THE HUMAN FOOTBALL
"Ever try clowning, young man?" asked the Iron-Jawed Man.Teddy Tucker shook his head.
"Why don't you?" "Nobody ever asked me."
"Then you had better ask the boss to let you try it.Tell him you want to be a clown and that we will take you in and put you through your paces until you are able to go it alone."The show had been on the road for nearly two weeks now, and every department was working like a piece of well-oiled machinery.The usual number of minor disasters had befallen the outfit during the first week, but now everything was system and method.The animals had become used to the constant moving, and to the crowds and the noise, so that their growls of complaint were few.
In that time Teddy and Phil had been going through their act on the flying rings daily, having shown great improvement since they closed with the show the previous fall.Their winter's work had proved of great benefit, and Mr.Sparling had complimented them several times lately.
Teddy was now devoting all his spare time to learning to somersault and do the leaping act from the springboard.He could, by this time, turn a somersault from the board, though his landing was less certain.Any part of his anatomy was liable to sustain the impact of his fall, but he fell in so many ludicrous positions that the other performers let it go at that, for it furnished them much amusement.
However, Teddy's unpopularity in the dressing tent had been apparent ever since he and the educated mule had made their sensational entry into that sacred domain, practically wrecking the place.Teddy and his pet had come near doing the same thing twice since, and the performers were beginning to believe there was method in Tucker's madness.
It had come to the point where the performers refused to remain in the dressing tent while Teddy and the mule were abroad, unless men with pikepoles were stationed outside to ward off the educated mule when he came in from the ring.But Teddy didn't care.The lad was interested in the suggestion of the Iron-Jawed Man.Had he known that the suggestion had been made after secret conference of certain of the performers, Tucker might have felt differently about it.There was something in the air, but the Circus Boy did not know it.
"What kind of clown act would you advise me to get up?" he asked."Oh, you don't have to get it up.We'll do that for you.In fact, there isone act that most all clowns start with, and it will do as well as anything else for you.You see, you have to get used to being funny, or you'll forget yourself, and then you're of no further use as a clown.""Yes, I know; but what is the act?"
"What do you say, fellows--don't you think the human football would fit him from the sawdust up?""Just the thing," answered the performers thus appealed to.
Mr.Miaco, the head clown, was bending over his trunk, his sides shaking with laughter, but Teddy did not happen to observe him, nor had he noticed that the head clown had had no part in the conversation.
"The human football?" questioned Teddy dubiously."Yes.""What's that?"
"Oh, you dress up in funny makeup so you look like a huge ball." "But what do I do after I have become a football?""Oh, you roll around in the arena, falling all over yourself and everybody who happens to get in your way; you bounce up and down and make all sorts of funny--""Oh, I know," cried Teddy enthusiastically."I saw a fellow do that in a show once.He would fall on the ground on his back, then bounce up into the air several feet.""You've hit it," replied a clown dryly.
"I remember how all the people laughed and shouted.I'll bet I'd make a hit doing that.""You would!" shouted the performers in chorus.
The show was playing in Batavia, New York, on a rainy night, withrather a small house expected, so no better time could have been chosen for Teddy's first appearance as a clown.
"Had I better speak to Mr.Sparling about it?" "Well, what do you think, fellows?""Oh, no, no! The old man won't care.If you make them laugh, he'll be tickled half to death.""What do you say?Is it a go, Tucker?" "Well, I'll think about it."Teddy strolled out in the paddock, where he walked up and down a few times in the rain.But the more he thought about the proposition, the more enthusiastic he grew.He could see himself the center of attraction, and he could almost hear the howls of delight of the multitude.
"They'll be surprised.But I don't believe I had better go on without first speaking to Mr.Sparling.He might discharge me.He's had his eye on me ever since the mule tore up the dressing tent.But I won't tell Phil.I'll just give him a surprise.How he'll laugh when he sees me and finds out who I am."Thus deciding, the lad ran through the tents out to the front door, where he asked for Mr.Sparling, knowing that by this time the owner's tent had been taken down and packed for shipment, even if it were not already under way on the flying squadron.
He learned that Mr.Sparling was somewhere in the menagerie tent.Hurrying back there, Teddy soon came upon the object of his search.At that moment he was standing in front of the cage of Wallace, the biggest lion in captivity, gazing at that shaggy beast thoughtfully.
"Mr.Sparling," called Teddy.
The showman turned, shooting a sharp glance at the flushed face of the Circus Boy.
"Well, what's wrong?" "Nothing is wrong, sir.""Come to kick about feed in the cook tent?""Oh, no, no, sir! Nothing like that.I've come to ask a favor of you.""Humph!I thought as much.Well, what is it?""I--I think I'd like to be a clown, sir.""A clown?" asked the showman, with elevated eyebrows."Yes, sir."Mr.Sparling laughed heartily.
"Why, you're that already.You are a clown, though you may not know it.You've been a clown ever since you wore long dresses, I'll wager.""But I want to be a real one," urged Teddy."What kind of clown?""I thought I'd like to be a human football."This time Mr.Sparling glanced at the boy in genuine surprise.
"A human football?" "Yes, sir."
