire and waved his hand telling us to get in line. Quickly I lined up behind Seth because I didn’t want to upset Father by being too slow. Father was a loud man and polite man but, when he became upset everyone was warry.
    Nodding in approval Father said, “tonight we have a new act and new theme. I will call you out one by one. You will then perform in that order. Your performance tonight will shape the way the shows go for the rest of this tour. Also the two acts to get the most attention will become our very first duo!”
    After hearing his words everyone erupted into loud cheers!
    We’ve finally going to have a duo! Two acts will get the pleasure of being the grand finale together! I hope I get to do it! If I do it will I get to do it with Seth? We get along so well that I feel like our acts would too.
    Father waves for silence and then walks out the curtain to the audience.
    We all wait to hear our acts called. I wait what feels like eternity. I slowly drifted into a daydream of what it would be like to be in a duo. I’m so out of it that I almost missed my act being called. I walk through the curtain and make a quick pose. After the crowd cheers I do a backbend. With my hands on the ground I wait for the cheers to quite. I then pull myself as if I’m going to do a back walkover but pull my body through my legs. I make sure I’m laying flat on my stomach with my feet adjusted to be resting on my shoulders. The sounds of awe can be hear from everyone there. I then slither myself out so gracefully that I’m standing on my feet. I cartwheel to Father and that moment I am introduced.
    “And the eighth act of the night will be Zell, the flying contortionist!”
    I smile, wave and then blow a kiss to the crowd. After I wink I do a running aerial and backflip behind the curtain and out of site.
    Once I’m completely behind the curtain Seth grabs me into a big hug.
    “That was amazing! You looked so confident! I told you would be fine!”
***
    Finally my turn has arrived to perform! I walk out with a new found grace and confidence. Father announces me again and the roar of the crowd is louder than before. After I step onto the platform that Father is on he bows and the walks to go behind the curtain.
    “Who wants to become a bit more friendly?” I ask the crowd hoping to gain a volunteer.
    Looking around I see a man about a foot taller and around the same age up front. I jump off the platform landing right by him. I grab his hand and have him walk up the platform with me.
    “Alright, love. I’m going to tie these ribbons to the bar over head. I need you to help me tie them to my feet so I’m hanging upside down.”
    A look of confuse look starts showing on his face.
    “What, did you think I was a normal contortionist?” I ask with a laugh. “I’m much more interesting than that. I’m also and acrobat.”
    I have the man lift me up allowing me to tie the ribbons on the bar. I tie them tight enough that I don’t fall but loose enough that I can move around on the bar. After they’re tied I hang onto the bar and kindly ask the man to tie the ribbon to my feet. Once he is done he lets me go and I let go of the bar.
    “Thanks doll! You can go sit back down,” I say hanging upside down with a wink.
    Once back in his seat I feel the bar get pulled up so that I am higher in the air. As soon as it stops moving I began my act. I do flips over the bar while bending my body in and out of knots. At some points I flip myself so I am standing on the bar. I do the backbend that I did when I first came on stage. I even aerial off the bar making the crowd think I fell but I spin just in time to hang by my feet safely.
    Father walks out as my act draws to an end. When he reaches the platform I bend at the waist and undo the ribbons tied to the bar. The crowd screams but I use all of my might and propel myself backwards landing perfectly on my feet. I turn and bow.
    “The flying contortionist!” Father announces as I wave and walk off.
***
         Later that night I walk back towards the stage to see the lineup for the rest of the circus’ tour. It takes me a moment to find Seth’s name but when I do I see it next to mine as the grand finale!