The Lightness Of Being

“Look here Lighty I really like you,” said the Mall Manager, looking at him straight in the eye. “The Santa we are looking for must have a great big billowing grey beard and a big fat belly. Quite frankly your beard is scraggly and….. well…there is no belly. The children will see you are not an authentic Santa. It will make the children cry and their parents mad and I will bear the brunt of it all. I’m sorry Lighty we just can’t use you”

Immersed in thought with his head down Lighty padded slowly through the mall towards the exit. He was thinking about the trampoline exercises he did that morning at the gym. The smile on his face was due to the extra height he had gained. He’d been working on this for sometime. His coach told him “Because you’re so light you must use those leg muscles to push up.”

As he turned a corner a stranger rushing the other way collided with him. He ended up flat on his back.

When he came too the image of a face slowly came into focus and a female voice was apologizing profusely.

“Sorry, sorry. Ohh I’m so sorry,” said the concerned voice as she tried to make amends for her haste.

Still a little litghtheaded Lighty stammered, “Ohh don”t. worry it’s me being so light and all…”

Just. then the stranger’s phone rang. She answered, ” Hello this is Kesra. Ohh no don’t. tell me,,,be there as quick as I can.” Thinking that she owed this stranger somrthing she pulled him to his feet and said, “Quick. come with me. I’ll explain later.”

“Oh well” thought Lighty to himself, “I”ve got nothing. else going on today.” Before he knew it Kesra had grabbed his hand and pulled Lighty along..

The Uber taxi was waiting.

He and Kesra piled into the backseat.

Kesra began explaining, “That call was from my boss. He’s the circus manager. There’s a big problem…protesters stormed into the circus grounds and let some of the animals free…it’s chaos. That’s why I kidnapped you…to come and help..and impulsively grabbed your hand.”

“Whaaat!, said Lighty, “You work in a circus. That must be so mucn fun. You a clown or something?

“Funny ha, ha,” said Kesra. I’ll have you know that I’m a trapeze queen and I also look after the elephants.”

“So you got the elephants doing trapeze then?” said Lighty laughing out loud.

If it was’t for the taxi screching to a halt at the circus entrance, Kesra would have given Lighty a piece of her mind. As they entered the circus grounds they could see the police arresting the protestors and circus employees running amok trying to catch the strayed animals.

Kesra headed straight towards the Circus Manager who was orchestrating the entire recovery operation. Lighty followed her and was introduced the manager.

Right away he was asked to go to the Big Top and give a message to Coco the clown.

The message read, “Keep an eye on this Lighty. We need extra help aroubd here. If you think he’s up for it we will employ him. Hue must stay inside the tent and help you clean up all the mess so it’s spotless for the opening night.”

Kesra went to see what was up with her elephants.

It took the entire day to get everything back in ship shape condition. When all was done everyone gathered for a briefing. The manager briefly covered the days events thanking everyone and then announced, “We have a new employee Lighty. He’s great on the trampoline and Coco tells me he’s never seen someone work so hard. Lighty will join Kesra on the trapeze.”

Kesra smiled thinking her impulsive decision to get Lighty to help worked out and Lighty smiled because he had a job that he loved.

**********

The applause after the opening night’s performance was louder at the top of the Big Top. He and Kesra smiled at each other across the expanse and then gracefully somersaulted into the safety net below, bowing to the audience.

‘“Letting go of the swing is a leap of faith,” said Lighty to Kesra.

It was the lightness of being, of floating that gave Lighty life.

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#comedy #farce #trapeze #lettinggo #circus #satire #nonfiction