AUGUSTE

The Duke of Fluke walked with his precious daughter holding her hand. They made their way through the great drapes of the giant circus tent. They left the brisk autumn night behind and stepped into the warm, joyous atmosphere of the circus. A platform, securely hung from the ceiling of the tent, was the throne of a roaring fire that vented through an opening at the top. It heated the large space and provided a moody, dim lighting. The Duke and his daughter found seating near the center and in perfect view of the show.

“I want to be closer, daddy,” said the little girl.

“Of course, sweetie, we’ll move closer,” answered the Duke.

Once a little closer to the front a large, hairy man with an obnoxiously tall, inflated hat emerged center stage.

“Good evening, folks. I hope all of you are having a splendid night. I’d like to show off my pets to you if you don’t mind.”

Two massive lions prowled out from behind him. One with a gorgeous golden mane that strutted around with such power. The other a tame, gentle, and seemingly docile lioness who walked in a delicate and elegant manner.

“These are my two best pals Harold and Maude. Harold here loves to show off his immense strength. Go on Harold show ‘em your brawns.” Said the lion tamer.

Harold then picked up a rope in his mouth and began to pull. From backstage something was emerging into view. As Harold pulled, a shoddy wooden cart came forth with a huge elephant being carried on top. The crowd was in awe of Harold.

“I want to be a lion tamer, daddy,” said the Duke’s daughter.

“No, you don’t. You have much finer things to look forward to in life, my dear. Not shoveling lion waste or getting nasty with raw meat,” replied the Duke.

“Yes, yes Harold you surely are the king of the jungle,” said the lion tamer. “Now people gaze your attention upon Maude. She is careful and precise. Calculates her jumps with attentive focus.”

Maude then began leaping through rings of fire. Every time she made it right through the center and onto the other side unscathed, leaving the crowd awestruck.

“Look at how precious they are. I could be their master and ride on the back of lions. I don’t care if I have to shovel their poop. I want lions,” said the Duke’s daughter.

“I hear you, honey, you don’t need to whine about it.”

Before exiting the stage, the lion tamer announced, “I have a very beautiful surprise to tell you all before I go. Maude has had a little cub and is now a mother!”

The crowd erupted. Everyone shouted out “awe” and demanded to see the cub but the lion tamer left.

“Daddy, please, please, please, can I have the cub. Oh, please, daddy, it would make my day, no my week, no it would make my whole year, daddy, please,” said the Duke’s daughter.

“I don’t know, sweetie, a lion is a big deal,” said the Duke. “It’s not like an everyday house cat.”

“But daddy, please, I’m going to cry and scream if we don’t leave with that cub.”

“No, no, please don’t do that there’s no need. I’ll go speak to the lion tamer. Sit tight, my dear.”

The Duke patted his daughter’s head, gave her a tender smile, then made his way backstage.

Once backstage he noticed how chaotic it was. There was no organization. Only people scattering around like ants and yelling names and times. The Duke spotted the lion tamer and tried pushing towards him. Suddenly the Duke was grasped by his arm and pushed through some curtains.

“Hey let go—”

“C’mon, Pogliachi, you’re late again,” said a stranger.

“No you’re mistaken I am—”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re not the right guy for the job and you should really quit. You give the same monologue every time, now get out there.” The stranger then forced the Duke out and onto the stage.

The crowd cheered at his entrance then silently waited for the act to start. The Duke, however, was quite baffled that this mistake was made. Surely these people recognize I am not a clown nor jester but their Duke. The Duke stood dumbfounded and didn’t move. The crowd booed and jeered him, for he wasn’t being amusing in the slightest.

“Hey, stop that nonsense. I am no act or show. Do not disgrace me as such. I am the handsome, powerful, and righteous Duke of Flukes,” said the Duke.

The crowd giggled and chuckled. The Duke’s face became a blistering red.

“What’s so funny about that, huh? I see nothing funny about this truth. I see it as admirable.”

Again, the crowd laughed. This frustrated the Duke. He was no laughing matter. He deserved praise and respect, or so he thought.

“Stop laughing at me. I am no joke, you hear me. I am the Duke, I say, the Duke.”

The crowd laughed more and more. The Duke’s head was clouded with rage. He became flustered and yelled at the people.

“I am the Duke of Flukes not some lowborn clown named Pogliachi. I am the reason this circus is even allowed in this town. Does no one here respect the Flukes of Duke?”

The crowd took his own name butchering as absolute proof that this was the bit of a clown and began howling in laughter at his mistake. No one truly recognized him, not even his own daughter. His title and prestige meant nothing to the audience. Center stage and directly beneath the roaring fire, the Duke held his head low. He was indeed a royal duke but only existed in front of the crowd as Pogliachi the clown.

Speyer Heerdt hopes to make a mark in writing, but especially in children’s entertainment. He would like to build a foundation of knowledge and education through fun and exciting stories that the world can learn from. He enjoys learning through storytelling and hopes to share this enjoyment.